big dog’s backyard ultra hour 39:
as we sit here on the cusp of 40 hours,
i was thinking about one of the least appreciated aspects of elite level backyard running.
at its heart backyard is a fun game
like we used to play as kids.
only about 5% of backyard runners go 24 hours.
24 hours is special.
40 hours,
the number that is coming up soon
at that point the backyard undergoes a change,
at the elite level
when you are talking 70 hours or more,
you are talking about running for 2 or 3 days
before the actual racing starts.
the thing is,
it is still no mean feat to run for 24 hours.
that is hard in and of itself.
and it doesnt get easier just because you “can” run for 3 days or 4.
there is no magic that allows you to go without sleep for two days without getting tired
or run 200 miles without being stiff or sore.
if you look at the field at the belgian satellite or new zealand
you would see 15 runners who looked exactly like they were approaching 40 hours of running.
they are stiff
and bleary eyed.
there is no physical magic that gives them the ability to do this,
and then know they are going to run further than this again.
i think it is almost more amazing to do the first day of a 4 day run than it is to do the 4th.
for me, just directing the race
the first day is the hardest…
staying up all night one night is relatively easy.
i have done that a lot.
but that same all nighter,
when you know you have to do it again the next night.
and then the night after that
and probably the next night as well…
how can you not think,
if i am this tired now, what is it going to be like tomorrow
and the next day
and the next.
the guys on this team
have already done a 24 hour 100 mile.
they are over halfway through a second 24 hour 100 mile.
and they have come in fully expecting to do a third.
and that is just to reach the point where they think the race begins,
a single 24 hour 100 mile is a significant achievement.
no.
it is hard to wrap our heads around what these people can do.
and the whole thing is actually more amazing than that.
