Further always doesn't mean better brother surely. The point is did you have that FUN & JOY in the driver seat? I tried Backyard Ultra format in 2024 & 2025, ran 24 Hour Stadium Run in 2024 & 2025 but pulled the plug on both these formats for 2026 & 2027. I have to know intrinsically where is the pull and it should not be a push. Explore and exploit is what I did.
If you remember I shared with you.
I ran a 100 KM Stadium Run(250 laps) on 24th January in a time of 9:15 whereas the goal was 7:30. I blew up in the second half pretty badly and didn't consume much calories after 55 KM mark and around the 90 KM mark I was peeing dark brown blood and after the race I was having blood in my spits as well. Then I ran a 50 KM race on 8th February where I had goal of running it under 3:45 but ran 4:17 as I chose to run a 2.5 hour run on 7th February.
On 1st March I randomly ran my first ever marathon on fully flat surface and this was my first attempt at 42.2 since I started running. No specific marathon training, no specific speed workouts, no long runs on PMP. Ran a 2:48 on basically sheer aerobic base that I have built and ran 1:22 & 1:26 for 1st & 2nd half.
Then on 7th March(a couple of days ago) I attempted again a 100 KM Stadium Run(250 laps) at the same venue. Ran 8:12 for the 100 KM, improved by 63 minutes in a span of 6 weeks. Even though I had ran a marathon 6 days prior to this effort. My Coros Pace Pro clocked 70 Km in 5:01 but then I had to deal with the fatigue. Gut issues after 39 KM mark and still learning. I know I can run this distance under 7:30. Swinging for the fences approach and nobody lets to tell me that this can't be done. I believe now in taking shots because 100% of the shots not taken are missed, so better take it when the body is healthy. Sometimes we think next time and the next time never comes- might be family obligations/responsibilties, health issue, injury or can be any other thing, If time & health allows, go for the MF thing.
This might be a total opposite way of doing things in context to what you have wrote in this blog but want to do this. Now I shifting to trails for the next couple of months and less shorter efforts as I can't afford to put my body through chronic load which I won't recover from.
To put it- registering for races is the fun part at the start and then we backtrack everything from there in order to everything in alignment to our goals for that particular day. but when we feel like we aren't that ready, our expectations take a jolt and also our identity as an athlete but we need to be at peace is what I have understood. Being able to run in itself is a privilege which I have to cherish. Hope your fitness comes around brother for the races with the consistent work you have been putting in, just believe in the work you have been putting. And sometimes we can go a bit under prepared and sometimes we can go a lot under prepared as well and still amaze our selves by the efforts we can still put out in races. You can opt for this if you wish to if the races aren't that long.
Totally fair. Appreciate the different perspective. I also have to say that I don’t see it as black and white. If you are not trying something you might think you can’t do, you will never find out.
I just have found, for myself that this all has to come from a base of proper training. I would run a 5k this weekend. I wouldn’t do a 50k. Its just unrealistic.
What you describe is having the right base. The volume under your feet. The trust that you can sustain this for a while. And then, heck, go for it absolutely. I thrive in races. I can never push myself that hard in training. On race day I’m mentally completely different. But this comes from having the training to back this up.
Like you said, it’s about the process. Love the training. Love what you do. Have joy. I think right now this was/is missing a bit with all the small niggles and pains. Haven’t had a good stretch of training in a while so this gets the main priority.
Once the base is there I’m already looking forward to getting back into races!
Your compass-not-deadline concept is right on. A similar framing I try to give myself is "options, not obligations" for race entries (and so many other things — an unread book on the shelf, a block of training time or writing time, etc.). There may be times when we choose to believe the useful fiction that a given option isn't optional, and I guess that's ok if it's truly a conscious decision (and not driven by sunk costs or a misreading of the compass, etc.). Nice post — thanks.
And yes, making a given option not optional is absolutely valid with the important nuance you mentioned. I often find this is easier said than done, though. I'm easily excitable...
This is very good. Sorry to hear about the situation but it resonates a lot. I’ve had on/off health stuff that’s really affected my training. Recently I’ve been able to increase volume but have had to cut intensity. It’s hard to sit and think whether things are passing you by but your approach is right. For me there’s one route in the UK I want to do, but having failed twice I’ll only go back from a place of strength. I’ve had to accept that probably won’t be this year, and as I’m getting older may not happen. But I’m focusing on the joy in what I am able to do.
I’ve got Chianti soon, which is do different for me — very runnable, fast 50km course. It’s a different kind of challenge as I’ve normally went for more difficult courses but I’m enjoying trying to get better at sustained running again after years of long steep climbs.
As encouragement to you — I ran 100km for the first time at 38, and didn’t complete a race at that distance until last year at 42. In my experience there’s trade offs but training better and listening to the body are giving me good results. I’m unlikely to get my 5k pace back at this age, but longer distances there’s benefits to years of experience.
If you do choose to do Lavaredo, I’ll see you there.
"But I’m focusing on the joy in what I am able to do." - and in the end that is what truly matters right? If we do what we enjoy day in and day out its already enough. I find it so fascinating how much pull a special event can have, be it a race, a certain route, fkt or anything outside our comfort zone.
It's a bit like you said with Chianti: a different kind of challenge, one that mixes up your training. And sometimes the joy comes from exactly that. Mixing it up. Having to do things a bit different. Can be super exciting.
Thanks for the encouragement! Also kudos for trying it over and over again. Its so easy to compare your own story to all the highlights you see everywhere but you rarely see someone sharing their struggles or their own timeline. Thank you for that!
Also have a great race at Chianti! And yes maybe we see each other in Cortina, would be nice!
