The raw 45-degree air bit at my skin as I set out. I wasn't looking forward to today's weather, but this 40K run couldn't wait.
The plan seemed straightforward: four 10K loops between two parks. Nothing fancy, just consistent effort and steady execution to reach the target distance.
Bottom of Zone 2 and cruising
The first 5 K took just over 43 minutes. My body responded well to the measured approach, settling into a rhythm that felt sustainable. The second 5K took around 44 minutes, and my heart rate stayed comfortably at the bottom of Zone 2.
At this point, I was averaging 4.3 miles per hour on the flatter sections—exactly where I wanted to be. The consistency felt reassuring, especially knowing how much distance remained.
Third 5K pushed me to 45 minutes with a couple hill climbs, but the pace held steady at 4.2 mph. After more than two hours of running, I finally took in some Bolt Energy Chews—my first actual food.
My hydration setup was playing out in real time: one 20-ounce flask with two packets of Skratch, the other just water. I found myself preferring the plain water. Maybe something to experiment with is just water, electrolytes, and actual food instead of drinking highly concentrated sugar water.
Feeling 30K fatigue at 20K
The halfway mark arrived with another 44.5-minute 5K split. My pace remained locked in, but the effort required to keep it was increasing.
A twinge of concern rippled through me—I was expecting to feel this way at 30K, not 20K. What would the back half bring? The fifth 5K came in at 45 minutes and change. Still hitting the marks, but each step required more intention, more focus.
Tripping over tired feet
Sixth 5K: 47 minutes, 59 seconds. My pace dropped to 4.1 mph as fatigue began showing in my form. Occasional stumbles peppered the trail as my tired legs weren't picking my feet up anymore.
With 10K remaining, I did the math—this might end up being a full trail marathon by the time I made it back to the car. The "coincidental marathon" seemed both inevitable and daunting.
Seventh 5K came in at 47:20—a small improvement over the previous segment. One more to go. The final 5K took 50 minutes flat. There was no holding back, no conservation—that was pretty much all I had left.
The extra "just to say I did it"
My goal of finishing 40K in six hours slipped away, and I missed it by eight and a half minutes. Approaching the trailhead at almost exactly 26 miles, decision time arrived. Those extra few tenths of a mile had to be done—not because it was smart, but because it was there.
I hoped I wouldn't have to make this decision, but it had to be done.
Water and real food next time
Run complete: 26.22 miles in 6 hours, 31 minutes, 36 seconds. The heart rate data told an encouraging story: zero minutes in Zone 4, just 10% in Zone 3. Most of my time was spent in Zone 2 (68%) and Zone 1 (21%).
My nutrition strategy needs adjustments. Next time: calories every 10K instead of randomly. Plain water in one bottle, maybe diluted electrolytes in the other. I felt better with water and eating food, so I think that's what I will do.
Sleep preparation had gone well with the Huberman Sleep stack from The Feed, but timing matters—I need an empty stomach before taking the magnesium supplements.
My brain was too fried for deeper analysis. Time to refuel and recover.
Final Stats
Here's the breakdown for those keeping score:
Distance: 26.22 miles
Time: 6 hours, 31 minutes, 36 seconds
Average Pace: 14:56/mile
Heart Rate Zones:
Zone 1: 21% (≈82 minutes)
Zone 2: 68% (≈266 minutes)
Zone 3: 10% (≈40 minutes)
Zone 4: 0% (0 minutes)
Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet
Training Effect: 4.6 aerobic, 0 anaerobic
Training Status: Productive, holding a higher VO2 max
Recovery Time: 53 hours
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