I just ran in circles for 12 hours—and somehow, I had a blast. In this episode, I break down my experience at a fixed-time ultra, a 12-hour race on a looped course in Boise. Why did I do it? To test my fueling, sodium, and hydration strategies ahead of Cocodona 250. I dive into the numbers, what worked, what didn’t, and the mental lessons I took away—including how I let the course record change my race plan (oops). I also talk about my pre-race anxiety, dealing with mid-race curveballs, and how a simple gear change solved an unexpected issue. Plus, a ridiculous drive home involving a blizzard and a detour. If you’re into race strategy, mindset, or just love hearing about long, grueling efforts, this one's for you. Stay elite, my friends.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Journey

02:52 Building Confidence Through Racing

05:48 Nutrition Strategy and Preparation

09:12 Race Day Experience and Challenges

11:59 Mental Resilience and Goal Setting

14:50 Lessons Learned and Future Plans

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Takeaways

I needed a confidence builder this year.

Nutrition strategy is crucial for long races.

Gut training is essential for endurance events.

Mental resilience plays a key role in racing.

Always have a plan and stick to it.

Adjusting to race day conditions is important.

Communication with race officials can be challenging.

Learning from each race helps improve future performance.

Support from friends and family is invaluable.

Setting clear goals can enhance performance.

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Keywords

ultramarathon, nutrition, race strategy, mental resilience, goal setting, endurance running, Cocodona, Jeff Garmire, running tips, training