Backyard Ultra - Race Training and Parenting
This weekend I’m taking part in my first backyard ultra - for those that don’t know, it’s not me just running around my garden. It’s a race format where you have to “run or walk a precise loop of 4.167 miles (6.706 km) every hour, on the hour”. It’s not as random as it sounds, 24 yards in 24 hours equals exactly 100 miles - well I suppose it’s still quite random.
The next unusual aspect of this weekend is that I'm racing with Basil, as he’s 13 he’s not allowed to race it on his own. Luckily for him he has a willing(!) parent to chaperone him. Basil was keen to enter as the race is taking place at his old school, that’s where he cut his teeth during cross country.
I know some may be thinking “he’s too young” - I disagree, think this is a great format for him. As each lap ends there is a natural opportunity to stop, it’s a lap at time until he’s done. He decides if he can “do one more” - each loop allowing him to refuel and refresh and gracefully exit when the time is right. You can’t stop at 38km in a marathon can you?
This particular backyard breaks from tradition, unlike the usual “open ended” format, this one has a time limit of 30 hours. That means whoever is in that last lap has to sprint for line honours - a fun twist.
I’m not going to be completing the full 30 hours, for a few reasons - firstly, it’s not a training load I particularly need at this stage. One downside of races is the way they disrupt training blocks - something I wrote about here. And secondly, another parenting duty means I have to take Delilah to National Schools Regatta (rowing) at 0500 on the Sunday morning. I thought the early mornings for rowing were in my rear view mirror!
A ultra with two chunks of parenting - that doesn’t happen often.
So what is my plan? I have to run with Basil until he stops, so that rather fixes the pace for X laps. With a 0500 start the day after, I also need to stop at a reasonable time. So the aim is 10 laps, that will be 67km, so a decent day.
I’m going to use it to push my carb intake and see how I do with an extended duration on Maurten gels and drinks. They’ve been great in the marathon and hard 30km training sessions, but we need to push the duration and test the GI system. It’s all part of the training, it’s not just about running a long way.
So if you are thinking, “how do you fit training around kids?” - well in this case one is coming with me so that helps. But it’s really just about finding a way. There are always compromises in life, it’s just about making sure you prioritise when you can and much as you can - we all choose what those priorities are.
So that’s the aim, support Basil as he takes on his first Ultra and test the fuelling strategy.
