Running the race will be the easy* part. Nice recap of the training and waiting journey. I look forward to following you on race day. Please Send a tracker link if available.
I'm excited for you! Just remember ... get to the start line with fresh legs. Don't let all the hoopla around Olympic Village get to you in the day(s) prior. And don't stress too much about the early miles' snow. Also, something helpful to know: the pace signs at the aid stations assume a significant slowdown after dark. So if you get to Foresthill and you're behind 24 hour pace according to the sign on the aid station, don't despair. You can revitalize at Foresthill and still get sub 24 if you're out of Foresthill by about 7:45. Tell yourself "just get to the river" because you'll cool off and feel so much better than that. That's what happened to me when I ran it in 23:45 in 2016 -- I was slow & suffered but revitalized after Foresthill. I'll be out there pacing/crewing a friend. Good luck and go get 'em!
Fresh legs - that is good advice. I'm sure it's easier said than done - but we're getting there on Wednesday, and I'm really going to try to settle in and relax (even though I'm kind of looking forward to the hoopla). "Just get to the river"... I'll do it - thanks!
Enjoying following along. Hope all goes as planned. Best trip ever was being there with David, climbing Half Dome and meeting Gordy Ainsleigh were nice bonuses.
I remember the excitement of that time well, Jeff... 2 weeks before that race, I finished my first Western States qualifier (Laurel Highlands), and 1 week before it, I signed up for my first hundred (Eastern States). And, I'd just seen David have a great race at our inaugural Worlds End 100k... So I was very tuned-in, and to see him go out and do so well at Western States was an inspiration. I hope I can be the same kind of good representative for the central-PA trailrunning community. If I remember right, weren't you partway through your AT hike about then? That would be worthy of some story-telling (maybe you should think about starting a Substack for it...)
Not to many things could’ve got me to leave the trail but family always comes first. One hundred and thirty three days for my first and only hike left me with a couple tales to tell. I’ve been enjoying all of your writings. You’ve done the work I’m sure you’ll have a great WS. Enjoy!
Running the race will be the easy* part. Nice recap of the training and waiting journey. I look forward to following you on race day. Please Send a tracker link if available.
Thanks Mary - I'll include a link in my next post (which I'll hopefully manage to publish before the race).
I'm excited for you! Just remember ... get to the start line with fresh legs. Don't let all the hoopla around Olympic Village get to you in the day(s) prior. And don't stress too much about the early miles' snow. Also, something helpful to know: the pace signs at the aid stations assume a significant slowdown after dark. So if you get to Foresthill and you're behind 24 hour pace according to the sign on the aid station, don't despair. You can revitalize at Foresthill and still get sub 24 if you're out of Foresthill by about 7:45. Tell yourself "just get to the river" because you'll cool off and feel so much better than that. That's what happened to me when I ran it in 23:45 in 2016 -- I was slow & suffered but revitalized after Foresthill. I'll be out there pacing/crewing a friend. Good luck and go get 'em!
Fresh legs - that is good advice. I'm sure it's easier said than done - but we're getting there on Wednesday, and I'm really going to try to settle in and relax (even though I'm kind of looking forward to the hoopla). "Just get to the river"... I'll do it - thanks!
Oh, and have a great trip and an awesome run! Enjoy the moment!
Enjoying following along. Hope all goes as planned. Best trip ever was being there with David, climbing Half Dome and meeting Gordy Ainsleigh were nice bonuses.
I remember the excitement of that time well, Jeff... 2 weeks before that race, I finished my first Western States qualifier (Laurel Highlands), and 1 week before it, I signed up for my first hundred (Eastern States). And, I'd just seen David have a great race at our inaugural Worlds End 100k... So I was very tuned-in, and to see him go out and do so well at Western States was an inspiration. I hope I can be the same kind of good representative for the central-PA trailrunning community. If I remember right, weren't you partway through your AT hike about then? That would be worthy of some story-telling (maybe you should think about starting a Substack for it...)
Not to many things could’ve got me to leave the trail but family always comes first. One hundred and thirty three days for my first and only hike left me with a couple tales to tell. I’ve been enjoying all of your writings. You’ve done the work I’m sure you’ll have a great WS. Enjoy!
A great enlightenment has come to me thanks to our back and forth. Look forward to sharing somewhere down the line.