Last night was my first official night run! It was a rather spontaneous middle of the night decision and knowing my wife's response to such recent antics of mine it was probably best so. I went to bed early to try to catch up on some sleep for AR50 this weekend. So, when I awoke at 1:30am pretty much rested after four hours of sleep I decided to get out of bed and put some sweats on and try out one of my head lamps that I have purchased in preparation for WS. By the time I got my contacts in, drank some water, tripped through the darkened house for my Garmin and stretched a bit it was just before 2am.
If you had asked me about someone getting up in the middle of the night to go for a run, let alone when it is in the 30s outside, a year or two ago I would have said there is someone who has taken their "hobby" a bit too extreme. My wife would probably use a few more colorful adjectives to state the same point, but here I was standing infront of my house at 2am ready to see what this was all about.
As I headed down the neighborhood street I realized my headlamp was not necessary with the street lamps until I got on the paved residential walking path that surrounds our community. After about a third of a mile I turned left and was on this path and quickly into pitch darkness with the sound of nature in all directions. It was probably a good thing that my Ipod was needing a recharge or I might have brought it, but since it was on the docking station I went without and appreciative that I had.
The first sounds I heard were of birds, likely hawks, screaching in the sky as if in search of a midnight prarie mouse or other snack. Seeing that I was not on their food chain menu these sounds did not bother me much, but the occasional pheasant kicked up from the brush next to me or the large splash of a likely bullfrog or beaver in the nearby vernal pools around Lincoln got me to jump to the side of the trail on more than one occasion. At any case I settled into a bit of a shuffle with about a half a mile under my feet and started to appreciate the solitude of this time of night. It is not on too many occasions that you'll find me up anyhere near 2am; even in my younger college days that would have been a late night of exception.
As the trail meandored in and around the surrounding homes I started to wonder what each person was likely dreaming about in their beds just to the left or right of the trail around me. This got me thinking was I actually dreaming? Seems like a more logical explanation for being where I was, but instead realized I was merely beginning to visualize what this might feel like in a about 10 weeks and with another 80miles on my feet! This thought pattern likely explained the shuffle and pathetic 9:30min/mile pace I was doing to the turn around on the trail 2 miles ahead. I reminded myself this was a tutorial in patience and experience to be out at late nights - and not a tempo run. I did notice that in the 4-5 miles of the run that my muscles never really loosened up which likely was due to the cold night and hopping right out of bed. This was a good thing to experience, as was the tunnel like vision I was experiencing with my head lamp. Just powerful enough to cast a lighted image wide enough to prevent a mistep but not so wide as to let me know of the next sound ready to startle me.
As I returned back to home some 45 min later I was already looking forward to the warmth of my bed and taking some mental notes to remind myself and my pacer of come 6/26-27. One, we need more light considering the trails are about half the width of this bike trail and often high up on a ridge overhanging desolate canyons. Two, remind Curt that no matter what I say about needing to take just a little rest or sleep - keep moving!!!! Three, I need more practice at this night time running and finally, this part of the race will either be the Death of me in mental attitude or the opportunity for Birth and Growth if I can overcome some demons along the way and run a smart race in the early hours and miles of this 100 mile adventure.
Time will tell on all fronts but my wife is probably correct as she looked at me sideways in the morning and asked where I was last night when she rolled over. I sheepishly said "Oh I went for a run!" I think this adventure has really only just begun!
A little running at night..It is really different out on the States Course at Night..its hard to simulate the dust clouds and how those effect the visability with just a headlamp..a small handheld can do wonders...pace is gonna be soo different than what your used to in the later stages..it is down right slow but hey you will be flying in your own mind...I think you will be ok with not sleeping the body will be tired but also you and your pacer can work together on keeping the mind from the semi mush state it gets...its ok to rest with some walking but sleeping is out..if its a medical thing fine but really beware of the chair later in the race unless to change shoes...see you out there...tony
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