40 at 40: CHECK!
GOAL COMPLETE!
Stats! Run is done!!! 40.06 miles (plus a bit more, but I wanted to hit save just in case!!!), 8 hours, 28 min. with a 12:41 pace. Not fast, but I’ll take it! Boston, MA – mile 40+.
My intent was to write. Write a lot. Or at least write a lot more about my journey from running about twice a week to running 40 miles in 24 hours. As I said before, life gets (and did get) in the way and something had to give. But, not the goal. Goal met, box checked, all done! 40 miles in 8 hours, 28 minutes and 18 seconds. Woohooo!
The journey of getting to the point I could run 40 miles and the run itself were amazing experiences. I want to say magical, even. Let’s be real, though. 40 miles is no walk in Disney World, (should it be???? That would be a great race!! I digress…), but the way I feel now having met that goal – stupendous! The journey and the 40 were painful and stressful at times, but there wasn’t a moment I would change and I would totally do it again.
How was the run?
The week leading up to the run was so so. I was convinced I was on the cusp of a derailing injury, dealing with lower calf and heel pain in addition to a number of other niggles. I took it easy, running only twice for a total of 6 miles and swimming twice for almost 3 miles. I figured that even though I wasn’t locked into a race time, I didn’t want to move the date because I would lose some of my stamina with the rest I had been taking and who knew what the weather was going to be like the next weekend. My mindset going into the 40 miles was that this particular Saturday was going to be the optimal day, that I was going to go with the aches and pains until just before they reached a stage I would need to go to a doctor, and if that was before I reached 40 miles, that was okay.
6:20 something and about to head out the door. Temps are in the low 50’s, warming to 70’s and partly cloudy all day. Perfect running weather! Westford, MA- mile 0.
The run started off great. It was in the 50’s and forecasted to be partly cloudy for the day with highs in the 70’s. I started with my husband for the first few miles. When I had planned this run, I intended to do the whole thing solo, but it was AWESOME having him with me for the beginning. He kept my mind off the miles, as in “there goes mile 1 – only 39 more to go!” I wanted to see those first miles pass fast and having a partner there made it happen. Having him there also took my mind off the niggles. The niggles are like a sore throat. You keep swallowing to see if it is still there, but you only make it worse. If not for Jason it would have been a rough start!
Heart Pond, Chelmsford, MA – Mile 6
After he left, I was on my own until about 16.5 miles where he drove to meet me with the boys. Again, I had planned to go solo and hit gas stations, CVS’s and Dunkin Donuts, but knowing that I was going to see them and spend a few minutes with them made me forget the nagging pains. I refueled and was off again! I went solo until about 25.5 miles, where I met with my in-laws. I had stopped at a CVS to get a mid-run snack of Gatorade and pretzels at about 21 miles, so when I saw them I was ready for another nibble and refill. I filled up my water and grabbed a Honey Stinger waffle, then headed to the next checkpoint at 33.5 miles. This time, my father-law ran with me. For eight miles we mostly ran, but walked a little, too. At this point, it hurt…a lot.
This type of hurt was weird. It’s hard to describe. I was in intense pain, but extremely happy. The pain was the type that if I were to bend to reach my shoes it would cause me to wince and grunt, (which is why when my foot was swelling I let my father-in-law, who so graciously offered to, loosen my laces). But, the pain couldn’t penetrate my inner core. The pain, while potent was only peripheral. Peripheral to my goal, to the beautiful day, to my thoughts and to the company I was keeping.
Happy to run with my father-in-law, Bruce. Fresh Pond, Cambridge, MA – mile 33.
At 33.5, Pop and I met up with Jason, the boys and Nana. We were on a walk stretch when we spied them off in the distance. So what did we do? Start running of course! Who goes into a checkpoint walking?!?! I filled up on snacks like pretzels and Gatorade, then filled up the my waters and packed another Honey Stinger waffle, Gu and Gin Gin. I was off again! Only 6.5 miles left!
I knew that I was going to be walking a decent amount towards the end. I started with run 3/4 of a mile, walk a 1/4 mile, and as I got closer to 37 miles, I went to run 0.3, walk 0.2 miles. I think it was just before 37 miles that I had to stop and sit. There were no benches nearby, so I just found a clean patch of grass. It was only for a minute or two, but I had to get off my feet. If anyone was watching me, they must have had a laugh seeing me get back up! As I neared the Science Museum at mile 39, I forgot about the pain. I texted Jason to meet up and made a beeline for Faneuil Hall. I wasn’t about to kick-in and do a seven minute mile, but I could suck-up the pain with only a mile left to go:-)
When I heard the beep from my watch, I almost jumped up in the air, but then I kept running because I didn’t want to chance hitting save, upload the distance and have it show up as 39.9 miles (I’ve had that happen before!) I know, I know, I know…I would have known it was 40 miles…but it’s really not the same! So I ran for just a little more and hit stop and save right away (didn’t want to chance losing it). I almost yelled “I just ran 40 freakin’ miles!” but I kept it in and did a little happy dance. Just a few more blocks from Faneuil Hall, I ran a bit more until I saw my men. Hive fives, smelly hugs, and then we were off to get a change of clothes and shoes, then to get some salty pretzels.
