What do you do in late June when the temperature drops unseasonably low and the kids are still in school for three more days? You put in your probably last trouble free long run (that doesn’t start at 5am) for the next two months!
The weather has been a roller coaster, switching from season to season in a very tight 3-4 day cycle. I’m sure this is not exclusive to Southern Ontario. I’m certain this accelerated weather is just the way it’s going to be from now on.
So, after some brutally hot days to officially start summer, a day with a high of 17c is a welcome change. I’ve been mulling a workout that mimics a Backyard Ultra and I thought I’d give it a go. A Backyard, for those who don’t know, is a race course that is 6.7 kilometres in length. Your goal to continue on in the event is to finish that distance in under an hour and be ready to start the next loop at the top of the hour. It’s not about speed, you just need to finish the lap in time to start again. It’s simply about being the last person standing.
Near home is a set of trails that are seldom busy and I have weaved a course that’s around 6km. My plan to get the feel of that backyard style racing was to do a loop, followed by a forced break where I walk a short distance to my parked vehicle, drink water and a have a bite of a Clif Bar.
The Result
I ended up doing five loops, covering 31.46 kilometres over three hours and 41 minutes. I definitely could have gone more but I ran out of time. I went through two litres of water and a single Clif Bar. That was a lot of fuel for someone who doesn’t usually take in much water during even a 20km run and very seldom eats during a run, no matter the length.
The course has a 1/2 mile loop near the start that is rather technical. It’s not elevation or a rocky surface. It’s simple a rough trail that at no point is flat. The surface is full of divots from trees that have long ago fallen and rotted away. Roots needed to be avoided on each and every step.
On my regular runs using these trails, I might pass over this section 2-4 times and it doesn’t seem that bad. On this run, I passed over it twice per full loop for a total of ten times. It simply caused a total loss of rhythm for nearly a full kilometre each time through.
The rest of the trail is fairly smooth but most is a minefield of tree roots. I didn’t trip often but when I did, it was nearly run ending. The funny thing is, I tripped on the exact same root not once but twice. The first time, I was able to catch myself and stay standing. The second time, I hit the dirt pretty hard.
As far as other natural hazards, I came across a large wild animal. At first, I thought I was dealing with a coyote, fox or something else of that size. It turns out, it was a wild turkey. It was a bit out of it’s element, all alone and walking through a pretty thick section of forest. We passed within a few feet of each other but there was no conflict…
Moving Forward
The details are still being finalized but there should be a Backyard Ultra somewhat close to me in mid November. Once it’s for sure a reality, I’ll be one of the first to register. To prepare, I’ll simply continue to work the long runs and put up the mileage with the ultimate goal of being injury-free.
I think mimicking the run, like I did yesterday, with identical loops and regular breaks, is definitely part of my plan. I need to train myself to eat and drink more while running. I need to train myself to be able to stop and then start again after a pause.
There’s also a psychological aspect to this style of run. 6.7km is not short by most people’s standards. But, after several loops, it does become monotonous. Mimicking this repetition can only help to prepare the mind. The route I ran yesterday included a few sub loops within the main loop. After a few laps, simply navigating the course took some effort.
Recovery
I’m writing this 24 hours later. I contemplated taking a run this morning but needed to get an oil change on the vehicle before work at 11am. But, I feel I had recovered enough to go for a run 24 hours later. I will be heading out later in the day for a jaunt, for sure.