Friday, September 30, 2011

I Registered for a 100 Mile Ultramarathon!

I have some exciting news: I signed up to run my first 100 mile ultramarathon! (Cue butterflies in the stomach.) The Javelina Jundred in Arizona is coming up November 12th! The goal: complete 100 miles in less than 30 hours.

Even though the date is coming up soon, don't worry - this is not a decision I've rushed into. I've actually been discussing it with family and a few friends for many months now. I have been planning and training for it for many months but it took some time to build up enough courage to actually register.

I've been talking to a bunch of ultra-runners who said they think my training has prepared me to tackle 100.

In the last six months I have run:
*Six marathons (plus a bunch of halfs)
*One 50k ultramarathon
*One 50 mile run
*Lots of race-specific training (trail running, heat training, etc.)

There are lots of reasons that I think this race will be the perfect fit for me:
1) It's in the desert on trails almost identical to where I train.
2) It's a well-supported race with a history of taking good care of runners.
3) The course is a series of six 15-mile loops (plus a 10 mile loop). I train similarly and I think psychologically this helps to break up the race into chunks.
4) Running the same loop on a well-marked trail will make sure I don't get lost. Previously I was scared of trying 100 because I didn't want to be out by myself in the middle of a race and get lost.
5) It's a big race - almost 400 runners! So I don't think there will be as much of the lonliness that runners feel in most ultras. (Most reviews say it's a 30 hour party + a 100 mile run.)

BRING. ON. 100!!!!!!!!!!!

"Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells 'CAN'T", but you don't listen. You just push harder. And then you hear the voice whisper 'can'. And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are."

16 comments:

  1. Yeah, baby! That's HUGE! Way to go! It sounds like you've thought this out and know what you're up against. That is simply on astonishing distance to run!

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  2. This is sooo cool. I can't wait to hear how it goes!!

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  3. Congratulations for taking the leap! I am sure you will do well.

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  4. It DOES sound perfect for you! Way to put yourself out there and do it!

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  5. WOW!!! That is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. omgoodness!! THat is so exciting!! I just started following, but from your quick recap there, it sounds like you have a. put a lot of thought into this decision and decided wisely and b. you will be able to tackle this new challenge full heartedly :)good luck and congrats!

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  7. This makes me so excited!!!! You are going to do awesome. If there is any runner out there that can do this, it's YOU. I look forward to hearing more about your training and watching you grow in your running abilities.

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  8. WOW!!!!! I am so impressed. Amazing!!!! Can't wait to hear about it and would love to hear how you have been training for that long of a run.

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  9. That is so cool! We had an ultramarathoner come speak to our youth group a couple months ago and I was absolutely fascinated with all the stories he told. He ran down in the Brazilian mountains which was 135 miles. He also ran the Badwater which is in Death Valley. I honestly don't know how you buff people do this but I'm totally impressed and intrigued to hear stories about it all.

    Good luck with the continued training and I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting to hear your story.

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  10. So so SO AWESOME CORY!! I agree that this is the perfect fit for you. The pacing offer is still on the table so let me know. I am so incribly proud of you. This is going to be epic!!

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  11. For reals! Dude, you are my idol! This is pretty frickin awesome! 30 hours of running sounds pretty intense and an amazing feat. You've got it in you, can't wait to see how you do!

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  12. That is awesome! I cannot even fathom running that many miles...good luck with the rest of your training. You will do great!

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  13. Cory, congrats! You've gone where I'll never go, except maybe as a pacer. I think all the marathons you run will be great training for that (at least for a start!). Can't wait to read about the journey.

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  14. Can you have pacers or mules? If you make a habit of ultras and I happen to be around I would be honored if I could be your mule.

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