For those that get the musical reference, rest assured I will not be wearing “Hammer Pants” for the race :).

Well, that’s that then. I’ve done all of the pushing and growing and training that I can before my attempt to run 50 miles less than 2 weeks from today. Now comes the “Taper”. I still have some training runs this week and next, but they will gradually diminish with the idea that I will be preserving my energy for the race while maintaining the level of fitness that I’ve achieved with the training plan. It feels very counter-intuitive to my body which is saying…”I could get one more run in on the steep Appalachian Trail section” or “I don’t want to get soft before race day”. I’ve actually gotten to the point where I don’t feel right if I don’t run. I start to get restless leg syndrome and some (maybe) imaginary aches and pains start to emerge. So after peaking at just over 70 miles a couple weeks ago, I’ll do 36 this week, and then only 11 miles next week before the race on Saturday Nov, 23rd.

I am feeling some doubts coming into the race. I’m feeling a slight left hamstring/sciatic twinge that started hurting at the end of my last long run. The longest distance I’ve run is still a 50K (31.1 miles) as my longest training run, so there are another 18.9 miles I’ve got to find in the bank to complete 50. Also, all my training has been accompanied by podcasts and sometimes music to fill the long hours and miles. The JFK 50 does not allow ANY earbuds due to safety reasons on the Appalachian Trail section (I don’t see why they disallow them for the flatter remaining 35 miles, but oh well).

But, now I’ve just got to trust in my training and my support team.

I started this training block June 11th while on a business trip to Dallas. Since then, I have run over 1052 miles in 7 States, gone through 3 pairs of road shoes and one pair of trail shoes, averaged 47.8 miles per week topping out at 70 miles in one week.

I set a high and low goal each week based on Bryon Powell’s: Relentless Forward Progress where he provides 2 training plans, one topping out at 50 miles per week and the other at 70 miles per week. I’ve tried to hit the 70 mile numbers while also trying to give myself the grace to meet the challenges of work, family, rescue squad, and well…life!

I’ve completed large portions of the course as part of my training runs. I ran the AT sections (north and south) and most of the C&O canal section in different runs. I’ve scouted the first long road climb out of Boonsboro, MD. The only real unknown is the last 7 or 8 miles on roads at the end.

I am super grateful to have one of my oldest and best friends, Kent Baake, as my crew for the race. Kent is my former climbing partner and an accomplished endurance athlete. He has held the world record for the longest distance for in-line skating in 24 hours and continues to do endurance mountain bike events. I know I’ll be in good hands.

So, really, all I need to do between now and race day is to follow my taper schedule, eat a lot of carbs, pack my race kit, and show up.