Me and my boys, Sam and Ben, after the finish just outside Faneuil Hall. So happy to see them and my hubby (taking the pitcture). Boston, MA – mile 40+.
Me and my oldest son, Sam, at Faneuil Hall eating some much needed salty food! Boston, MA – mile 40+.
Takeaways
Was this a success? Absolutely! I wasn’t running for time, I was running to finish. I have a running history, but I was not “active” when I started training for this. I began with a nearly non-existent base (maybe 12-16 miles per week, longest run in the last six months 6 or 7 miles) and worked up to 40 mile weeks with a long run of at least 20 miles, running five days a week. Had I incorporated more miles, I think I might have incurred more injuries. I often swam during my one of my non-running and I think that helped, too.
What helped? Swimming and lower total mileage as I said above. Dynamic stretching and body weight training. My gear: Ultimate Direction vest for water and fuel, Zensah Compression sleeves, Squirrel’s Nut Butter. My fuel: Honey Stinger Waffles, Gu Energy Gels and coconut water.
I had tried a belt to carry my water and fuel during training runs, but because of my hips I had to keep it tight around my waist, making it hard to breath. The Ultimate Direction vest was light and held all my fuel. It was perfect!
After I did 18 and 24 miles, my calves were rock hard and all knotted up. I was sore for a few days following the runs. I wore the Zensah compression sleeves for the 40 miles…calves were fine! Didn’t hurt at all the next day. I don’t think I would do another run over 15 miles without them.
Squirrel’s Nut Butter…this stuff is awesome! I have used other anti-chafing sticks, but this one is all I would ever use again. It goes on smooth, stays on unless there is a whole lot of rain out there, and it comes off when you want it to. Also, it doesn’t have a scent, which I appreciate. After the 40, I only had two chafing spots. One was where my shirt shifted under the vest and the other was under my armpit by my sports bra where I had forgotten to put the butter. Everywhere I put it…no chafing.
Waffles are just delicious. Honey Stinger waffles, …yummmm! They really are like a cookie treat in the middle of your run. The Gu Gels are also tasty and super easy to consume while running. Both were great on all my training runs and final run. Especially when I didn’t feel like eating, they fit the bill. I knew I had to keep fueling and these two items sat nice and easy in my stomach, tasted pretty good and were easy to carry around.
One other thing that helped that I would definitely consider moving forward are friends and family. If someone offers to help at a station or pace you or just run with you, take them up on it. I didn’t think it would help, but it made a huge difference!
Will I do another? I would very much like to do another, but there are some things to consider. One is the time commitment. I don’t want to shortchange my family or health. So, the answer is yes, but when, I am not sure. The pain was there but doesn’t deter me from doing it again. I am definitely curious about a 50 mi, or even a 100 mi! An Ironman would also be cool, but I don’t have a bike:-/ …yet:-)
Would I recommend doing this? I 100% would recommend doing this (or something like it). It isn’t for everyone and if you have never run before, I would expect to build up over six to nine months and to really, really, really make an effort to listen to your body! And, maybe this isn’t your challenge. Maybe climbing a mountain peak or swimming a certain distance or biking a certain distance is more your speed. Or even running for speed instead of distance. Pick your poison:-) It’s really about taking a challenge that seems nearly ludicrous and doing it – overcoming self-doubt, pain and life’s obstacles to get to your goal. That is the glorious point to all of it.
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Acton, MA – mile 9
Charles F. Hurley Building shown in the movie The Departed….surely it has seen better days! Boston, MA -almost mile 40.
Best husband and family ever! I came home to find this- a trophy and map of my route! Very cool to sit back and take in:-) . Westford, MA – mile 0…what’s next?
Just finishing my resupply stop with Jason and the boys as I move to the Reformatory Branch Trail, Concord, MA – mile 16.
My excited face! My father-in-law, Bruce, and I just outside Kingsly Park, Cambridge, MA – mile 33.5.
So happy to see the Charles! Cambridge Boat Club, Cambridge, MA – mile 34.5.
Awesome sight at mile 20! Reformatory Branch Trail, Bedford, MA – mile 20.