2018 Year-end Report
Your goals coming into the year, and were they achieved?
Goal(s) for 2018:
I came out of States a little disappointed in my mental game. I didn't know if I was strong enough, on my own, to get through that thing. Thankfully I had my crew and pacers to make sure I did. But I want to prove to myself that I can do it, so in August I'll be down in the San Gabriel Mountains toeing the line at the Angeles Crest 100 Miler, solo division - no crew, no pacers. Plenty of aid station and volunteer support, but mentally I'll be on my own to get through 100 mountainous miles.
But it's about the process as much as the result, so on the way there I'd like to PR at Canyons 100K (16:40:53 is my fastest of two times there), run a few local 50Ks, volunteer at a few races, and set new PRs in mileage, time, and elevation gain this year. No big deal.
Somewhat of a mixed bag here, but I guess I have to say pretty much achieved. I went in to AC100 feeling strong, both physically and mentally. And things went great. Until they didn't. My first DNF was pretty devastating. I do take some solace in the fact that I didn't quit, but there's always that nagging, "I could have done more" feeling - in training, preparation, better execution, etc. And I don't want to ever lose that feeling as it helps drive me going forward. I was able to bounce back and accomplish what I originally set out to do - finish a 100 miler on my own - just a few weeks later out at Grindstone.
As for the process part, I achieved most of those. A little disappointed in myself that I didn't volunteer more this year.
New accomplishments or PRs in 2018 and Total training volume during 2018:
I PR'd on my third run at Canyons 100K, and in three years at that race have gone from 18:04 to 16:40 to 16:27.
I did set a PR for my longest effort ever (ie my slowest 100). Does that count?
I PR'd all my annual metrics, big time. I've had a goal the past couple of years to hit 365 hours of training time, but have come short. So to blow that out of the water was really satisfying and speaks to staying relatively consistent and healthy.
Total distance: 1,911 miles (previous best 1,683). The past 4 years have been clustered between 1,562-1,683, so to break out of that was satisfying.
Total Time: 441:45 ( previous 348:14).
Elevation Gain: 280,843' (previous 212,431')
Your proudest and/or best race (or segment within a race):
To be honest, this is kind of tough. I guess the obvious answer is bouncing back from the DNF to finish Grindstone, but that almost felt like a business trip - fly out there, get your 100 mile finish, redeem yourself, and get home. But judging by the meltdown I had a few hours after finishing, sitting by myself in a CVS parking lot, feet soaking in a cooler filled with an epsom bath, the sheer effort obviously meant a lot to me. But in all honesty everything running related post-Western States has felt a little subdued. I'll be damned if that race doesn't still own me.
A race or race training disappointment during 2018:
This one is easy - lying on that cot at mile 52 of AC100, shivering despite being covered in 5 blankets on an 80 degree evening, and slowly coming to the realization that my race was over.
Lesson(s) you’ve learned during the year:
Consistency is key. I've known this, of course, but this year drove that point home.
Race day mantra:
Stick to the plan (as long as you can). Or, put more succinctly, "Don't be an idiot!" At Grindstone I had the plan to consume only sports nutrition products, broth, and Coke and avoid real food, and I almost screwed my whole race with those damned tater tots. There are times in these races that you can't stick to the plan anymore and have to adjust and problem solve, and that's one of the things that I love the most about ultra running. But I sure wasn't at that point when I jammed those greasy taters down my pie hole at 3:00 AM in the middle of nowhere VA.
I'm such an idiot!!!
Best memories of other guys’ training or races in 2018:
Most everything has been covered here, by people with much better notebook skills than I. As
@Juxtatarot referenced, I often feel like what I do is a totally different sport than what most of the rest of you do. But I'm constantly inspired by the newer runners in here, and their passion for learning. And by the wily vets, lunging and run-streaking their way to ridiculously fast finishes. And by you fast 5K/10K dudes, knocking out paces that I couldn't hit in 400M repeats on the track. And by those of you finding time to not only run, but swim (really far, in
@JAA's case!) and bike as well. More than anything, it's the camaraderie and accountability in this place that makes it awesome.
I will specifically call out two that haven't been touched on much by others that really stood out to me (for obvious reasons):
@SteelCurtain chewing up his first 50 miler at JFK in under 10 hours. Dude just puts in the work, and it showed on race day.
@SayWhat?'s 100 mile finish and Western States qualifier (and course PR) at Superior. I know you've got a lot going on with a young family and work, but I'd sure love to see what you could do with a training block worthy of your natural talent. Maybe
when you get into States?
Other experiences or comments:
Just the total mind#### that was the last several hours of Grindstone. I thought starting to hallucinate at dusk on Saturday was bad, but little did I know what was ahead of me as the night went on.
Goal(s) for 2019:
1. The only treadmill I ever get on is the seemingly never-ending lottery cycle for Western States and Hardrock. I've got a qualifier for HR already (each lasts 2 years), so the #1 goal for the year is to get my States qualifier. Miwok 100K on May 4th is the target here.
2. Speaking of Miwok, I'll pretty much need to set a 100K PR there to get that qualifier. The cutoff is 15:30, and my current PR is 15:17 set at Quicksilver back in 2015. I'd love to get sub-15:00 so I'll throw that out there.
3. Set new PRs in distance, time, elevation. 2019 miles sounds like a good goal, and 300,000' of elevation gain.
4. Keep learning about the 100 mile distance. I don't have one on the calendar yet, but I do plan on running one in 2019 to continue to learn. They are each unique beasts, even the same course on different years, so the more experience I have the better. Maybe I'll run two of them????
5. Get healthier. Eat mindfully, lose weight, and incorporate strength work.
6. Volunteer more. Whiffed that one in 2018, time to give more back to this sport that has meant so much to me.
7. Enjoy the process.
Strava already thinks it's 2019, so Happy New Year's to all of you BMFers!
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