Diablo Trails Challenge 50K

Mark the calendar now. April 19 at 7am begins my first ultra marathon, as I officially signed up today for the challenge and adventure of my life. Just 2 years ago never did I believe I would ever participate in any sort of running event. Now after hundreds of miles, a Tough Mudder event and a half marathon I have started training for a 50K (31 miles).

While it is tagged as a race, I am not out to win or challenge others. This is about me and just how far and hard I can push myself. It’s a mental battle to overcome, endure and survive whatever Mt Diablo throws at us when the race begins. Training has got off to a slow start, as I didn’t do much running leading up to the middle of November and only a few late runs to close out the year in December.

Yet, I am not worried. Not that I have fully committed to run the Diablo Trails Challenge 50K I am in the right mindset. Training will be running 5 days a week, along with core work for the next 16 weeks leading up the start of the race on April 19. Training won’t be easy with hill work on hump day and core training twice a week after a run of 60-90 minutes. The training schedule looks grueling, but it will pay dividends when I am on the mountain digging deep in order to finish.

This race will push me to the limits of my endurance. Just think 50K is the shortest of the “ultra” marathons, they only get longer from here. Between now and then I have a lot of work to do in order to be race ready. The vertical climb for the entire race is 7,142 feet with a net gain of only 87 feet between the start and finish. You can see the profile and look at some of the big climbs, including 2 within the first 15.6 miles of the course. It won’t get easier as just after the midpoint of the course, you hit the third big hill.

I won’t be alone during the race, as a co-worker and Tough Mudder teammate, Otto will be joining me on the 50K. While I would like to think we will run together and cross the finish line together, as we support and push each other to continue on and not give up. Yet, who knows will will happen between the start and the finish line. I would not think of holding him back because I am struggling. Yet, Otto is a team player, I still recall him helping one of our TM teammates through the entire course last year. That alone speaks volumes about the man!

As I mentioned this race is an adventure, one that I look forward to. Time doesn’t matter, where I finish doesn’t matter. My goal for the Diablo Trail Challenge is to cross the finish line.