How Would You Run a 24,48, or 72 HOUR race

[Rick Cheever]

Hello Multi-Day Enthusiasts!!!
How would you run a 24,48, or 72 hour race.
Take a look at these questions and answer any of them plus add any of
your own feedback. With ATY less than 3 weeks away this is a popular
topic! Speak out, let your opinion be voiced!
Would you run to beat your own personal record for most miles ever
ran?
Would you run to just try and make it 24, 48, or 72 hours period, even
if you had to walk most of it?
Would you try to compete with the other runners, pushing hard to get
those couple extra miles that may allow you to move up a space or two
in the overall placing? Or would you not risk getting hurt or tired
and stay at your own pace?
Would you try to make it 24, 48 or 72 hours with out sleeping? How
long and often would you sleep?
Would you wear the same pair of shoes the entire time?
Would you try to run 100 miles the first 24 hours?
Would you go for 100, 200, or even 300 miles if it were mathematically
possible as long as you maintained a certain pace?
How long after a 24, 48 or 72 hour race would you have to wait until
doing another one?
How much damage could you do to your body during a 24, 48, or 72 hour
race.
Anyone have any good stories out there?
If you have read this far you must be dying to share your thoughts!
(That means "PLEASE REPLY")
Healthy Regards,
48 Hour Runner

[Lynn David Newton]

> Would you run to beat your own personal record for most
> miles ever ran?

Always. That doesn't mean it will always happen. PRs
aren't pulled out of a hat.

This year I fully expect to set a PW. Because of my
move east I've been unable to train hardly at all since
before SF 24-hour. So it's my intention to just show up
and do whatever I can do. I have no real mileage goal
this year. Nonetheless, every year until now I have run
intending and expecting to do my best ever.

> Would you run to just try and make it 24, 48, or 72
> hours period, even if you had to walk most of it?

This question is not clear. The last couple of years I
have indeed had to walk most of it, but I've been out
there pounding out miles when I can. People have gotten
over 200 miles just walking 72 hours.

> Would you try to compete with the other runners,

Not usually, unless I can see that it's close and I
think I have a realistic chance.

> pushing hard to get those couple extra miles that
> may allow you to move up a space or two in the
> overall placing? Or would you not risk getting hurt
> or tired and stay at your own pace?

> Would you try to make it 24, 48 or 72 hours with out
> sleeping?

Runners need to get sleep when it overwhelms them.
There is no advantage to fighting it. At the same time,
a power nap is often all that is needed. I've gotten by
on as little as a couple of hours of sleep a night in
72-hour races, and have gone the whole night in 24-hour
races several times without problems. I rested a bit
(about 15 minutes each twice, and 10 minutes a third
time), SF 24-hour, but did not sleep.

> How long and often would you sleep?

Your body will tell you when. When I can no longer
stand it, I sleep. I usually wake up sufficiently to
continue in a few minutes. If I'm still sleepy, I do it
again. When day light returns, so does ability to
continue running.

> Would you wear the same pair of shoes the entire
> time?

I usually do.

> Would you try to run 100 miles the first 24 hours?

Hahaha! Ahem.

> Would you go for 100, 200, or even 300 miles if it
> were mathematically possible as long as you
> maintained a certain pace?

Again, I'm not sure what you're getting at here.

People do bad math in their heads late at night and
when sleep deprived. I sure did at SF 24-hour, thinking
I was a good five or six miles ahead of where I
actually was at one point. When I checked it was a real
letdown. The thing to do, unless you're a contender for
a win, is to just keep going, and let the numbers be
what the numbers will be.

> How long after a 24, 48 or 72 hour race would you
> have to wait until doing another one?

One year. :-)

> How much damage could you do to your body during a

> 24, 48, or 72 hour race?

People can die. Be careful out there. Running one of
these events is not a trivial thing.

> Anyone have any good stories out there?

Yes!