Dispatches from the middle

What I learned (about running and racing and mountains) from a summer of running all over the damn place. Fairly simple stuff, but if I write it down, I’m more likely to remember it and not make the same mistakes again!

1. Mileage, mileage, mileage. If you can still move, you can do more, and probably should.
2. Pavement is a different beast. Even if you’re running really well on trails, after a long time away from the road, pavement is something to contend with. As a reformed roadrunner, this came as a bit of a shock. Pavement can, indeed, be hard (no pun intended). And vice versa.
3. Along the same lines, running a flat course after months of incline and decline is a challenge. Kind of like hitting the incline/decline after months of flat. Train on both. Alternating shoes and surfaces will be good for your feet too.
4. Never underestimate the awesomeness of having your parents come cheer for you!!
5. It’s straight-up shitty not to offer anything but gels at an aid station, but shit does happen. Best to carry one’s own food and liquids. Real food is gold, especially if we’re talking gummy bears and potato chips.
6. A bit of healthy competition is not as scary as I have often thought as a well ‘nigh religious “doing-it-for-fun-er”. It’s not bad to have speedier patches in your run. In fact, sometimes the answer to aches, pains, and fatigue is to go faster. And/or distract yourself by hunting down certain individuals. Don’t be afraid to be less than conservative during a race.
7. Marathons always have the potential to hurt, and they can always feel superlong, but after enough of them, you’ll get used to both feelings and you’ll know you can finish. They are, however, always to be respected.
8. Dropping 10 pounds would be helpful in going faster. Le sigh.
9. When you’re on a team, there’s always the possibility of someone dropping out or having to change roles. As such, it’s good to be prepared to do each individual leg and/or multiple legs, as you may have to step in for someone at the last minute.
10. If you’re not one of those (very) few crazy, magical unicorns who can actually run the whole 100 miles over hill and dale and mountain pass, hiking uphill for long stretches is an integral part of ultras. Train for hiking too.
11. Heat training is something to be undertaken carefully, not something to be avoided.
12. Similarly, speed work should also be a regular fixture, even if you’re not racing for time. It helps with flexibility and efficiency. And going fast, which is pretty o.k.!
13. Branches in the eye suck. Running in safety glasses also sucks. There’s a right choice here, but unfortunately not a comfortable one…