There’s a lot that you learn while running 72.34 miles in 92-degree weather. A day later, I feel like I was hit by a truck and fell off a roof while suffering from a minor hangover. Add in a sunburn and dozens of mosquito bites for extra fun. It was all worth it.

I participated in the KUS 6/12/24 Hour Run this week. The race took place on a track with the goal of running as many laps as possible within 24 hours. I started this race very strong, crossing several milestones faster than expected. The forecast called for a 92-degree high. Altogether, we experienced 5 hours above 92 degrees plus 8 more between 80 and 90. My mileage goal was 80-90 miles, but my primary goal was preparation for the Honey Badger 100 on July 27. I planned to run 20 miles within the first 3:30 before switching to 3/1 run/walk intervals for 30 miles and then 2/1 run/walk intervals. As I passed 20 miles, I felt strong, and the temps were still in the low 80s. I kept running without intervals until mile 35. Bad idea.

I entered the pain cave around 4 pm with 14 hours to go. My quads and hips were on fire as my pace began to slip. I should have switched to 2/1 intervals at this point, but I kept rolling with the 3/1’s until mile 54. I felt myself breaking down at this point, and my body was fatigued from the heat. I had to decide: chase my mileage goal or preserve myself for the Honey Badger 100. This is the final year for Honey Badger, so I decided to slow things down for the remainder of the race. I added in several breaks. Eventually, the 92-degree temps dropped into the 80s, which is when the mosquitoes showed up. And I’m not talking about just a few of them. I think every mosquito in the state of Kansas was on that track. Everyone was layered in bug spray, which didn’t stop them. It was normal to see 4-5 on my arms at any point.
I finished the day at 72.34 miles which was good for 6th place overall. Most imporant, no injuries and I feel more prepared for Honey Badger. Heat races are much more difficult in early summer as there is not enough time to acclimate. All of my ultras above 31 miles have been in the fall or spring, so this was the longest exposure to heat as a runner. My hydration and nutrition were spot on during this race, so I’ll repeat what I did this week. And most importantly, I will stick to my pacing plan, no matter what.
The race director posted a picture of the track temperature: 116 degrees. The race was brutal, and many things went wrong. The experience was priceless.

This race was so much fun because of the community. I had several friends run in the 24 and 12-hour events. We were able to see and encourage each other all day. Suffering enjoys company and I enjoyed suffering with you. I met several others throughout the day. Congratulations to all of you! It was exciting to see so many people hit their goals or set new distance PRs. We had several folks from the local running community show up to cheer us on. Big thanks to all of you—it meant a lot! And a big shout out to Zach and all the volunteers. Y’all put on a fantastic race. And as always, big thanks to Rachel Magnuson for preparing and supporting me (and putting up with me!) throughout this event.
72.34 miles in 92 degrees is not something people with spinal stenosis normally do. God has blessed me and is the only reason I’m capable of doing what I do in these running shoes.
Up next, 31 miles at the Hell on Gravel 50k on July 6 before heading to the Honey Badger 100 on July 27.