I finally gave up 100km plan on Twilight Ultra last month because I didn't think I could extend long run to 60km within 1 month. So it became a part of Sundown marathon training run. I set target to 50km to avoid impact on next day training. The pace should be close to my longest run in Jan, ~7:30/km. Anyway it would be my longest barefoot run.
The ultra is about recovery and wearing out. When to wearing out is irreversible and reach to its end, the game is over. For me the muscle recovery, hydration and energy refill are reversible because I spent sufficent aerobic training time to bring up fat recovery and fat burning ability. At lower intensity workout, my muscle is not easy to wear out and carbonhydrates are conserved. That is why I could run almost 100miles a week while keep my leg refreshed. Even interval training were recovered within 12hrs. I'v done at least 3 doubles a week and soon I'll be run 30km perday. The only irreversible thing is my barefoot soles wear out. It have been stronger and stronger as barefoot mileage accumulates but still limilted by the longest run I'v ever run. I could not imagine I could run 100km with longest run only 43km. In my experience, the longest run should be at least 2/3 of race distance.
The race started 7pm Saturday evening, I'v loaded my stomach with 250gm pasta at 6pm. I had experience in running with stomach full so it was not a problem to me. The only thing is I had to slow down my pace to ~8min/km pace due to blood stream diverted to digestive system. It took me more than 3 hrs to empty my stomach. And once emptied I could run below 7min/km pace. I only got my first refuel at 30km mark with 2 slice of peanut buttered bread and one cup of hot milo I brought. Hot milo made my stomach felt refreshed. In contrast to cold drinks, the cold chilled body but tortured stomach, too much cold drink might induce vomiting. The refuel was right on time and I set off with brand new body after 10min break. Though pace was slowered down again but soon I picked up 7min pace. I planned to refuel every 15km. I was steady till I went to 45km mark for 2nd refuel. It was a bit late than last. Before that I was thinking to challenge myself with 100km again but after this 10min break I doubted. My pace was not as easy as before. I needed to keep me focused on running form to ignore the pain in the soles. The west strech of the course was very dirty and unfriendly to my soles. Small gravels stuck on my soles and tried to sting/pucture me. After 55km mark finally came the wall, two big gravels hurt my left soles made me decide to finish it. The last 5km I was running on my edge and finised strong in time of 7:58. Now I climbed to 60km peak, 2/3 rule worked and was safe. So 100km is just next to it! If I was free from DOMS, I could repeat this 60km long run any time I like in preparing for 100km race. Just keep watching.
Sunday afternoon I was able to went out for a recovery run. 6.5km in 8min/km pace. Quads was slightly sore but not a big deal.
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