Have you done a 12 hour race?

MountainMaggie
MountainMaggie Posts: 104 Member
edited November 2024 in Social Groups
I am so intrigued by these, as my job entails 10-12 hours of endurance type activitiy quite frequently (although I get OSHA regulated breaks). I've never run a full marathon. 15 miles is the most I've done. Have you done a 12 hour race or lengthier hour-based race? How many marathons or ultras had you run before, if any? What percentage did you walk? Tell me all you know. I am 100% sure I can walk fast for 12 hours (specifically, while carrying equipment, wearing steel toed boots, and digging holes every 30 meters). Yes, I have a unique job. Tell me your story.

Replies

  • jturnerx
    jturnerx Posts: 325 Member
    edited March 2015
    I've done 6, 12, and 24 hour timed events. How you approach them all depends on your goals. You can eat a full lunch and take a two hour nap if you want. Or you can run the entire time to see just how far you can go.

    I tend to fall in the how-far-can-I-go camp. Walking percentage varies, but I try and incorporate them in sooner rather than later especially in a 24-hour. I'd done several ultras up to the 50 mile by the time I did my first timed event which was a 12-hour but that doesn't mean anything. A timed event is just a good a place as any to get in a first.

    There is a mental component to a timed event that's different than a fixed distance race. I think that why it took me a while to getting around to doing one. For some it can be harder than doing a tough mountain race because of the repetitive nature of most timed events.
  • MountainMaggie
    MountainMaggie Posts: 104 Member
    Cool. Thanks for that insight. The repetition is something that makes me hesitant, but there are plenty of mountains and trails I wouldn't mind hanging out on all day.
This discussion has been closed.