A LONG JOURNEY TO MY FIRST ULTRA

            I decided to allow myself a full week of recovery and soul searching before I would attempt to write this article.  I wanted an honest assessment of my first Ultra, not only for the reader but also for the writer.

            In my honest opinion, my first Ultra was a very positive experience.  Running in the 3 to 4 inch deep mud, rain and snow pelting your body, freezing temperatures and running for 34 miles made the completion even more satisfying.

            Let me introduce myself.  My name is Bob Hartless.  I am 62 years old and have been running nearly 3 decades (27 years), and have 275 road races under my running shoes.  My weekly running schedule for years has been speed work on Monday, 3-5 mile tempo runs on Wednesday, 10-13 mile long runs on Saturday with a couple easy medium runs on days in between.  Most of the fast workouts were done at a 6-6:30 pace and the longer runs at an 8:00 minute pace.  This is not Ultra training.

            The year of 2003 when I turned 60 years old was a banner year for me.  I was fortunate enough to become nationally ranked by the USATF in my age group in the 800 meter, 1 mile, and in the 5000 meters.  Running an Ultra was the farthest thing from my mind, even though I had run 7 marathons.  The last one, ten years ago, in 1996, in Boston.

            In 2004, I ran 18 road races and had a good year.  In 2005, I noticed my outlook on running was changing.  The fast workouts became a chore, the idea of competing didn't seem to excite me as much and after all, this year in December, I would be turning 62 years old and had been running almost half my life.  In November, 2005, I knew I was burned out and decided to run to the end of the year and hang up my running shoes.  But, what would take the place of my 27 years (5 days per week) addiction?  My wife says I am a driven man, so sitting in a rocking chair is not me.  The game of golf is too slow.  Cycling is fun in warm weather.  So what would I do?

            In December, 2005, I ran a few times on trails with Richard Brooks and Jim McFarland.  Jim, with Muscle Therapy, Inc., had worked on a severe adductor problem on my right leg.  He had me back running in a couple of days and I noticed that running on trails was much easier on my leg.  Also, I realized that I was starting to enjoy running again.  Running a much easier pace and running trails in a natural environment seemed to really get my attention.  The talk of running Holiday Lake became a big part of our conversation as we ran and a week before Holiday Lake, I signed up.  After running only 2 months on trails, I was ready for the challenge.  Maybe, just maybe, this was my new sport.  I was still running, but it was totally different from training for and running road races.  At 62 years old, I was excited again about running and competing in my first Ultra.

            I won't spend a whole lot of time of detailing the actual run.  After all, those of you who ran this Ultra, experienced the same mud, snow, rain, and cold conditions that I went through.  You felt all the lows and the highs and hopefully the will to keep going to the 34 mile finish line.

            I would like to leave you with some of the positive experiences I gained from running and completing my first Ultra and some strategy advice for first time Ultra runners.

            1. I learned a lot about myself.  I didn't realize I could dig down so deep and keep going when I wanted to quit.

            2. Strategy - I hooked up with 2 veteran Ultra runners, Nancy Ferris and Wilbert Hooper.  I knew we had close abilities and we ran and pushed the entire 34 miles.  We crossed the finish line together.  At 62 years old and the clock said 6:22.  Is this an omen?

            3. More Strategy - Don't think of this Ultra as a 34 mile race.  Think of running from aid station to aid station.  The fluid and food were plentiful and the volunteers were so uplifting that I couldn't wait to get to the next aid station and the miles sailed by.          

            4. Completing my first Ultra really jumped started my running again and opened a new door.

            5. The weather - You can't change it so live with it.  Weather will always be a challenge because it is unpredictable.

            6. Eat when you are not hungry and drink when you are not thirsty, because when you do this in reverse, you may not make it.

            7. Walk the steep hills because if you run them, they will become steeper.

            Thanks, Dr. David Horton, you have asked me for the last 20 years, "When are you going to run your first Ultra?"  I put that question to rest on February 11, 2006.

                                                                        Bob Hartless