The 52.4 Ultra challenge at the San Francisco Marathon was last week, and I’ve been thinking about it since. There was a big training build up to race day, including high-milage weeks, a confidence-building marathon, and a 6-hour race. I’ve only run once since race day, but am writing this blog post in running clothes as I’m planning to go out for a run after. But first, I wanted to write a post revisiting last Sunday and X additional thoughts about running back-to-back marathons.
Trying to fall asleep at 4 in the afternoon is hard.
You think it would be like taking an afternoon nap, but I think a little pre-race excitement or nervous energy kept me awake. I was also texting friends, which made it difficult. HA. Having breakfast at 9 pm was a little strange, too.
5-hour runs are not created equal.
I tend to get in some really early morning runs in which require the use of reflective gear or headlamps, but usually the sun comes up an hour or so after. Running for 5+ hours in the dark without closed roads and trying to make all the right turns was a challenge. Thankfully Chris (who I was running with) is a PRO at managing the course. The second marathon was by far easier than the first. Our second marathon was about 20 minutes slower than the first, which isn’t too bad.
Lite-up shoes for the win!
When your shoes light up when light hits them and you are wearing a headlamp, it can be fun to look at your shoes while running. I was running in my ASICS Kayano lite-show shoes and when I looked down, they lit up. I tried not to get mesmerized by looking down, but it was a pretty cool site. I kept thinking, I need to look where I’m going… but LOOK… my shoes are pretty.
The power of the sun can help rejuvenate a runner, kind of like Superman.
Okay. Total nerd alert, but Superman gets energy from the sun… now you know. I kept thinking that once the sun came up after the first marathon, that I would have a surge of energy. It definitely helped. It wasn’t like I was all of a sudden running on fresh legs, but being able to take off the headlamp and extra layers helped. I was also able to see where I was going blocks-ahead of me. When you run with a headlamp, you can only really see a few feet in front of you. Being able to look up and see three blocks ahead, allows you to be like: “okay, run to that corner, then we turn.” It helped.
Where is my medal for the FIRST marathon?
I know it’s not all about the medals… but really, it’s all about the medals. I walked away with 2 medals for running 2 marathons, which I guess makes sense. But THREE makes more sense. 1 for the midnight marathon. 1 for the second marathon, and 1 for running both. If you think about it, if I had stopped after the first marathon, I would have walked away with zero medal… hmmm. I think that might be the ONLY thing I would change about the 52.4 challenge (same with shirts).
Would I do it again?
This is probably the one question that I have been thinking about the most. On the walk back to the car I remember telling wifey “I don’t think I would do it again” and she said “ya, right. We’ll see.” I guess she knows me a little too well. I really loved the challenge, and I really loved how the day played out. But would I run it again? I’m closer to answering that with a yes then I was seven days ago, but I think the circumstances would have to be right. It’s mandatory that I would want to do it with friends. I don’t see myself running it solo. Having Chris there was perfect. I think we picked each other up when we were struggling and it was the best being able to experience something together for the first time.
How long do you reminisce after a race?
I’m in! Let’s lock it in for 2015 no joke! #PaveyAndSharpie52
Random question about the extra medals + t-shirts…what part of special swag was the motivator? Honest question, not snark, as having people knowing of + waiting to hear about the 2nd marathon would have been a pretty solid motivator for me.
Thanks for the question… it can be both. I was definitely motivated by the energy on social and kept thinking “I have to finish this, otherwise I have to explain to everyone that I was “tired.” The medals, swag, shirts are more of a celebration AFTER the fact for me. As time passes, looking back at a medal or wearing a shirt brings back good memories…
Incredible!!!
I can’t imagine how hard it must have been mentally running in the dark for so long. I’ve done some earlier runs with a headlamp and you’re right, it stinks. I also run less populated routes so I’m always afraid of a run in with some sort of critter, which is also why I don’t really run by myself before dawn anymore. If I have a race that’s particularly eventful (PDR, PR), I’ll reminisce for a longer time than run of the mill races. (I still reminisce about my first marathon, which is also my marathon PR.)
Those shoes look amazing! Me need and I agree. Three medals would’ve been way better…Come run STL with me. You’ll get three there. ;)
I love that you were motivated by your shoes! I am sure you will be doing this again with friends.
Ha, mesmerized by your shoes! I love it. Yeah, can’t imagine trying sleep at 4 PM. I mean, maybe if I “trained” for that…lol!
I would totally get distracted by lite up shoes!! haha
That’s impressive, 54 miles – well done buddy! Did you stop to have meals? Or did you eat them while running continuously? Man, can’t even imagine!
I sort of ate as I ran… there was some down time between the two marathons that you could grab a bite to eat, it was up to each runner. I packed PB&J sandwiches to eat, but that didn’t work out as well as I had hoped.
Would it have been a better idea for SFM to simply have 1 special 52.4 medal for the challenge? This seems better than giving out 3 medals.
They had a special medal for the 52.4 runners only… we all received that in addition to the medal for the SFM full.