Training lessons

Between the known and the unknown lies adventure

The road to the top of Big Blue Hill rises approximately 350 feet over three quarters of a mile from its lowest point to its highest. It’s a relentless type of climb: rarely flat, occasionally steep, forever pointing toward the sky. 

If you were looking for me on a Friday morning over the past few months, there’s a decent bet you’d have found me somewhere on that road. Up and down. Up and down. Over and over again. 

There was a training method to the madness. From reading race reports and hearing veterans describe the Vermont 100K course where I’ll be racing on July 15, there isn’t one specific climb that breaks you. It’s all of them back-to-back-to-back, rolling through the countryside. 

In order to approximate the course, I worked this climb into every long run, often two, three, and even four times into a single session. The goal was to lock in a climbing cadence and rhythm that my body could execute before my brain had a chance to form an opinion. 

Strava tells me I climbed this hill a dozen times in June. That means I also ran down this hill a dozen times, building quad strength and learning how to pick up free speed without injuring myself while gravity did its thing. 

Will all of this be enough on race day? I have no idea, but I’m pretty sure I’ve done (nearly) everything I could to get ready for the event. 

From embracing those endless climbs to overcoming injuries and illness, dialing in fueling and hydration systems, testing gear, and appreciating the treadmill, here’s what I’ve learned during training. And what I still need to find out.