Further always doesn't mean better brother surely. The point is did you have that FUN & JOY in the driver seat? I tried Backyard Ultra format in 2024 & 2025, ran 24 Hour Stadium Run in 2024 & 2025 but pulled the plug on both these formats for 2026 & 2027. I have to know intrinsically where is the pull and it should not be a push. Explore and exploit is what I did.
If you remember I shared with you.
I ran a 100 KM Stadium Run(250 laps) on 24th January in a time of 9:15 whereas the goal was 7:30. I blew up in the second half pretty badly and didn't consume much calories after 55 KM mark and around the 90 KM mark I was peeing dark brown blood and after the race I was having blood in my spits as well. Then I ran a 50 KM race on 8th February where I had goal of running it under 3:45 but ran 4:17 as I chose to run a 2.5 hour run on 7th February.
On 1st March I randomly ran my first ever marathon on fully flat surface and this was my first attempt at 42.2 since I started running. No specific marathon training, no specific speed workouts, no long runs on PMP. Ran a 2:48 on basically sheer aerobic base that I have built and ran 1:22 & 1:26 for 1st & 2nd half.
Then on 7th March(a couple of days ago) I attempted again a 100 KM Stadium Run(250 laps) at the same venue. Ran 8:12 for the 100 KM, improved by 63 minutes in a span of 6 weeks. Even though I had ran a marathon 6 days prior to this effort. My Coros Pace Pro clocked 70 Km in 5:01 but then I had to deal with the fatigue. Gut issues after 39 KM mark and still learning. I know I can run this distance under 7:30. Swinging for the fences approach and nobody lets to tell me that this can't be done. I believe now in taking shots because 100% of the shots not taken are missed, so better take it when the body is healthy. Sometimes we think next time and the next time never comes- might be family obligations/responsibilties, health issue, injury or can be any other thing, If time & health allows, go for the MF thing.
This might be a total opposite way of doing things in context to what you have wrote in this blog but want to do this. Now I shifting to trails for the next couple of months and less shorter efforts as I can't afford to put my body through chronic load which I won't recover from.
To put it- registering for races is the fun part at the start and then we backtrack everything from there in order to everything in alignment to our goals for that particular day. but when we feel like we aren't that ready, our expectations take a jolt and also our identity as an athlete but we need to be at peace is what I have understood. Being able to run in itself is a privilege which I have to cherish. Hope your fitness comes around brother for the races with the consistent work you have been putting in, just believe in the work you have been putting. And sometimes we can go a bit under prepared and sometimes we can go a lot under prepared as well and still amaze our selves by the efforts we can still put out in races. You can opt for this if you wish to if the races aren't that long.
Totally fair. Appreciate the different perspective. I also have to say that I don’t see it as black and white. If you are not trying something you might think you can’t do, you will never find out.
I just have found, for myself that this all has to come from a base of proper training. I would run a 5k this weekend. I wouldn’t do a 50k. Its just unrealistic.
What you describe is having the right base. The volume under your feet. The trust that you can sustain this for a while. And then, heck, go for it absolutely. I thrive in races. I can never push myself that hard in training. On race day I’m mentally completely different. But this comes from having the training to back this up.
Like you said, it’s about the process. Love the training. Love what you do. Have joy. I think right now this was/is missing a bit with all the small niggles and pains. Haven’t had a good stretch of training in a while so this gets the main priority.
Once the base is there I’m already looking forward to getting back into races!
Thanks for the words, Sudhanshu!
Your compass-not-deadline concept is right on. A similar framing I try to give myself is "options, not obligations" for race entries (and so many other things — an unread book on the shelf, a block of training time or writing time, etc.). There may be times when we choose to believe the useful fiction that a given option isn't optional, and I guess that's ok if it's truly a conscious decision (and not driven by sunk costs or a misreading of the compass, etc.). Nice post — thanks.
Thanks Jeff! Happy to hear it resonated.
And yes, making a given option not optional is absolutely valid with the important nuance you mentioned. I often find this is easier said than done, though. I'm easily excitable...
“The dream is a compass, not a deadline.“
This is very good. Sorry to hear about the situation but it resonates a lot. I’ve had on/off health stuff that’s really affected my training. Recently I’ve been able to increase volume but have had to cut intensity. It’s hard to sit and think whether things are passing you by but your approach is right. For me there’s one route in the UK I want to do, but having failed twice I’ll only go back from a place of strength. I’ve had to accept that probably won’t be this year, and as I’m getting older may not happen. But I’m focusing on the joy in what I am able to do.
I’ve got Chianti soon, which is do different for me — very runnable, fast 50km course. It’s a different kind of challenge as I’ve normally went for more difficult courses but I’m enjoying trying to get better at sustained running again after years of long steep climbs.
As encouragement to you — I ran 100km for the first time at 38, and didn’t complete a race at that distance until last year at 42. In my experience there’s trade offs but training better and listening to the body are giving me good results. I’m unlikely to get my 5k pace back at this age, but longer distances there’s benefits to years of experience.
If you do choose to do Lavaredo, I’ll see you there.
"But I’m focusing on the joy in what I am able to do." - and in the end that is what truly matters right? If we do what we enjoy day in and day out its already enough. I find it so fascinating how much pull a special event can have, be it a race, a certain route, fkt or anything outside our comfort zone.
It's a bit like you said with Chianti: a different kind of challenge, one that mixes up your training. And sometimes the joy comes from exactly that. Mixing it up. Having to do things a bit different. Can be super exciting.
Thanks for the encouragement! Also kudos for trying it over and over again. Its so easy to compare your own story to all the highlights you see everywhere but you rarely see someone sharing their struggles or their own timeline. Thank you for that!
Also have a great race at Chianti! And yes maybe we see each other in Cortina, would be nice!