A 50k, I know how to train for; training for the Hawk Hundred, I'm trying to figure that out. I thought that I was well trained for the 50 mile Rockin' K at the beginning of April, only to find out the hard way that I wasn't. I was in shape to run 50 miles at Clinton Lake or at Heartland (gravel roads), but the rugged terrain of the Rockin' K took more of a toll on my legs than I anticipated, and I was simply too slow for the cutoff times. I now feel that I have something to prove, so hopefully I will do well at Nighthawk and at the Hawk Hundred, then maybe return for a shot a redemption at next year's Rockin' K 50 (we'll see).
Things took a turn for the better in late May. I happened to reach out to a friend and fellow runner asking whether my peak 50 mile training run would be OK to run either 3 or 5 weeks before the Hawk (I have a scheduling conflict 4 weeks before). The response was some questions for me regarding my current mileage, training plan, injury, recovery, etc. Before I knew it, I had a coach working on a training plan for me! My Hawk Hundred coach (not something I thought I'd ever say) is someone I respect immensely with extensive training credentials and some 100 mile times on ultrasignup.com that I can't even dream of. This has really brought back a lot of my excitement/mojo for the Hawk that I lost when I DNF'ed (did not finish) at Rockin' K. At least now I feel that my training is well thought out instead of just my best guess at it. If I can just put in the effort and stick to the plan (which I'm usually pretty reliable at doing), I feel that I have a very good chance at crossing that 100 mile finish line in September.
Night Hawk training is going well. I now have 5 more weeks to train, and my weekly mileage is increasing. I had one 45 mile week, but then some rains washed out my long weekend runs and I dropped down to a 28 mile week, so I added in some extra leg/core strength exercises. I'm hoping to get a trail run in when we go down to Arkansas next week, always fun to run new trails.
Lake Leatherwood, just outside of Eureka Springs, Arkansas
I'm now 2 1/2 weeks out from the Night Hawk, and things are going well. My weekly mileage has increased (50 last week) and so has the temperature. I know that it can get miserable for some folks this time of year, but I really feel my best when running in warm to hot temps. For the past several weeks, the high temps have been in the 90's with almost no rain, so the trails are dry and inviting. Unfortunately summer running also means spider webs in the face, snakes, covering your legs in DEET (and still getting bit by ticks), and carrying two water bottles instead of just one. Even with all of that though, I get some weird sense of satisfaction from having sweat dripping off of my soaking clothes. Physical evidence of the effort I'm putting in I guess. I've got a few more 50 mile weeks before tapering a bit for the Night Hawk, currently all systems are go.
This is just the fourth year of the Night Hawk and I'm really looking forward to it. I've been lucky enough to have finished them all so far. The first year (2015), the race course was changed from all dirt trails to about 80% roads because the trails were too muddy from so much rain in June. It rained on us for most of the first loop, which made for some pretty great sky pics from Mile 90.
Stormy skies at the 2015 Night Hawk, photo by Mile 90 Photography
My main memory of 2015 is that I ran at least a 55k instead of a 50k. I zoned out on the 3rd loop and made a wrong turn into the campground by the cabins. The other side roads all return to the main road, but that particular road just circles back on itself. Being tired and unfamiliar with that area, I just kept looping in circles. I finally found someone to ask and they pointed me in the right direction. It should have been obvious, but I was too tired and frustrated to figure it out (hint, just running harder doesn't help).
The 2016 Night Hawk was a war of attrition. The heat/humidity combined to take out a lot of runners. I don't remember the numbers, but I'm guessing that five to ten 50k runners DNFed because of the conditions. I normally don't cramp during races, but my legs completely locked up on me several times that night. The cramps were in my quads and my calves in both legs, sometimes all at the same time. When I felt them coming on, I would grab onto the nearest tree and hold on until they subsided enough to get going again. I adopted the tree hugging strategy after dropping to the ground from the cramping pain and then not being able to get back up. When I finally did get back up, there was a copperhead in the trail about 20 feet onwards. I also tripped and fell a lot that night, likely from all of the cramping. I must've tripped and hit the ground at least 5 times and every time the water bottles would launch from my pack and I'd have to fish them out of the brush. It was a great race (really, I'd do it again)!
The weather for the 2017 Night Hawk was surprisingly cool. I was able to run with just one handheld bottle that night and it worked well. I held back a bit too much on my first loop, but overall was pretty pleased with my time. I don't know whether it was the cooler temps or the sandals (my first race wearing Luna sandals), but I didn't fall once.
The weather looks kinda iffy for the 2018 Night Hawk, it may be another great night for cramps and DNFs. It is forecast to be about 90 degrees at the 8:00 PM start time, dropping down to the upper 70's around 2:00 AM. Unfortunately rain is also forecast (50-60% chance) to move in around 11:00 PM and to last throughout the rest of the race. It's still a few days away though, so the forecast may improve. As a runner I don't really mind the rain and mud (to a point), but it really makes the volunteers and race directors jobs a lot harder. Either way, I can't wait. Here's to bugs, sweat, and beers!!
