The Endless Mile
I’ve had many different adventures in my life. Some of the decisions leading up to them have been wiser than others. For example, getting a second master’s degree was probably one of my better ideas. More questionable things include dressing up in full-body spandex suits for sporting events and running 5k races in said suit. Probably the biggest head-scratcher is the desire and willingness to go around in circles for a lengthy predetermined period of time. In my case, this translates to 48 hours on a 1.004-mile loop course also known as The Endless Mile. Here is my story about finding my “48 Hours of Paradise” and how I manage to survive it year after year.
In the Beginning…
A little more than four years ago, I had the stupendously stupid idea of attempting a 100-mile race. This came off the heels of my fantastic failure at the 2016 Run for Kid’s Challenge where my “stomach” flu caused me to retire after 3 laps of 19 miserable miles. I had set a goal back in 2014 to do at least one ultra-marathon a year, and I needed another race to complete my goal in 2016. I was being lazy and really didn’t want to do any traveling for another race. Lo and behold, a beloved race director, David Tosch, decided to bring a 48-hour event to my own backyard in Alabaster, Ala. So I quietly began preparing for what has now become an annual tradition: The Endless Mile.
The only reason I even considered doing the Endless Mile is because, during my adventures in running, I ran into a spritely young man in his late-70s who talked of the promise land, known to some as endurance races. He asked, “Why only run for 8-12 hours when you can do it for 2 solid days?” Oh how easily I was deceived and bought into the Fool’s Gold that is endurance races. That was a long time ago now, and I’ve long since forgiven him. But one doesn’t simply wake up and decide to do a 100-mile race…or does he?
How (Not) to Train Your Dragon
So the obvious question that everyone likes to ask is how does one train for a 100-mile race? For me that answer is simple: you don’t. Until this year this I have not properly trained for this race. I’ve always managed to get my 100 miles done, but at what cost? I’m pretty sure I could write a semi-entertaining book called “Couch to 200K and Other Stupid Things You Shouldn’t Do.”
The correct answer is that you spend countless hours on your feet in any variety of situations: heat, cold, rain, wind, dry, humid and any combination in between. During the 2018 race the temperature swung almost 45 degrees in a 48-hour period. Your body’s ability to adapt to changing environments might be the difference between pressing on and quitting.
The next thing you do is to learn how to take care of your feet. Actually, this is the most important thing I’ve learned about endurance racing and, likely, the only thing I do right. YOU MUST TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET. Yes, I am screaming in my blog. That’s how serious it is. I’ve watched many superior athletes retire from an ultra-race because their feet went wonky. It’s also something you won’t likely find out until you experience it yourself. I had to learn the hard way back in 2016 at the cost of a lost toenail and the ability to walk for a week. It was more than two weeks before I could wear anything other than a house slipper on my feet without them hurting.
The final thing you should consider is mental toughness. I think this aspect is what separates most people. How far and how long can you keep going when you are passing a place that gives you the option to stop every mile? That’s one of the things that makes this race so great. You can take a break at any time, but the cost of stopping can be extremely high. If you’re not careful, you find yourself lulled to sleeping or just stopping all together. After a while, the mind game moves to getting past the monotony of seeing the same scenery every 15-20 minutes. Honestly, it reminds me of slowed down version of National Lampoon’s European Vacation. “Hey look kids, there is Big Ben and Parliament!”
It gets mind- numbing and lonely. One tends to question all his life decisions during this race. I know I do it every year.
Lastly, (yes, I know I said the last thing was mental toughness, but at this point that’s already gone) how long can you go without sleep? This plays back to the whole mental toughness piece, but seriously, how long can you go without sleep? The year I did my best, I did not register any sleep through my Fitbit. I registered almost 60 hours between sleep periods. I’m hoping to pull off the same feat this year.
This Year
I’ve never adequately trained for the Endless Mile. Please don’t be shocked. I’m not a runner, I just the most stubborn lazy person you know. But this year is different. I began my training when the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down the world and haven’t stopped since. I completed a 1000-mile journey in less than 4 months and tried to better condition myself for success this year. This will be the first year I’ve attempted this race while weighing less than 200 pounds. Last year I started the race at 227 lbs. This year it will be ~197 lbs., and taking 30 lbs. off my knees will hopefully make a difference on around the 275,000 – 300,000 steps I intend to take.
Unfortunately, not everything is golden. I feel like this is the first year I’m walking into this race without my head in the right place. I’ve done a good job getting myself physically, but not mentally. The last 7+ months have been exhausting, and I haven’t found rest or a break. That’s on me and I’ll own it. Any prayers and good vibes sent my way would be appreciated.
I plan on documenting this trip through social media. I’ll let you see the highs and lows that come with a 48-hour race. It should let you see the fun and lunacy that takes place. Last, but not least, I’m going to leave you with a Best/Worst list for The Endless Mile. Happy travels, and I’ll leave the light on.
Best Things About the Endless Mile
- It’s hard to get lost or off course
- There is an Aid Station every mile
- There is a bathroom every mile
- Only ~20 feet of gain per loop
- There’s lots of bacon
- Familiar Places
Worst Things About the Endless Mile
- There is an Aid Station every mile
- Walking in circles makes you question your sanity
- They only serve bacon in the morning
- Other people get to sleep
- Fireball
- Relay Runners passing you by at 3 a.m. turning 7-minute miles.
Final Thoughts on a First Impression 