People tilt their heads like a dog when you tell them that you are going to run a 10-hour event. The night before the Windsor Castle 10-hour while waiting for our table at the restaurant, an older couple asked where we were from and what we were in town for. We said that we were doing a 10-hour run at Windsor Castle Park. The guy said, "a 10K?", "No 10 hours." He still didn't quite get it until his wife said, "They are going to run for 10 hours." I am still not sure that it registered.
Of course, in timed events, unless you are a top runner, nobody is running for 10 consecutive hours. You need to eat, drink, potty, walk and sometimes sit but minimize each and every one. To me, you should also go the maximum time or as close as you can. If it is a 10-hour event, then manage it so that you get as close to 10 hours in as you can knowing that there are no partial laps counted. Other timed events like 24, 48, 72 hours have similar but different strategies. The Hinson Lake 24-hour event has the banana lap which is close to the 24-hour mark. If you start out on the last loop, when the horn sounds, you lay your banana at the spot when it sounded. They then wheel-measure the partial lap and it counts toward your total.
The beauty of these events is that anyone can do them because there is no requirement to go for the entire time. If you want to do 1 loop and quit, that is your prerogative. If you want to rest 2 hours in the middle, sure, go ahead and do it. There are no DNFs, well, unless you don't complete the first loop.
Since Cindy and I had done the Tideland 24-hour in 2019 and 'enjoyed' it, to the point of enjoying such a thing, we decided that this would be a good intermediate summer distance challenge. Cindy had lost 55 pounds since July 2020 and was power walking regularly. I had put in the best year of running, mileage-wise, in 2020, and 2021 had been even better with four 70+ mile weeks leading up to the event. Although, knowing that it could be brutally hot, we signed up. We could also enjoy a nice long weekend away in the quaint town of Smithfield, VA.
Preparation
One of the challenges with timed events is that a lot of preparation and gear planning goes into them. We had a 10x10 canopy, chairs (more on chairs later), side tables, and a small changing tent. For drinks in a large cooler, we had coke, Gatorade, and water, with bags of ice. For food, you name it and frankly, we had too much. I over-prepare, particularly on food. The race did have an aid station but it was mentioned that it would be minimal. It wasn't. It was well-stocked so there was an overabundance of food. And, after going for 10 hours, one doesn't feel like eating much. We also had supply boxes - medical, lubes, sunscreens, bug repellants, etc. We had everything we needed.
Communication
The race director was very communicative which is great. You want to know all of the details - course, aid, weather, parking, packet pickup, etc. She was also very responsive to questions. Since we were staying at the Smithfield Station, just across the street from Windsor Castle Park, I asked her if we could just remain parked there and walk across the bridge. She said that would be perfect and could come a bit early to landgrab and set up. She also held a Zoom race briefing and was at Point 2 Running Company to hand out packets. She did great!
Pre-Race
We decided to go to Smithfield early just to relax. It was a short 3-hour drive from Durham. We ate lunch on the way at The Virginia Diner which was a feature on Diners' Drive-ins and Dives. We also realized that this area was known for peanuts, peanuts everywhere. But as we got to Smithfield, we realized that it was pork that is truly famous for the area.
We decided to walk 'the course' the day we got there. We didn't get it right making wrong turns at a couple of places. The next day, I decided to run it and although it was close to the actual course, it still wasn't 'the course.' But, what I had found which we didn't get to on the walk, were hills. They were by no means big hills except when 8+ hours rolled around in 95% humidity. Then they were mountains! The course was measured by the timing company to be 2.94 miles with 150 feet of elevation gain per loop. My Garmin had it a bit shorter than that, hey, whatever the timing company or whoever measured the course said is what was official.
Race Day
We went over to set up around 4:45 and got an optimal position for our canopy. After making a couple of trips and setting up, then meeting our neighbors who also happened to be from North Carolina, we were ready to go. When setting up, it was misting but at the start, it was raining. The weather forecast was for it to be in the low 70's with a dew point of about 68 and cloudy with a chance of rain. So, temperature-wise, and being cloudy it was good. The first hour was done in the rain with more drenching rain in the open areas. Actually, it felt good. For June, it was probably the best weather we could have hoped for in Virginia.
Our goals were based on distance since it was a timed race. Cindy had 3 goals - marathon, 29.4, and 50K. My goals were 50K, 40 miles, 50 miles. Timed races and ultras, in general, are all about management and solving problems and to an extent risk management. Pace strategy, eating strategy, run/walk strategy, clothing strategy all come into play and then solving problems physically and mentally for long periods of time.
With the rain and humidity, our clothes were soaked after the first few loops. Since the rain had stopped, I decided to change my clothes after loop 6. After that, I only changed shirts. Cindy didn't change as much as me except her 'least' shoes. Cindy walks these events. Having two artificial hips, two artificial shoulders, and stenosis, the pounding of running would be a challenge and probably harmful. She also has an issue with the top of her foot extending from her big toe. She wears Skechers GoWalk slip-on shoes with no socks, and walk she does, in this case for 10 hours! One of the leading men ran past her and said, "those are the least shoes out here!" Maybe she started the minimalist craze before it was cool! But, it works for her and that is what is best for all of us. People ask, "what kind of shoe should I buy?" The basic answer is, "the one that is best for you!" It's the same for clothing, food, drink, etc. Don't be a character in someone else's story, write your own.
I was dragging a bit after loop 9. I caught Cindy a mile or so into the loop and walked the rest of the loop with her. It rejuvenated me and probably allowed me to run 1 or 2 extra loops with newfound energy. As I was coming into the finish after loop 15, I saw Cindy just crossing the finish line about a minute ahead of me. I was finishing my 15th loop for 44.1 miles and Cindy was finishing her 10th loop for 29.4 miles, reaching both of our middle goals. The top runner ran 67 miles. I placed 21st out of 165 and first in the 60+ age group, both genders, and Cindy was 8th out of 14 in 60+ both genders and 99 out of 165 overall. Cindy also won a door prize (or should I say trail prize) of a nice woven hat.
I think we have found a sweet spot with timed events. As with everything we do, if there is a destination, we will get there no matter what. It has proven true of our other adventures as well, not just in running and walking.
