Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Plans Begin

Now that I pulled the pin on the 100 grenade (or grenade launcher for you, Pierre), I am starting the planning phase.

I emailed some 100 vets for their advice on what not to do in your first 100. (Julie Berg, John Taylor, and Allan Holtz.) These 3 have countless 100's under their belt, with hardware to go with it. I will post some of their responses (I am sure I will have to condense Allan's, as he is an encyclopedia).

I do know that strategy and planning are just as, if not more, important than raw strength and talent. By next week I will probably have a game plan laid out with caloric intake per hour, fluid intake per hour, and electrolyte supplement per hour.

Ironically, I am not nervous. One can not go out fast on these, so the first 50 should be relaxing. Did I just say that?

Ran 6 this morning at a 9 flat pace. I felt like I was walking. Still jumbled from the last two races. No major problems, and no DOMS this time. woo hoo!

Feel free to shoot advice my way. (Steve, I will take yours with a grain of salt)...just kidding. I will think of you when I pass elephant rock, though.

5 comments:

keith said...

Your plan sounds awesomely ambitious! I've always said "It's never done until it's OVER done." Shoot for the moon, ya still land among the stars...blablabla.

I can't wait to hear how it goes. You've certainly put in the training. I have no advice to give you except to not go out fast...which applies to races of almost every distance.

Good luck!

Runnin-From-The-Law said...

My advice: buy The Wife a fun present or do something nice to surprise her, for allowing you to run this race (and for putting up with you after, when you recover!).

I have no advice for the 100 miles itself, since my furthest to date is only a half marathon.

SteveQ said...

My favorite advice for 100: cruise the first 70, then put the hammer down.

Yeah, it didn't help me much, either.

phillip gary said...

If the worse thing that can happen to you is not finishing, then the pressure is off.
Relax and go for it.

Donald Clark said to me that just lining up for a 100, "toeing the line" in his words, makes one a winner, or at least earning respect.

Plan your race, give it your best, and you'll do fine and learn a heckuva lot.

Phillip Gary Smith

GRIMEYRUNNER said...

I was told that after 50 it becomes a mental challenge. Or was it that I become mentally challenged? Same thing either way.
What I did find at my LT100 attempt last year was that you don't truly know what your body will do until you get to those distances. After 50 miles it's all new ground.