Training for My First Ultramarathon
Preparing for the Bandera 100k
A couple of weeks ago, I finally took the first step toward a huge goal on my bucket list. I officially registered for my first ultramarathon, the Bandera 100k in January 2020. I've been enamored with the idea of running an ultramarathon ever since I first learned about them but only recently found the motivation to actually make it happen.
Why Bandera
It all started in January 2018 when Rob from Training For Ultra posted a picture of his finisher's belt buckle from Bandera on Instagram. It was actually the first Instagram post I ever "saved" and I decided that day that one day I would take on the race. I'm a sucker for awesome swag and the Bandera belt buckle would definitely be my coolest finisher's medal.
Then, this past year, another runner I follow, Chris Mocko, took on Bandera and ended up earning his golden ticket for the Western States with his 2nd place finish. Mocko's recap of the race only further solidified the idea in my head and I actually started considering the real possibility of running the race.
Finally, in March, after running my RnR DC, I started talking with a friend about the possibility of running Bandera. We've both drastically improved as runners over the last couple of years and were eager to take on a new challenge. It took some convincing, but he finally began coming around to the idea.
Since then, we've gone back and forth about the idea of running the race but everything suddenly became very real when we officially registered! This is all brand new territory for both of us and there are a lot of new obstacles to consider and fears to face. At just over 60 miles, this will be more than double the longest run either of us has ever done!
Biggest Fears for My First Ultramarathon
The Distance
Going into training for this race, I can't express enough how helpful it is to have a coach with ultramarathon experience. We're only a couple of weeks into training but Diego has already been a wealth of information for any and all questions I have about things to prepare for. That and I think he's just as excited as I am about me running this race!
My primary fear starting on this journey is definitely just facing the distance itself. As I said, this race is more than double anything I've ever done distance-wise and will go well beyond double the amount of time I've ever spent on a run.
Training
Not only that, but I also know that training for this race will also require significantly more time and commitment than my past training blocks. Adding in a second long run means I'll be spending a major chunk of my weekends running. I know I'll need to get a lot more efficient with my time to get my runs in early so my wife and I can still enjoy our relaxing weekend afternoons.
Living on Long Island, the next training challenge will be getting runs in on actual trails to get used to the demands of the terrain. The only elevation near our apartment is the local landfill so I'm going to have to get creative to prepare for the elevation at Bandera. I'm hoping at least once a month I can get off of Long Island for my long runs and onto some real trails in the mountains.
The Food
Lastly, I've had plenty of stomach issues in the past while training for marathons but have found a pretty good routine with the gels I run with. Unfortunately, with how long I'm expecting to be on the course in Bandera, I know I'll need some more calories than gels can provide so it's time to start experimenting!
This is less of a fear necessarily, but rather a challenge that will take plenty of trial and error to find the perfect combos. A coworker actually hooked me up with an awesome cookbook of bite-sized fueling options you can make at home so I'm eager to start breaking into those recipes.
Daring Greatly
I heard a quote this week from Teddy Roosevelt that really got me even more excited than I already was for the race:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Teddy Roosevelt
There are plenty of things to be worried about heading into this race, but those fears are healthy in that they'll help me prepare to face this new challenge. I've got six months to get myself into ultramarathon shape and I can't wait to see those six months unfold.
Above all else, I'm overwhelmingly excited by jumping in head first. The 100k is definitely a big jump from the marathon but that's part of the thrill! I have complete confidence in my coach and my training and I know that if I put the time in, I'll be ready to face Bandera in January!