Ready, set, start training for Umstead
Last week was the signup event for the Umstead 100 Ultramarathon event for 2024. Another exciting sign-up as the event has limited spots available, and many runners like to use this event as their first 50, 100 events. As a great event to pursue the under 24 hours 100, it is also very attractive to many second and third-timers. Many third-timers returning to get close to the 500 mark, like me when I started a few years back, in 2019. Their signing process works by releasing small blocks on running spots every 2 minutes or so, and I goes something like this.
- On the day of signing up for the event, you must be in front of the computer or tablet around or close to the time it opens. This year was a Wednesday at 8:00 pm.
- Have your browser ready with the form ready in front of you.
- If you do not see the countdown counter, refresh your browser, or perhaps you might be a little bit too excited and logged in too early. (more than an hour)
- Pre-fill the email information and the random number and wait.
- and wait
- and wait some more
- look at the time on your computer
- look at the counter
- and wait even more
- as soon as the counter hits 00:00, click the signup button
- If you did not get in, go back to step 4. Keep repeating until you can go to step 12 or, unfortunately, not able to sign up. In this case, there is another opportunity about a week from today.
- If you got in, Congrats!!! Finish the signup information sheet and pay.
- Let it settle for a while and come to the realization that you just signed up for a 100-mile race.
As insanity once again kicked in, some of the pacers from my 100-mile event earlier this year (Rafaela and Amy), enjoyed pacing so much that they wanted to tackle 100 miles. Some returning runners like Kaleel, Venu, Jamie, Jen, John, and Eric are each looking for a PR and new distances. Josh, Rakesh, and Sreehdar, who helped me with the signup.
The plan will be posted this weekend as we are preparing and adjusting it to a couple of events most of the group is participating in. But if you can’t wait, here is a post that will give you an idea if you are trying to train for a 100-mile event and you are just starting, like couch to 100. There, you can look at your starting point from 0, 5k, 10k, Half, or Full distanmces and use it as a guide to get your plan ready. Or use a mid-level 100-mile training, a less conservative plan that focuses on finishing strong even if this is your first event tackling the distance.
However, some smart runners realized the plan to get them to sign up and did not fall for it. Hanna, Chad, Udit, Rahul, and Jay will be happy to be there to help us…
…I hope since we are counting on them. We need pacers!
This time, it will be my 5th time training for the event and, hopefully, my 4th time finishing Umstead. Will there be a PR? Am I going to be able to adapt, adjust and train? I definitely would like to complete it in at least under 24 hours. Time will tell.
Yes, there will be another training for a 100 series starting soon. I hope to share additional insights and perhaps feature a few of the Insane Runners and pacers who could be sharing their learning as we train together for the majority of the long runs.
In the Pursue of 24