big dog’s backyard ultra: hours 51 and 52:
it came time for a nap,
i realized it when i tried to wait on the tracking sheet to all get updated.
the important thing was that i not oversleep the next whistle
which depends on your definition of oversleep!
i performed all of the functions to start the 52nd yard,
but i was still gathering my wits after the third 30 minute nao of the event.
sleep is one of the skills an elite backyard runner needs to master.
not that anyone is going to get “adequate” sleep during those few minutes between yards.
but that all depends on what you mean by adequate.
you need to have the sleeping space,
be it a cot or a chair,
set up and waiting when you come in from the yard
and go directly to it
sit or lie down and close your eyes.
it really isnt important if you believe you are actually sleeping or not.
just sitting still for 5 to 10 minutes with your eyes closed does serve a purpose.
it will somewhat refresh you.
and it is entirely possible to drift in and out of actual sleep without ever realizing it.
sleep, like every other function takes some practice to do in the limited time between yards
and it is certainly true that what you get will not replace an actual sleep period.
the distribution of sleep breaks is individualized
and requires some experimentation to determine what works best for you.
some prefer to take the normal nighttime sleeping time
and take a sleep break during every interloopal period.
others, like myself,
would rather take short sleep breaks only when an uncontrollable urge to sleep makes them necessary.
while you might want to make a little faster yard in order to buy a slightly longer sleep
you do not want to run hard to get that time
because it is harder to settle into a sleep mode
with the heart pumping extra hard.
sleep breaks as short as a minute can actually serve some purpose,
but i think the optimal time is 5-10 minutes.
these satisfy the need to “go to” sleep
and while that may not fulfill all the functions of sleep.
it will stop your eyes from uncontrollably shutting.
sleeping longer than that (which is not actually an issue during a backyard) will leave you groggy and disoriented for a short time.
from the race director perspective
i have done my sleeps in the same pattern as the racers
1-5 minute instant naps between race duties and the next set of whistles.
not every hour but as available.
the total over time averages to about 1 minute per hour
in blocks of 1 to 5 minutes.
that works for me for up to about 4 days,
and then there are issues with sub-optimal brain function.
so for elite level backyards i prefer 1 or 2 30-minute naps per day
realizing that following the nap there will be a short period that i am severely groggy
and maybe a little disoriented.
i can still perform a routine function like the whistles and bells,
but you wouldnt want to try to talk to me.
a last point.
these days i stay up without a real sleep from 2-4 days a number of times a year.
the after effects are eliminated by sleeping.
there is no long lasting aftereffect.
