How I Got to 50

I’ve been running consistently for around 2.5-3 years now. What got me interested in running was hearing stories from prior coworkers/colleagues who said they were ultra-runners. They talked about all these incredible long-distance races that they traveled around the world for. I had never heard of the term “ultra-runner” before, which made me curious. Ultramarathon distances greater than a traditional marathon (26.2 miles) and typically start at 30 miles. The average distances for ultras are between 50 to 100 miles. Some even go up to 240 miles. After learning about ultras, I was curious to see if I had what it takes to run one. I’ve been consistently running since then.

When I started running 3 years ago, my friend (Kyle) and I started watching videos and looking up plans to train for a marathon. We decided to set our first goal of doing a 5K and booked it a month out. We were doing 1 to 2 mile runs a day, working on our pace and training for race day. For our first 5K, Kyle finished around 21 min and I finished around 26 minutes. Not too bad for our first 5K.

After our 5K, I researched more about ultra runners and was pumped to do a longer run. The next weekend, I decided to go for a 10-mile run without training up to that distance... that was a mistake. It took me 2 hours to finish my first 10 mile attempt. My knees were hurting, my feet felt broken, but I felt so proud I was able to accomplish that jump in miles. My feet felt bruised the rest of the week. With my feet hurting, I realized I should buy running shoes designed specifically for long runs. I decided to go with Sauconys for my first pair.

The next event on my list was a 10K, which was a little bit longer, so we would have to build up the miles in order to keep a good pace during the race. Knowing the pain that comes with longer runs, we decided to gradually increase our mileage during the weeks leading up to the race. When the 10K was over, Kyle finished in around 48 minutes and it took me 56 minutes. I realized from this race I burned myself out at the beginning, trying to keep up with the front runners but I couldn’t keep that pace, overall.

While training for the marathon, our group of friends decided we should try an obstacle races(e.g., Savage Race, Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, etc). We decided to sign up for a Spartan Race Sprint as a group. This is a 4-mile loop with many different obstacles. The day before the Spartan Race, I decided to challenge myself by doing a 10-mile run, as well as a 40-mile bike ride with my wife (Claudia). The way not really my best idea but I was up for the challenge. The next day, while driving out to the race location, the weather conditions were poor. It was pouring rain and the organizers thought they would need to cancel the race. We waited in our cars for roughly an hour before they told us that the weather slowed down and we could still do the race. Little did we know what we were in for. The rain made the obstacles even harder to complete due to the mud. For those who have done obstacle races, you know what I’m talking about, and even if you haven’t done one, you should check them out; they’re fun. It was definitely a difficult race, but it was so rewarding. Going through challenging obstacles with poor weather conditions was a great experience, and we laugh about it all the time with our friends.

I had so much fun doing the Spartan Race, that Claudia, a friend (Kaleb), my cousin (Ricky), and I decided to sign up for a Savage Race a few months after the Spartan Race. The Savage Race is a 7-mile loop with about 27 obstacles. The weather conditions during this race were much better and we had more time to do strength training, which allowed us to better handle the obstacles.

It became time to set my focus on running. I set a goal of wanting to do a marathon and I was putting off training because I was nervous. I didn’t want to sign up for a race and not finish it (or DNF). I decide to get back on a routine and set a goal of being able to do a 26.2 mile run before signing up for an actual race. This would ensure I’d be prepared for and capable of finishing the distance when I entered a race. It took 2-3 months of consistent training. I had 2 failed attempts before completing the 26.2 miles on my own. When I did complete it, it took 5 hours and 56 minutes. That’s not necessarily a time to brag about, but the conditions were brutal. That day, I woke up with a sore throat, it was one of the hottest days in March, I ran out of water while running, my legs felt destroyed around mile 20, but I got it done. I hit a long-time goal of mine, but I realized it wasn’t the main goal I was trying to accomplish. I learned a lot from that run and would adapt my strategy for the next run.

I took some time off from training and was only doing casual runs. The goal of doing an ultra was put on the back burner for most of 2019. It was a busy year with work, and I was making excuses for why I didn’t have time to train. There is no good excuse to talk yourself out of running. All you have to do is put on shoes and step. GO. There is a lot of discipline required to be a runner.

I set a goal for 2020 to accomplish a 50-mile run. I quickly got online and found a 16-week training plan that I would use to prepare myself. This meant race day would be in early May 2020. I was excited. Scanning through the training plan, I saw how much more volume was required in terms of miles and frequency of days. I got nervous with how many back-to-back days there were that required to run 10+ miles. It was definitely out of my wheelhouse. For training, my days consisted of early mornings, running before the sun was up, and some late nights making sure I hit my miles for that day. My weekends consisted of running on the trail and Epsom salt baths for recovery. With new territory, came new breakthroughs. I got to the point where I could do a 10-mile run without really being tired and 20-mile runs became easier, but they were still hard on my legs. While training, I had to do a 32-mile run and actually finished the run in less time than my first marathon completion. I felt ready for this 50!

Game Day

I woke up early at 3:30 AM. Ate a bowl of cereal. Got dressed and started moving. I began running at 4 AM. For my 50-mile attempt, I decided to run laps around my neighborhood. Its a .5 mile loop so that meant 100 laps. This would allow me to refuel at my house and grab anything I may need while running. I planned to go inside my house every 10 miles to grab some food and rehydrate. The first 20 miles were easy and I was making great time.

