Prairie Fire’s fall event is Wichita’s biggest marathon/half-marathon each year.  I have completed the full marathon twice and the half six times as of last Sunday.  I wrote about my anticipation for this year’s Prairie Fire last week.

This race was a blast.  It was different than any other year because of COVID.  There was no expo the day before or runners’ village the day of.  Start times were staggered and masks were required until crossing the start line onto the course.  There was no live music and fewer spectators.  But the race went on.

The uniqueness of this year made it special.  This was the first race for many of the participants, and definitely the first half/full marathon in quite some time.  We were all happy to be there, giving the event a very special vibe.  I’ll always remember this one.

At the end of the day, I finished in 1 hour, 41 minutes, 53 seconds which was good enough for 4^th place in men’s 45-49.  I’m now within good striking range of my personal best of 1 hour, 38 minutes, 25 seconds.  I’ll beat that next year at the spring Prairie Fire half marathon.

Now that the half is complete, I am focused on my next goal.  I’ve recently had an itch to compete in an ultra-marathon.  I’ve never thought my body could survive an ultra, even prior to the injury.  I’ve been encouraged by several to jump in one, but always told myself I couldn’t.  I found out about an upcoming 6/12/24 hour ultra in Wichita last month.  Prairie Fire was the priority at the time, but I had a crazy thought about going for a slow, long run of 4 and a half hours to test my endurance.  I crafted an idea of 4.5 hours practice run with intentions of signing up if everything went well. 

I went out for this “test run” yesterday.  My initial plan was to run a 10 min/mile pace with walking intervals intertwined.  I would run 1 mile and walk .2 miles.  Repeat over and over again for 4.5 hours.  In anticipated an average speed of 12 min/mile for a total of 22-23 miles over 4.5 hours.  Unlike a real race, there was no training or build up for this—I would make a big jump from half marathon to just short of a full marathon.  I didn’t have time to plan out nutrition, carb load or anything like that.  I downloaded the Sonic app as I knew I’d pass 3 of them on the way, allowing me to pre-order snacks and drinks before arrival so I could eat/drink during a walking interval. 

I hit the road around 8:15am.  I started with the run 1 mile walk .2 intervals for the first 6 miles, but felt my legs were fresh enough to run 2 miles then walk .2.  I increased mileage intervals before walking as time went on.  I felt like I was hitting on all cylinders around mile 17 and determined I could finish 26.2 miles within the 4.5-hour time span.  My legs continued to stay fresh at mile 24, so I decided we were not going to worry about time, I was going to run 50k (31.06 miles).  Mile 26 ended up being one of my fastest splits of the run.  By the time I was done, I ran 32 miles in 5 hours, 46 minutes, 14 seconds.  More important, I felt better after 32 miles than I did after any marathon I’ve finished in prior years.

I don’t think I am in my best running shape at the moment, but I do know I am at my best lifetime fitness level.  My speeds are not what they once were, but my core and posterior chain are strong enough to compensate.  I know by completing this “test run” that I’m ready to take everything to the next level and compete in ultras.  I immediately signed up for the 6 -hour race.  I have less than a month to prepare, but I have a high level of confidence after yesterday’s run.  In fact, I am setting a goal of 34.5 miles in this race.

After the 6-hour race, my next goal is to compete in a 50k race, then move to 50 miles and eventually a 100k by the end of 2022.  In fact, I am putting my plans to qualify for Boston on hold until I complete a 100k.  I’ll be much stronger by that point with heightened endurance to propel my marathon speed.  None of this happens without Cryotherapy, DDP Yoga and my rehab/core strengthening exercises.  None of this happens without God giving me the strength to keep going.

I’m still in shock over how well I ran yesterday and more important, how I feel today.  In fact, I feel better one day after running 32 miles than I did the morning after Prairie Fire.  I’m shocked to jump from half marathon to 50k in one week—not something I would have ever expected. I feel like I untapped something I’ve never felt possible.  I silenced the negative voices in my head preventing me from trying this earlier.  I am more prepared now to do this than I was several years ago when I trained for 3 marathons in a row.

Go get it.