Some Crazy Things Runners Do

[PeteS in CA]

I thought I'd do a thread about some of the more extreme stuff runners do. Since today is a how-many-miles-can-you-do-in # hours event ...

Dirty Dozen Run

https://brazenracing.com/dirtydozen/race-info/

The course is a 3.37 mile loop with approximately 98% dirt fire trails. Total elevation gain on the loop is about 150 feet. An additional .42 mile loop will be available to run for the last hour of each timed event -- starting at hour 2 for the 3-hour runners, hour 5 for the 6-hour runners and hour 11 for the 12-hour runners.

Runners will enjoy panoramic vistas of the bay offering views of seven counties and about that many bridges.

So, dirt fire trails ... 12 hour event (and other times) ... Dirty Dozen Run

I'm going to "cheat" and quote my description of the course from my review on Race Raves, https://raceraves.com/races/dirty-dozen-half-dozen-endurance-runs/ :

The venue for Dirty Dozen is Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park. Brazen uses this park for two other races during the year – Nitro Trail and Nitro Turkey. Dirty Dozen uses just the 5K (actually 3.37 miles) course of those races, that loops around half of the point. 6-hour and 12-hour runners do as many laps as they can during their chosen time (insert “loopy” joke here).

In the final hour of each event a .6 mile loop comes into use for those who think they cannot do one more full lap in their remaining time, but want to do another mile or two. The short loop goes about a quarter mile out on the main loop, crosses a hill, and then returns by the last part of the main loop to the start/finish area.

The course is, in my opinion, among Brazen’s more beautiful courses. It runs along the shore for a while, goes through a eucalyptus grove for a bit, then runs along a cliff above the shore, then climbs (not too steep) through the eucalyptus grove to an exposed ridge with panoramic views of San Pablo Bay, and then back to the start/finish area. The weather in 2016 was pleasantly mild, with a pleasant cool breeze while running along the exposed ridge. The course is probably 30%-40% shade, lessening some when the sun is nearly overhead.

Also happening today is Salt Point Trail Run & Camping Experience, https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Jenner/SaltPointCampRunExperience . Because it's somewhat remote, a bit north of Jenner on the Sonoma Coast, coming a night or two before race day and staying at the venue's campground is suggested (or a motel). Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park is beautiful; the Sonoma and Mendocino Counties coast along State Highway 1 is stunning! I'd love to do it, but just the 9K starts with ~924', 2 miles continuous uphill. Waaaaayyyyyy beyond my current abilities. The longest distance in the event is 50K, 31.1 miles.

[PeteS in CA]

A FB friend won 3rd place overall in the 12 hour at Dirty Dozen, and second place among women with 66.55 miles. I'm pretty sure she's completed at least one 100-mile limited-time event.

[mountaineer]

The wife of one of my high school classmates took up ultramarathon running at age 55 after successful cancer treatment. She's now one of the tops in her age group. Her most recent race - 135 miles - was accomplished eight months after hip replacement. A little crazy? Perhaps, but certainly inspirational.

[PeteS in CA]

The wife of one of my high school classmates took up ultramarathon running at age 55 after successful cancer treatment. She's now one of the tops in her age group. Her most recent race - 135 miles - was accomplished eight months after hip replacement. A little crazy? Perhaps, but certainly inspirational.

135 miles? My longest distance, in a 6 hour endurance event, was 18.46 miles. That was not recent.

I've seen reports this week via FB of a 100-miler in the eastern US being cancelled due to weather. Several running friends did this event yesterday, https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/SantaCruz/SanLorenzoRiverTrailRun . It starts in a park in Santa Cruz and follows the Son Lorenzo River up to a park in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Felton. It has distances of 10K, half marathon, 30K, marathon, and 50K. There's a river crossing along the course, which the half marathon and 30K courses cross twice and the marathon and 50K cross 4 times (the water, from pix on the website, looks to be thigh deep). The 10K elevation profile is pretty challenging, and for the other distances gets near-crazy. Even the 10K is beautiful, running or walking (me) through pine and redwood forest, and the longer the more beautiful.

37 runners finished the 50K, 28 the marathon, 44 the 30K, 129 the half (including 2 friends), and 104 the 10K.

[bigheadfred]

Back in my running days the most I ran was 15 miles. I would normally do 5 days of 5-6 miles per day on a flat (quarter mile) track. Running around a flat track might sound boring, but singing ABBA songs in my head pulled me through.

[DB]

Back in my running days the most I ran was 15 miles. I would normally do 5 days of 5-6 miles per day on a flat (quarter mile) track. Running around a flat track might sound boring, but singing ABBA songs in my head pulled me through.

Does that leave mental scars?

[bigheadfred]

Does that leave mental scars?

No not really. It was a crazy thing this runner did.

[Sighlass]

I (as a kid 14-15 y/o) did a 20 mile walk/run. The next morning was interesting, I was so sore. At one time as a Senior I did an under 5 minute mile, not sure I can do the mile now without a limp towards the end.

[PeteS in CA]

I'd be happy to be able to do 15 minute miles in a 5K or 10K!

Last weekend a FB friend in the running community did one of the distances in this event, https://utmb.world . Just combine in your mind Europe, Mont Blanc, and trail running. This is the elevation profile for the 100 mile distance (note that the height scale is in meters, so the start is at ~3300 feet):





Last weekend I did a 5K, "just" a 5K. Wellllll, I didn't look closely enough at the elevation profile. I can walk a flattish 5K in 55-60 minutes. That 5K was so hilly that I had to throw time at it to be able to finish it. It took me an extra 40-45 minutes. There's a thing called "Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness" that affects many/most people. Muscle soreness from a workout is delayed on the order of a day. I'm one who suffers/enjoys DOMS, and as I expected, I started feeling all that climbing - ascent and descent - the following day. What I didn't expect was that it would be about full intensity for 3 days. I was walking a little funny for those days.

[Idiot]

I'd be happy to be able to do 15 minute miles in a 5K or 10K!

Last weekend a FB friend in the running community did one of the distances in this event, https://utmb.world . Just combine in your mind Europe, Mont Blanc, and trail running. This is the elevation profile for the 100 mile distance (note that the height scale is in meters, so the start is at ~3300 feet):





Last weekend I did a 5K, "just" a 5K. Wellllll, I didn't look closely enough at the elevation profile. I can walk a flattish 5K in 55-60 minutes. That 5K was so hilly that I had to throw time at it to be able to finish it. It took me an extra 40-45 minutes. There's a thing called "Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness" that affects many/most people. Muscle soreness from a workout is delayed on the order of a day. I'm one who suffers/enjoys DOMS, and as I expected, I started feeling all that climbing - ascent and descent - the following day. What I didn't expect was that it would be about full intensity for 3 days. I was walking a little funny for those days.

Shoot, I'd be happy to be able to run/jog again.  After knee surgery I'm left to just walking.  I used to love to run, there is nothing better than a runners high.

[roamer_1]

Shoot, I'd be happy to be able to run/jog again.  After knee surgery I'm left to just walking.  I used to love to run, there is nothing better than a runners high.

Yeah me too... I got to get my undercarriage back in order so I can handle enough miles per day to hunt and fish again... At least fish, and be present at hunting camp so someone can fill my tag.