Montrail athlete Jill Perry checks in here with an update on her training for the upcoming 24-Hour Worlds in France:

Training is done, count down is on and taper madness has started. France, here we come. And watch out! USA 24 hour team is super strong this year and I, for one, am going to give it my all.  It is a true honor to be representing our amazing country.

Due to my serious love for the trails, it has been an effort to take my feet to the roads and train my muscles and body to adapt to the asphalt.  My personal opinion, if you are running roads, train on them.  If you are running trails, train on them.  Look at your race, and find a route that will simulate the course, and then love it.  And the best time to get out there is when you don’t want to.

The Worlds 24 hour race is held in Brive, France – May 13-14.  This event is held on a course that is just under a mile in length.  Yes, that would be over and over and over again…for 24 hours!  From the website, it looks like there are over 25 different countries represented. Just imagining all the different languages spoken is mind boggling!  If you would like more detailed information, check out their site http://www.24h-brive.fr/ .

So, my training for the 24 hour race has been a .9 loop right outside my house on the school grounds that my kids go to.  I have a walking section that I’ve worked into the loop.  This has been wonderful for me to work out my pacing.  Also, being that this loop is so convenient, I get out at crazy times for short jaunts to just throw me off my comfort.  Important to run when tired, run when you want to sleep, …all a part of training your mind and body to deal with stresses that come up, which they will, especially in a 24 hour race.

Last week I did a 6 hour race as a training run. This was important for me to race the clock and not people…stick with my plan.  And I did.  41.26 miles later with a lot left in my engine.  I practiced my fueling, my walking breaks, and my pace.  It all paid off and gave me even more confidence.

So now what, with a little over a week to go? Well, this week can make or break my race.  I can keep testing the waters and keep pounding away the miles but that will not let me build up and rest – that will break me.  What I can do is get enough rest, make sure to eat a healthy diet, visualize my goals, and clean my house (yes, a part of taper madness), and start packing (which usually boils down to packing, unpacking, repacking…double checking…).   Now is the time to have an attitude.  To say, Yes, I am ready, Yes, I am strong, Yes, I am going to represent this awesome USA team and kick some asphalt.

..and after that, be happy to throw on my Montrails and head back into the happy trails…..

Tagged as: montrail, ultrarunning