Preparation for a long walk

Am getting things organized for this year's A Race For the Ages (ARFTA).

If you don't remember from previous posts, the idea is to see how many loops of a one mile circuit one can do in the 1 year of age=1 hour fixed time limit. I'm 56, so I have 56 hours on the clock. The oldest participant, age 85, will be starting at 11 pm on Thursday night; I'm starting (with nine other 56 year olds) at 4 am on Saturday morning; the race concludes at 12 noon on Monday.  56 hours to see how far I can walk. What kind of wacko thinks walking for over two days and no doubt hurting through most of it is any kind of fun? Me of course! I'm actually quite looking forward to it.

Even though overall I'm feeling like I have the mental game fairly well down, doesn't mean I don't have any doubts and such. Just like last year, I'm woefully physically undertrained--but I am a little bit better trained than last year. Doubt I've lost enough weight to make any kind of difference in my speed, but I am beneath 200 lbs again (weighed 199 this morning). For whatever that is worth.  You'd think I'd lose a bunch of weight during the race, but I know from experience I am likely to weigh more (retaining water and body resetting)  for a week or so after an ultra event. Besides this event offers the best race food, with actual homecooked meals being served every 6 hours.

Anyway, here I am not a runner but just an average jane seeing how far she can walk, pushing myself and my limits. Well, maybe an average jane who does have past expereince as an ultra runner; hoping that still counts for something. Maybe I shouldn't really set any goals, other than to keep moving as much as I can.

Alas, no local store currently carries my preferend anti-chafing ointment--Baby Anti-Monkey Butt Diaper Cream. Believe me, I've looked everywhere. (I could order for store pick up at Walmart, but none in stock; and the race is getting pretty close to do an order.) Guess I'll have to settle for something similar, maybe Bordeaux' Butt Paste. I use the cream on other locations like between thighs, under arms and along bra line, wherever chafing may occur, but yes it's important to keep ones butt cheeks from chafing. Reminder to self: still need the diaper cream, ibuprophin, and some dish towels. (The dish towels are to be iced neck wraps for the hot parts of the day)

I'm still undecided on what shoes to wear. Leaning toward my Hokas, which are a highly cushioned pair. I wore Sketcher's Ultra last year, but unsure if the blistering I had was from shoes or from a broken toe affecting my gait. Have a new pair of Sketchers but the Hokas are also "new";( I've had them for a while but havent done any events or too many miles in them). Will probably take both pairs with me to the race. Of course, I'm expecting to get blisters anyway, I haven't done enough long miles in training to toughen up my feet.

"Training, What training?" you may ask. Well, I have been walking regularly for almost three months now. Pretty much just couch to 5mi. Not anywhere near ultra level, but all I can do is all I can do with what I've got now. Forget any comparisons to others and to my previous self; Embrace the now and suck it up buttercup.

Just like last year, B is going up with me to the race. We'll go up on Friday, but he'll be driving back to work on Sunday evening and returning near the end of the race. Last year, that was my low point and I just gave up and slept overnight; this year,I intend not to repeat that, I want to keep going and do more in the cooler over night hours. Oh, Hannah and Ken and the kids may drive out and cheer me on for a while on Saturday. Lol, I'd told them Saturday would be better than Sunday, when I'm more likely to be doing the zombie shuffle.

I've done my good luck pre-event reading, reading Judy Welch's "Out on Your Feet" about the UK's Long Distance Walkers Association and their 100 mile events. I want to be a "Gerald", the older chap who is always very slow but always finishes (last).

farther thoughts

I like doing long distance endurance events. I like fixed time events. One of the reasons I like them is because right now (events of 12 hours or longer) are my only way to participate in marathon and longer races. Right now I'm too slow to make the cutoff times for fixed distance races like marathons with 6 hour cut off times or a 50k with an 8 hour cutoff. Once upon a time, I could do those times; maybe I will again. I hope. I hope I can stay motivated to try and to put in the serious training it will take. And not to expect miracles overngiht, its going to take many months to get there, of increasing distances and gradually walking less and running more. I've done this before; can I do it again? let's be positive and try to find out. Six months from now is the Delano Park Run;it's my favorite race. Focus on being able to run it well. In the meantime, there are a couple long timed events I could do to get in long walking as needed miles--one in Bham in late Oct (where I could a 50k= during the 24 hour division) and the Pistol Ultra at New Year's in Knoxville (where I could do a fixed time 50k within the very generous 30 hours- cutoff time for all races 50k,100k, 100mi). That would give me 3 marathon or longer events in 2016 and start off right for 2017. Bigger goal is to have 50 marathons/ultras (Currently 41) under my feet by the time I turn 60.