BHAG 2023-setting and accomplishing goals
Michele’s 2023 BHAG
My BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is a 50 mile race with a time goal in mind. It will take me a couple months to decide on what my time goal will be. Check back here to keep up to date on how training goes for me.
First- I am preparing for a mountain 50k, Crown King Scramble. I heard about this race when I ran Javelina Night run last year. My friend Chris Worden lives in AZ. I met him when he finished Hennepin Hundred. While visiting he took me on a fun trail run and was telling me about all the different Aravapia races. Crown King was his favorite so I decided to come back for it. We have an entire OMR crew heading out for this tough race adventure.
Once I finish Crown Kind Scramble 50k race I will work on testing my paces and picking a finish time goal for my 50 mile race. I will set this to something that is just a bit higher than I think I can reach. Setting the bar high means I have to show up for myself every day. When you work hard, you see improvement. Training works and seeing improvements energizes me. Having a clear goal in mind helps keep me on the task of making time for myself to accomplish fitness goals.
I have kept a journal of all my races since I started running. I have been reading notes from FANS 12 hour race training plans while I prepare for Tunnel Hill 50 mile since it is a similar type of race training, and a speed goal was what kept me motivated through the year.
Fans 12 hour timed race in Minnesota is a race when everything came together for me. The race had a tee shirt you earned if you finished a 100k or more during the 12 hours. I wanted this shirt so much. It was my BHAG that kept me focused and motivated during training. I spent months training and preparing, excited to see the results of my work. My goal was running 65 miles in 12 hours. ***FANS is a 12 hour or 24 hour timed event. The race goal is to see how many miles you can do in the time you signed up for.
How did I prepare to run a 100k in under 12 hours?
To run a 100k in under 12 hours you need to average a 11:30 pace per mile or faster. Pace calculator link
Endurance- getting consistent mileage weekly. Gradual healthy build up of mileage to keep me injury free while building endurance. I worked with a running coach on this. This was important in my success. I am a certified coach, but as an athlete I do better having someone else write my plan. I tend to want to over do the mileage. A coach is personal, find someone that fits your personality and makes you feel comfortable.
Speedwork- I worked on speed and practiced on distances between 10k to half marathon. This translated to a faster easy pace.
Nutrition- I went into the race with a plan for what I would eat to stay fueled. This included figuring out how many calories my body could tolerate per hour and the kind of food I could digest. I did this by practicing this during training.
Race day plan- I wrote my own race day pace plan and stuck to it. I know my body best and paid attention during my training on what truly felt easy. A pace I could keep over a 12 hour period. At the time of the race 9:15 to 10 minute miles was an “easy pace” for me to keep according to my run coach. She based this on the pace I could run with a low heart rate. In listening to my body during training I did not feel mentally I could keep that pace. I was honest with myself and wrote a plan that I truly believed I could accomplish.
pace plan- maintain a 10:30 pace for the first 4 hours. Once I hit the 4 hour mark I I slowed down to an 11 minute mile and held for as long as I could.
When I hit that 4 hour mark I remember feeling like I did not want to slow down, but I had made a plan that mathematically would get me to 65 miles in 12 hours. I wanted to keep a pace that kept me feeling fresh and would get me to my goal. When I got excited and started knocking out faster miles, I would pull myself back into my planned average pace. The biggest challenge of the day was managing my excitement and keeping my planned pace.
Believing I could reach this goal- this was important. I said this goal out loud. When people gave me the side eye doubting my capabilities, I did not listen. I ran with people that wanted to see me succeed and supported my goals. I stayed positive during the training block and surrounded myself with fellow dreamers of big goals. The trail running community is full of big dreamers that support one another.
Get involved in the Ornery Mule Racing trail running community and reach your BHAG goals. Ornery Mule Racing stands for “Kindness, community & ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” We have group runs all around Chicagoland, Illinois and Wisconsin. Join for mailing list. It is FREE to be updated for all kinds of FREE events!
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PR’s during the race
50 mile- 9 hours 21 minutes
100k was under 12 hours.
I finished a total of 63.07 official miles.
I raced super hard at the end to try to get to 65 but barely missed crossing the finish area under 12 hours. I do not recall what my mileage would have been if I got that last out and back. I look back and I am happy that I kept pushing to try even when it was unlikely I would finish that last lap.
I used my old blog that list my data from the race to write this current race recap. Michele’s old blog
What am I wearing
Cool & Flashy reflective hat LINK
OMR Run Club Hoody- multiples styles and colors available LINK
