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Ultra-marathoner: Going the (12-hour) distance

By Jessie Bazan, Comm '14

It's a sunny, summer Saturday at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis and already, Dr. Carolyn Smith is feeling the heat. The morning air is thick with humidity as the Marquette physician pins on bib #202, laces up her Mizuno Wave Riders and maneuvers her way to the starting line of the FANS 12-Hour. She's just a dozen hours away from setting a new national age-group record and winning the overall race, but for now, Smith and 46 fellow distance runners are just getting set to embark on one of the most grueling physical and mental tests around: a 12-hour ultra marathon.

8 a.m., at the starting line
I'm rested, hydrated and my legs feel fresh. The race is finally here. It's go time.

Having run the FANS twice before, Smith knows what to expect as she loops counter-clockwise around the 2.4 mile, primarily concrete course that circles Lake Nokomis. Coming around the first turn, Smith crosses a wooden bridge into a tree-lined area that provides some shaded relief on this blistering day. With her father and sister cheering her on, Smith looks invincible.

12 p.m., 30.71 miles in
Something's wrong with my hydration. It's hard to swallow. My mouth feels like it's filled with glue. Time to double my fluid intake and adjust the electrolytes.

After 34 years of competitive running, Smith is as experienced and knowledgeable as they come. She knows her body and knows when something needs to be altered.

"Over the years, you get smarter and you learn how to take care of yourself and listen to your body," says 46-year-old Smith, who oversees Marquette's Student Health Services. "With age comes wisdom and that certainly applies here."

A short-distance runner in high school and college, Smith tried a marathon her junior year of college and was instantly successful. Since then, she competes in numerous other marathons, ultra marathons, and world championships and even ran in the 1988 Olympic marathon trials.

3 p.m., 52.51 miles in
Feeling a lot better than before. In fact, my last split was ahead of where I thought I'd be. I'm comfortable with my time but wow, it's hot out here.

Smith continues to excel even in the 84-degree heat, a credit to her physical fitness and dedicated training regime. An easy training day for Smith is six miles, while a more intense workout can be up to 35 miles. She runs five days a week, and this constant pounding on her feet requires Smith to get a new pair of shoes every six weeks. Her favorite place to train is around Green Lake, Wis.

"On the weekends in the spring and summer I'll run up there along the rolling, country roads. It's physically and mentally challenging, and a great workout," Smith says.

6 p.m., 71.88 miles in
Energy level, down. Muscle fatigue, up. These cramps are killers. My body feels like it's on fire. Come on, Carolyn, just get through to the other side of the lake. Remain strong.

When the going gets rough, it's Smith's mental toughness that carries her through.

"Most anyone could train themselves physically to do these kinds of runs if you were disciplined enough," Smith explains, "but it's the mental component that really comes into play." Some of her strategies include positive self-talk, visualizing a familiar route and breaking things up into smaller sections.

8 p.m., 83.19 miles completed
I did it. My calves are as tight as drums and I'm covered in salt from all the sweat but I did it. Twelve hours later, I'm done.

With a new national age-group record set and the overall race championship under her belt, Smith heads home to shower and rest.

"I give myself a week to get sleep and eating patterns back and let all that micro tissue damage heal up," says Smith. Up next for the ultra-marathoner is the September 100K world championship in the Netherlands. As usual, when the time comes, Smith will be more than ready to run.

Tips from a champion ultra-marathoner

1.    Hydration, hydration, hydration. "Not just during the run; it's what you're doing day-to-day. Make sure you're getting your maintenance fluids and replacing your losses."

2.    Eat a lot of variety of foods. "With variety comes all of the nutrients. Variety from not only carbohydrates, fats and proteins, but also fruits and vegetables. They provide really good nutrients, they've got some anti-oxidants, and they're energizing."

3.    Eat frequent small meals, rather than three really large meals. "I never miss breakfast, then I eat lunch, dinner and two snacks. That works for me but remember I'm burning a bunch of calories. You just feel better and don't get that meal fatigue or sleepiness."

4.    Try to stick to whole foods instead of processed foods. "We were meant to eat whole foods as best as you can, but I don't beat myself up if I need to have processed."