Fellowship of Christian Athletes Light2Light Run

I feel very fortunate to have participated this relatively small event for a great cause. The organization, volunteers, community support and fellow runners were all fantastic. The run started at the Currituck Lighthouse at 7:00 a.m. and finished 42.7 miles to the south at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Runners had the option of signing up as a relay team or running the whole distance solo. Runners needed to finish the run by 5:00 p.m.

A few of us who are training for the Graveyard 100 in March signed up to do it solo. It made a perfect training run to test our pacing, nutrition, gear, general readiness, etc. on the actual Graveyard 100 course.

The Start - 33 ℉

It was great chatting with all of the runners at the beginning of the race while we were still bunched up together. After a while the field spread out.

With Rich 7 miles in at Pine Island

I ran the entire Light2Light event with Laura. We have decided to cooperate during the first half of the GY100 when no pacers are allowed. Rich will be Laura's crew chief. He has agreed to help me out during the first half too. Thanks, Rich!

Somewhere below Duck a guy asked us if we were running the FCA Light2Light Run. We said yes. He launched a helicopter drone and filmed us from overhead. It was pretty cool. I wonder if we will be on YouTube.

Jennette's Pier Aid Station mile 35.5. Me fumbling with a Tailwind packet.

Laura and me holding up our finisher medals at Bodie Island

Here are my lessons learned:

1. Hokas are awesome! The extra cushioning in those shoes really helps reduce the pounding your body must absorb on a long run like this.

2. Tailwind Nutrition is great! During the first two thirds of the run I was very conscientious about drinking my Tailwind and felt great.

I got a little lax about drinking it later on and paid for it. I started to bonk after we left Jennette's Pier aid station. Fortunately, Terry was at the side of Old Oregon Inlet Road and gave me a GU gel. My blood sugar and energy level started coming back up after that. I've bonked so many times now I can feel it coming on and know what to do before it's too late.

3. Don't overdress. I wore an old race shirt that I wouldn't mind throwing away if I got over heated. Sure enough, I started to get hot on the beach road.  I took the shirt off and tossed into someone's trash can. I felt much better after that.

4. 25 minute run / 5 minute walk works great. The secret is to do it from the very start and to be consistent about it.

5. Aid Station stops are very important, but just don't stay there long.

6. Reduce caffeine intake before an event like this. Then when you get droopy during the event by all means have caffeine, whether it's in your sports drink, Coke or Mountain Dew.

7. Injinji toe socks work well. I didn't have any major blister issues.

Next up Graveyard 100!