My goal for the 50-miler was to complete it in 10-12 hours. I finished the first 20 miles in 3 hours so I thought I may be able to finish in under 10 hours.... that was not the case. Around mile 30 I had a ton of pain; not the usual pain or soreness. The back of my knee was sore and my heels hurt. I slow-jogged for the next 5 miles. At mile 35, I had to start walking because it hurt too badly. The back of my knee was swollen. At this pace, I knew I wasn’t going to hit my initial goal. I sat down for a while at mile 40. I was pissed. Frustrated. I didn’t think I could hit my goal and I thought I may not even be able to finish the 50. I had to adapt and change my goal. What if I could finish the 50 within 24 hours instead? That was still possible. I soaked my legs for a bit and iced my knees and rested for an hour. I decided to walk the last 10 miles. This was not fun as I was going at such a slow pace but it was the only pace I could keep to bare with my knee pain. It took a few more hours of walking but I did it. I hit the 50-mile mark at around 11:50PM. The total time took roughly 20 hours to complete it but without all the resting, it was around 16 hours of moving (running and walking). Time to rest.

Lessons Learned

Throughout this experience, I’ve learned some lessons. Most of these sayings and lessons are unoriginal, and I may have heard them from other people but, along the journey, they were ingrained in my mind through the repetitiveness of training and the difficulty of the goal.

1. Adapt to things not going to plan.

When you have a plan in mind, there is a general destination and there is a journey.

Allow your journey to be flexible with a clear understanding of the general direction and destination you want to go. No plan survives the entire journey. Obstacles arise and you need to adjust. One of the most famous sayings related to this is by Mike Tyson.

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth” - Mike Tyson

Train as if you will have the most difficult experience because it just may end up being that way. Navy Seals have said, “we don't rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.”

2. Run your own race.

You need to set goals and keep to your own pace. When I was running the 5K and 10K races, it was easy to get swept up and try to compete with the people around me. It can mess up your whole strategy. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else is doing. That’s their path, not yours. Running the longer distances by myself, allowed me to keep a pace that wouldn’t burn out my legs. As I continue to train, I will be able to improve that pace and set new personal records.

3. “It’s not easy, but it’s simple.”

I believe that saying comes from Bruce Lee or maybe Eric Thomas.

Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot. People can look at the distance and get scared by how long it sounds. Break it down to what it is. It’s much simpler when you break down long runs into segments and you can apply that principle to anything else. Before you shut out an idea because it seems too complex, simplify it.

4. What are you leaving on the table?

For me, I got into running because I wanted a challenge. I heard of these guys doing 50-100 mile runs and wondered how the hell is that possible? Were these people gifted? Was I capable of doing that? I wouldn’t know unless I tried. Very often we talk ourselves out of doing things because we put others on a pedestal. Fuck that. You can push yourself to limits you never thought possible.

Three key thoughts come to mind:

“WHAT IF? What if I was capable of doing that?” - David Goggins. Allow yourself to have a ‘What If’ mentality. You’ll be surprised at what you’re capable of.
“Only those who are willing to risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - Eric Thomas.
“If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done.” - Thomas Jefferson

5. Learning to Endure Pain and Suffering

No one can truly teach you how to handle difficult situations or endure pain. It’s only learned by going through difficulties and them building upon themselves. Courtney Dauwalter, a well-known ultra runner who has gone through sleep deprivation and pain during endurance races, characterizes this as a ‘pain cave’. “I had an amazing coach who taught us how to go into the pain cave. That we could be feeling this way [having immense pain], but keep pushing.”

“Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, for an hour, or a day, or even a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it will last forever.” - Eric Thomas

6. Drive + Discipline = Consistency

Discipline was a major key to success. Doing things when I didn’t feel like it, kept me consistent. I’m not going to lie; waking up at 4 or 5 AM for early morning runs and getting home from a long workday and running for a few hours was not that fun. It’s challenging. Discipline led to me being consistent, which allowed me to achieve the goal.

Jocko Willink, ex-Navy Seal, has an incredible perspective on discipline.

“Accomplishing your goals is not about motivation, it’s about discipline. — Motivation is fickle, motivation comes and goes. — Motivation is unreliable and when you’re counting on motivation to get your goals accomplished, you’re likely going to fall short. Don’t count on motivation, count on discipline!” - Jocko Willink

I still haven’t competed in official races for a marathon nor an ultra, but I’ve been able to cover the mileage. Soon, I’ll signup for races and train to set better personal records for these events and traverse longer distances. In the meantime, I will focus on increasing speed, building strength, and becoming leaner. Running these distances at 195+ lbs at 5’ 10” is challenging given that most ultra-runners are leaner. However, my experience is proof that it is possible. There are some pretty incredible ultras out there so I’m looking forward to it.

For anyone reading this thinking I’m crazy, you’re probably right but don’t think it’s something you can’t accomplish. Maybe it’s not running 50 miles for you and maybe it’s doing shorter distances or different activities, but you can build up to it over time by doing short distances and achieving small wins. You’ll be fascinated at what you can accomplish in a short amount of time. In the words of some great athletes, “Keep Hammering” (Cameron Haines), “Stay Hard” (David Goggins), “Go Get Some” (Jocko Willink)!

Below are links to the training plans I used.