Anyone here ever run 100 miles alone?

I've done many 100 mile races and only had a pacer for one. I enjoyed the aspect of being "more alone." Many times I have thought of doing what you've proposed and I think it would be fantastic. I imagine it'd be a bit harder to keep yourself going when you get tired due to lack of spectators, crew, family/friends to cheer you on, etc. But the experience would probably be fantastic. Another option for you would be to do four 25-mile loops. Many folks don't like loops (myself, too), but in a long event like that, the familiarity can become your friend.

Good luck!

p.s. If you're in the upper midwest, I might like to join you on this (seriously).

I realized how stupid my post was: you want to do the run along. Sorry!

My friend and I did this the year that Western States was canceled because of fire.

We both used each others homes as aid stations. He started from his and me from mine. We did not run together but we made a route/loop that went around each others houses.

It's a lot harder to do this in the woods unless you drop your food and water the day before or have a crew show up and hope the timing is right.

I'm not in the midwest...

Mile 34 aide station and mile 80 aid station would be at the same location.

I would have my friend drive to the other aide station locations in between and wait for me within a rough time estimate. Say, 9am-10am. Leave the box if you don't see me. This will help me try to keep on a specific pace as well. If I'm late by an hour then they can arrive at the next meet up two hours later than planned and so forth.

Maybe I can ask them to run with me for the first 3 miles after each station I see them for some chatting time.

I'm still toying with the logistics; well organized 100 mile races seem to be expensive and hard to get into and/or actually hard to get to.

A water source every three miles for 100 miles?

Aside from that, your post interests me because just the other day I was sort of daydreaming about the feasibility of running to my parents' new house, which is about 125 miles away. The route would be almost all back-roads with lots of little towns and small cities along the way. I've never run more than a marathon so I am in no way an ultra runner, but it would be an interesting adventure as a one-off.

I'm thinking I would do it in two days (I'm sure there's no way I can run 125 miles in one shot), with a night spent at a cheap hotel somewhere halfway along... but man, I can't imagine the aching legs would feel very good at the start of day two! That's well over two marathons back-to back over two consecutive days.

If I ever did do it, I would plan it out to ensure my route never goes more than around 12-15 miles at a time between at least some sort of place to purchase food/liquids, be it a convenience store, grocery store, gas station, whatever. A washroom would be a definite bonus.

I would bring a camelback-type hydration backpack with pouches to carry some toilet paper and some Clif bars/similar-type energy foods, and of course, money to buy food and whatever else along the way.

easy weeks wrote:

A water source every three miles for 100 miles?

- the course is a blend of urban and urban dirt trails

I would bring a camelback-type hydration backpack with pouches to carry some toilet paper and some Clif bars/similar-type energy foods, and of course, money to buy food and whatever else along the way.

- the backpacks can chafe badly after a few hours. I think running hands would be easiest.

Why not do it on the track? Roughly 402.34 laps of a 400 meter track. Aid stations at a very high frequency if desired.

I have a Nathan pack for my 100-mile racing and training and it's a great design. No problems with chafing, even when shirtless.

I would say you've missed the point of the OP's point entirely...

I did a 100 mile bike ride which was a cloverleaf pattern. It was a great design because you only needed one large aid station in the center that you came to every 25 miles. You could adapt this design as needed. Gl friend

Did a 90k run once. Did a few food drops beforehand and wore a Spot device with tracking on so family could see where I was. Met friends/family at the other end at a nice campsite. Was a good adventure through very remote national park, hence the Spot device.

Also did a Fat Arse race once where I was the only person doing the 100 miler, with about 5 people doing 100k. Free and really well organised although not an official race. Perhaps check to see if there are any Fat Arse ultras nearby.

This sounds like a really stupid idea. Way to totally ruin your joints. Bicycle 200 instead.

easy weeks wrote:

...just the other day I was sort of daydreaming about the feasibility of running to my parents' new house, which is about 125 miles away. The route would be almost all back-roads with lots of little towns and small cities along the way. I've never run more than a marathon so I am in no way an ultra runner, but it would be an interesting adventure as a one-off.

I'm thinking I would do it in two days (I'm sure there's no way I can run 125 miles in one shot), with a night spent at a cheap hotel somewhere halfway along... but man, I can't imagine the aching legs would feel very good at the start of day two! That's well over two marathons back-to back over two consecutive days.

Frankly, I'd recommend Bruce Tulloh's strategy (used when he set a cross-US record) of walking for an hour (~4 miles), running for an hour (~8 miles), taking a break, and repeating.

Yeah, yeah, I know, "walking isn't allowed." Nuts to that. If you wanted to cover a lot of ground on Day One, then be able to repeat on Day Two, a walk/run mix would be your best bet.

not fast but is personable wrote:

This sounds like a really stupid idea. Way to totally ruin your joints. Bicycle 200 instead.

Most elite African distance runners do a long run of 100+ miles every single week. Doesn't seem to ruin their joints.

Just be careful! I think your friend should wait at the station til he sees you, not leave the box if he doesn't see you.

doesn't seem to hurt them wrote:

not fast but is personable wrote:

This sounds like a really stupid idea. Way to totally ruin your joints. Bicycle 200 instead.

Most elite African distance runners do a long run of 100+ miles every single week. Doesn't seem to ruin their joints.

This is one of the stupidest posts I've read in a while.

Getting food every 18-25 miles is not even close to enough.

If you get a chance, google "Paul Jansen Van Rensburg 100 miles"

His story about running 100 miles is the most unique and inspiring I've ever heard. He also almost killed himself doing it.