45 at 45
Never did I think running would be part of my life. I don’t enter many races, to date I have run a half marathon in 2013, my first ever race and this past April was a 50K. Both were goals I had set for myself to gauge how far I come on my journey since taking control of my health. It’s been amazing to say the least and I am always looking for that next challenge or goal to achieve.
Recently I join a Trailing and Ultra Running (TAUR) group on Facebook. After completing the Diablo Challenge 50K I was on a “runner’s high” for about 4 weeks. All I wanted to do was run, run longer distances and push my body to its limits. Next April I will have that opportunity as I will register for American Rive 50 Mile Endurance Run, which will require me to finish the course in 14 hours. That event is still months away and I will have time to train and ready myself physically and mentally to finish the race before the time limit expires.
Reading another thread on the TAUR group, a 36 year old, male runner named Mark Rowland embarked on his challenge to run your age on your birthday. You can read his results on his birthday run here. That got me thinking. I will be 45 this year and in the best shape of my life. What is preventing me from taking a day and running 45 miles? Depending on the amount of training leading up to November, 12-13 hours would not be out of the question.
I see this as a learning experience, how I will feel after all this running, what sort of mental state will I be in and can I actually finish all 45 miles? Running 31.7 miles was long, but was amazing as I crossed the finish line, arms raised. In some respect this challenge could be easier because of a simple and flat loop I plan on running. No point to point on this run. I would set up my own aid station and use it every 8 miles or so. Currently I am looking at a few options for the course. With any luck I will be able to put together a 2 mile trail loop, but more recently I have been looking at running at one of the local schools, even though the loop would only be .67 miles long (about twice as long as running around a track).
This challenge would set me up for the 50 mile attempt in April. It would allow me to gauge where I am physically and what I need to accomplish mentally in order to prepare myself for a 50 miles or distances beyond.
