Mike Mason
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preventing a DNFSubject: DNF lessons
>
> Recently after reading some reports of RR 100 DNF's and my own
> experience at HURT (dropping at 80 miles) I would like to share my
> thoughts.
>
> Over the years my philosophy on DNF's and the reasons I like to
> challenge myself with the ultras has changed. When I first started
> this sport I was a finish at all costs guy and scoffed at DNF's. I
> simply wouldn't allow myself to drop other than for an injury. I
> finished 6 100's in a row and new several people who had (and still
> have not) ever had a DNF.
> Then I started taking more chances...I ran more aggressively and had
> a race at the Arkansas Traveller where I went there with one goal. To
> set a course record/and or win. After finding out I actually was not
> in shape to do so and then after 67 miles I decided I had had enough
> and was done.
> After that race and subsequent significant life changes I went
> through a period where I trained only about half as much as I used to
> yet still continued to try and do ultras. Obviously times slowed,
> finisher places increased and my margine for error/ability to recover
> during a tough ultra went way down and my DNF % went way up.
>
> Thus, now after 8 years of running ultras I am 14 for 25 in 100
> milers, 2 for 5 in 70 milers, and even have dropped in a 50 miler.
> Does this make me less of a person? Am I weakened mentally now that I
> have allowed myself to "give in" and stop during a race once that
> little voice starts speaking? I don't think so, However, these days I
> do know my tolerance for a dissappointing performance is decreased, and
> my tolerance for suffering with-out-fun is much lower. I mean come on
> you wouldn't do ultras if you didn't like to suffer a little bit. We
> seek out opportunities to put ourselves in tough positions as a test of
> somesorts. That struggle for survival that todays cush society no
> longer gives us.
> Yes, these days if I am not enjoying it and it is just a multihour
> tender walk on blistered feet/completely gon GI tract/trashed
> quads/ect, ect, I will make the call to stop.
>
> So what are my plans to prevent DNF's and those times when I am not
> having fun in my upcoming ultra?
>
> #1- Race less and allow more recovery. If you look at some of my
> heros in the sport like Derrick Carr and Scott Mills who have been at
> this game for 20 years you find that they do not RACE that frequently.
> They build up to a key event, run it and do well.
>
> #2 Train more- trying to finish 100 mile races or even 50 mile races
> on 30 miles per week (with no cross training) can be done, but the race
> hurts much much more, the % of DNF is higher, the fun level during the
> event is lower, and the recovery following the run is much longer.
>
> # Do some speedier running at least once a week. You can't fool
> physiology. If you train faster...you will be faster.
>
> Run long folks,
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