Thoughts on the Run

A race in Leadville this coming weekend. 50 miles starting at 10,000 feet and over 8,000 feet of climbing. That’s a lot to handle.

If you would have asked me 2 weeks ago how I felt about running Silver Rush 50, my response would have included things like:
– Crazy excited!
– Going to set a PR
– Have nutrition figured out

Then the following week, I had a work trip to Germany. The time in Germany was excellent, but having to fly United Airlines was not. Departing Sunday afternoon flight was delayed for almost 2 hours due to “delayed incoming aircraft.” Once landed in Chicago, pilot drove around the airport for 25 minutes. That made me miss connecting flight to Germany and the never-once-smiled customer service agent told me no seats available to Europe that night. He handed me a piece of paper saying call this number for a discount hotel. Not that United Airlines would be paying nor letting me have my luggage for the night. 24 hours later, on a flight to Germany.

I arrive Tuesday morning, grand plans of still being able to get in 40-50 miles of running while there. However, my luggage did not arrive. As I come from a technical background, it does shock me a bit that in this modern day we can’t track a bag, but can eavesdrop on cell phones. Wednesday rolls around and I decide I should probably buy some additional clothes. Afterall, I had been wearing the same clothes for 4 days now. Plus, I’m walking around our Germany office in cargo shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops. Representing my country well.

Luggage arrived Thursday afternoon. That was nice to have for 2 days before heading back home. Allowed for a 6 mile run Friday morning and 14 mile run along the Rhine River Saturday morning.

Surely, all the travel crap was out of the way for the trip home, right? Sigh.

I board the plane in Germany, take my window seat so I can sleep from morning run. German comes up to me talking in German and waving his ticket. I know enough linguistics to understand he believes I’m sitting in his seat. Guess what? We both have a ticket with the exact same seat number. Really? Again airline technology … help me understand that when scanning tickets before boarding a plane that no red flag goes off that someone else already boarded the plane with the same seat? Whatever. Moved to an aisle seat with no chance of sleep.

Land in Newark, New Jersey, get a quick bite, then board plane. And sit. Apparently, according to the pilot, United Airlines didn’t have enough people to load luggage on the plane. After 30 minutes of sitting, pilot came on and said they keep telling him 10 more minutes every 15 minutes. At the 1 hour mark, based on passenger rights, they have to open the door and give you the option to leave. Many had already done the math to realize they’d be missing their connecting flights. I could sympathize. After an hour and a half of sitting on a plane at the gate, we finally departed. Only other event on the flight was the turbulence that sent a cup of coffee onto my lap. That’s always fun when strapped into a small seat but the window.

Upon returning home, it’s usually about a 2 day recovery time. After only putting in 14 miles the week before, I was aware I needed to run. I got in a 6 mile run Wednesday and then hit the mountains for a 20 mile solo run on Thursday. The 20 miles were at Kenosha Pass which was my first real trail run 4 years ago. It was a healing run. However, with family obligations, I haven’t run since then.

So all that’s on my mind going into this weekend.

Don’t get me wrong, I am excited about running Silver Rush 50 again. It was my first ultramarathon in 2011 that got me hooked. My concern is around actually completing along with setting a PR. Some of that may be coming from my performance at last year’s Silver Rush. Although that race did have a silver lining to it, still not always the best memory of a DNF at mile 48.

To my fault, I make the mistake of comparing myself to other runners. I see their training miles adding up each morning, long runs on weekend, and even speed work in the evening. My schedule just doesn’t allow for that. I am content with that and almost have taken that on as a challenge. When I first ran Silver Rush 50, I did it on 20 miles/week of training with almost none of that at altitude. That year was my best time to-date. Maybe running in ignorance does have it’s merit, but realistically I know it will catch up with me.

I voiced my insecurities to an experience running friend. His message:

Eat. Drink. Move.

If that doesn’t work, change something, and move.

It really is that simple in ultrarunning. Stop overthinking and connect with the mountain. Just move forward.

So come Sunday, when I wake up at 2:15am and make the 2 hour drive to Leadville, I will line-up at the race that started it all for me. I will eat, drink, and continue moving forward until I hit that finish line.