The Grim Reaper 2013

Practise going without sleep Steve! If you are fast you won't lose much sleep anyway! It's only slow buggers like me that take a full day to do the 70! And I went straight from 26 to 70....but there wasn't the 40 option in 2011....Think I would have done the 40 first, had the option been there....But no regrets, & SO glad I went straight to 70.

I have done a couple of 24 hour races. I didn't practice going without sleep . Having said that I tend not to sleep very well and regularly wake several times in the night unable to get back to sleep for ages so maybe my poor sleep patterns have been good training!

Someone asked about Solomon recovery shoes. Do you mean the rx slide ? I have them they are realty comfy

Thanks Guys- do like my sleep but do fancy a dark run so its 70 or 100 for me.

Judging by the number of people stopping for a long sleep during Thunder Run 24 hour solo, I'd say a lot of people find running for an entire 24 hours quite hard....Not just because it's hard on your body being on your feet that long....but because of lack of sleep too. Maybe a lot depends on the individual, & age too. Younger people seem to find it easier to stay up all night. But there's quite a difference between just being able to stay up, & keeping running! As soon as it goes dark you just feel sleepy. Even if you don't normally. I wouldn't personally recommend doing a 24 hour race if you've never tried saying up that long.....You need to know how it feels...

Anyone looking to do this one & wants to share advice, stories, future race plans, etc, feel free to add yourself to my ultra group, the "Grimsthorpe Massive" on Facebook.

It was initially set up to discuss the Grim Reaper ultras last summer, but all ultra runners, or those thinking of doing one, are welcome to join, even if you aren't doing this race.......Whether you are an expert that can offer advice, or new to ultras wanting to ask a question.

Tell us about the races you've done, training ideas, how your cat is, etc!!!!!

If you want info on the race there's all kinds of bits & bobs......training ideas, photos, race reports, etc, if you scroll back to last year....

https://www.facebook.com/groups/371928772827520/

 

It refuses to turn into a link! You'll have to copy & paste!

Grimsthorpe Massive

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/371928772827520/

I think this 24 hour thing is strange really and I worried about feeling tired and wanting to sleep as I am an early to bed person and hate stopping out late. I hate getting up early too I like my bed!

I have done 2 x 24 hour events and didn't stop at either of them for a sleep or even an extended break. I don't know why I didn't feel I had to, maybe because I had a goal I wanted to meet, maybe adrenaline. Now obviously a sleep would have been nice just like in a marathon a rest would be nice at half way. Don't get me wrong I felt tired but was able to keep going ( just!)

Thinking about it after I am wondering if it is because I don't sleep very well at night, I like my bed, like early nights, late mornings etc BUT I don't sleep very well, wake up loads take ages to get to sleep etc. so I wonder if I coped not too badly because I am used to lack of sleep? Took on caffiene in the night too which helped I think

Interesting thought.....that if you aren't a good sleeper maybe you find the 24 hour races easier.....I tend to wake every few minutes....But also found the 24 hour races ok with no stopping or resting. 

As soon as it goes dark on an ultra I do find myseld getting sleepy, when normally I wouldn't.....But could keep going ok...

I just didn't even consider stopping on the three I've done....I think if a race is that important you'll just carry on whatever! 

Caffeine I guess helps (you can always eat the granules to keep yourself awake). Down for the 100 miles and trying to get my pace and time on feet right.

Aiming for 5.5-6mph. Did a 4:30 marathon at Pitsford and had loads to spare. Finding it as hard to run 6mph pace as 8mph but guess just need to practice. I have 2 other ultras (Coventry & Northants) and 2 marathons in my training before August.

As a first timet, not going to rush- try and take it easy and make the discipline of running consitsently my target.

 

I def want to do the 100 next year. 26 hours not enough time for me yet! So I've entered one with 36 hours! That's more like it!!