Hampster Endurance 12-Hour Run - Run

This was my first running event over 26 but I was pretty confident that I knew what I was getting into from IM lessons learned. I had a preset plan for pacing, hydration, nutrition, and resting that evolved and changed throughout a very long day. One of the things that I am learning for long events that it is important to be able to adapt as circumstances warrant. A gameplan is helpful but the ability to make good decisions is really key to doing your best.

After a quick group photo at the starting line we were off. Two guys took off very fast and a few of us looked at each and said those guys are either super good or super stupid. They ended up being super good as they started lapping people on the fourth lap. It was very humbling to see serious ultra runners. Also pretty darn inspiring.

The first half of the loop is flat and I planned to run these stretches at about 30 seconds per mile slower than marathon pace and walk up the hills that were along the backside of the lake. Eat and drink at the one aid station each lap. Started with gel, shotblox, and G2 for the first 20 miles before getting really sick of it. Everything went perfectly until about 25 miles. I was about 45 minutes ahead of schedule and thought this is really good or really bad. Didn't take too much longer to figure which one. It was not comfortable to run any slower but I should have walked more frequently to preserve myself better. Being that the park was still open to anyone and it being my home turf I ran into several tri and running buddies who were training that would jog along and chat with me. It was cool because time went by quicker but three times I wasn't paying attention and ran up several of the steeper hills that I should have walked. I noticed this too when running along with other racers that I would enjoy some conversation but would alter my pace or skip a walk zone or miss a bathroom because I was distracted. It was very different from even a marathon in the amount of time you bonded with other racers. I think this was the greatest joy of the day was getting to know some of these people. Hearing their stories, where they were from, what was their motivation, their strategy, their goals. It made a 5k feel very impersonal by comparison. In the latter stages of the race it actually got very lonely at times if you went for an hour or so without some kind of contact with one of your fellow runners.

As I approached 25 miles, I started thinking how nice it would be to just stop at 50k, the distance required to "finish" a 12-hour race. I was cramping and getting tired from going too fast early and I didn't see the point in killing myself for another seven hours with little hope of resurrecting anything close to a real running pace. Timed events on loops make it so easy to just say I've had a good day up to this point. I've got a good 50k time and for a first attempt I can live with that. But as I came up on that mark I ran into Mr. marathon-in-every- state-wise-owl. I told him I felt like crap and was cramping. He just smiled and said eat yourself some potato chips at the aid station. That'll make you feel better. Gotta get some salt in you. I was pretty sick of gels so I figured what the heck. I washed the chips down with some Coke and ohhh did it taste good. I took a few steps out but turned back for another cup of Coke. I was hooked on my crack. This was the first of several winds that came to me in the second half of the race. I starting walking more frequently but felt good when I ran. I was really starting to think I could hit 50 miles and I got really focused and determined.

I had another dark spell at about 40 miles but then I saw my son who had just showed up with a Go Daddy Go sign. He was waving it over his head and came running down the trail to hug me. I decided I would just walk a lap with him and my wife. I was ahead of my goal again and just wanted them to be with me. I don't know what it was but the last seven miles after that I just went into a zone. I felt better than I did 20 miles ago and wished that I could figure out what exactly mentally and/or physically was enabling me to carry on. I actually started pressing pretty hard instead of just surviving. I hit 50 miles, my optimistic goal, at 11:45 and decided that was good enough and hit the stop button on my Garmin and strolled slowly over to the start/finish area.

After the 12 hour clock expired the race director came over and said she had something for me before I left. I figured it was a finisher medal but she said I was third overall and she had an engraved trophy glass for me. I could not believe it. It's been 35 years since my glory days. As sore and tired as I was I could not lay in bed and skip church the next morning. I really felt this was yet another gift to be able to experience this after all I've been through and I just wanted to go and say thanks.

I actually felt really good when I finished. Walked around for 5-10 minutes. Had my podium picture taken and then went straight out to beer and pizza. I was very tired both mentally and physically the day after. I'll start back in training tomorrow.


There is a lot that I learned from the day that will make the next one better especially early pacing and patience. It has been my downfall in the last few marathons that I have run. I have to figure out how to better preserve myself for the latter stages of these long races. .


This is the second year of this race and will continue to grow with a 6 hour option next year. The course is so pretty and is very well suited for a timed event. Great venue for family and spectators to hang out at the park and lake.