48 in 48 (2022)

Challenge

March 16th, 2022

Inception 

During the first days of spring 2020, while listening to Lex Friedman on the J.R.E. podcast, he mentioned completing Goggin's newest Challenge: 48in48. He explained how difficult it was to run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours; however, finishing something difficult felt fantastic, and he was glad he completed the Challenge. I remember feeling intimidated and asking myself, "Could I complete such a challenge?" Tucking the thought away, I lipped to myself half-seriously. I would do the Challenge the following year. At that time, I had run periodically on weekends for about a mile between stair sessions. 

As a full year approached and many whacky events passed, I would either live by my words or pack it in, calling it a day and accepting that I was more talking than doing. Eh, eh, not a chance.

Preparation

I was unsure how my body would react—but I was willing to try regardless. Knowing I ran every day and closed in on 365 days—I was confident going into the Challenge. But when nerves surfaced, not knowing what to expect, by default, I resulted in doing what I always did when unsure and inexperienced—I practiced, visualized, and simulated scenarios that could get extremely uncomfortable. 

I grew more familiar with how my body would react and the mental posture needed to push through by rehearsing. I emphasized the variables out of my control (e.g. the weather, route conditions, unexpected injuries). Though that year's winter was mild, conditions were not the best to run in; I had banked many runs in the slush, the cold, the snow, with windchill, while fingers froze like icicles with lips drier than chalk. My feet often felt heavier than frozen cinderblocks as each step pounded into the unyielding concrete. 

During February, leading up to the 48in48 weekend, I would double the runs. Then, during the last weekend before 4x4for48, I plugged in 10 runs, leaving the last two for the following weekend when the real fun would begin. Acting out the runs at various times throughout the day and night provided the confidence I would rely on. 

It eases out angst. Whenever I prepared for competition, the process always reciprocated equanimity with an overflowing cup of confidence.

Equipment 2021: 

I had a polyester tracksuit, spandex leggings, insulated cold long sleeves, a double pair of socks, a running cap, headlamp (at night), gloves, wrist tracker, earbuds, phone, Epic React on my feet, fire in my veins, and a big smile.

I delivered my best effort every damn day. Then it was Showtime.

Equipment 2022: 

Pegasus Trail on my feet, single pair of socks, spandex leggings, run shorts, various long sleeve shirts, track jacket, running cap, headlamp (at night), wrist tracker, earbuds, phone and reflectors on both wrists (at night). 

For 2022's Challenge, I ran for two consecutive weeks twice a day, early mornings and in the evening. It recorded the state I would endure while relying on 2021's experience. Without disrespecting the difficulty of 4x4for48, I was better prepared to tackle this year's feat with better preparation and 700+ daily runs tied to my feet. I was more fit mentally to do what I was about to do. 

Ignition 

On many nights, I struggled to sleep in anticipation of big games, exams, and interviews. But I've figured out that when you do a thing every day, it becomes instinctive, and within moments, one can recollect oneself and focus on any task at hand. So that week, I ate well and slept well, and the mercury in the thermostat began to rise; the sun smiled a little longer each day. Hence, the night before 2022's 4x4for48 Challenge, I left my thoughts by the bedside. 

Targets

The goal for each run was two sets of Push-ups (150 in total) and one set of Dips (160) before a minimum of 4.2 Miles (always doing a little more, leaving no doubt and in case technology malfunctioned).

Runs 1, 2, 3

#1 (7:30 am): Unlike last year, the first run was a commute to work (school) instead of the track. As the sun beamed off my blinkers, I gloved up without a jacket. Without thought, it was time to link each mile like layering tiles in a single file. As the morning air circulated through my system, I fed off the eyes of curious commuters, pedestrians and the familiarity of the pavement. As I approached the school and mile number four, I took in parents behind wheels, students in passenger seats, co-workers crossing the street and the elation of pupils on the playground. Surrounded by the elements, I was in my element!

#2 (12 pm): Logistically, I travelled with what I needed for the day; using a pre-lunch P.E. class, I changed into my run kit, used gym time to stretch and was ready to go when noon arrived. I usually stick to the steps practiced during trial runs, but that morning, I wore new earbuds and ran a new route at a time I had never run before. The route was familiar and not an issue, but I did not read the manual, leading to four miles of one earbud that worked. Nonetheless, I ran with one earbud on the blast; even with adequate prep., you must sometimes improv. Entering the school gate a few minutes before lunch break concluded, I strode onto the playground with run number two in my pocket. 

#3 (4 pm): My hip was a bother throughout the school day; sitting for extended periods, tired, and dozing off during the afternoon at my desk drained some of my morning enthusiasm. To add to a sleigh of minor hurdles, I missed the second set of lunchtime (12 pm) push-ups, so I pushed the third set to the end of the run. I troubleshot my technological issues, my hips loosened, and I flew home on the swiftest splits I would record. 

Quarter 1/4 Thinking

When taking on tasks that make you smarm and sweat, one can ease the mind by dividing tasks into segments, manageable, digestible chunks that will motivate you to do more. For example, one can break the whole of a goal into four quarters, like a basketball game. In this case, the first quarter (the first 3 runs) sets the pace and level of enthusiasm. Imagine each quarter has 12 mins, as each run is scheduled for 4 miles; label the three parts of the quarter as "early quarter," "mid-quarter," and "closing quarter." By focusing on each portion of the quarter, the task at hand becomes much more feasible. Set the tone early, find a rhythm midway through, then explode to finish. As with the first quarter, repeat with the remaining third.

Runs 4, 5, 6

#4 (8 pm) Usually, when home after work while in the kitchen preparing my first meal, I enjoy snacking; after a day at the office, it has become a comfortable routine. However, keeping the previous year in mind, I aimed to surpass the 24-hour mark of No Food for the 2nd consecutive year, so I stayed away from the pantries and matched 24 hours before eating. On Run #4, I had to concentrate on each step running in the dark. While running with eyes tied to the ground, I adverted a collision with a group of night runners out of instinct. As expected, past the halfway point, my feet began to burn. But I forced it and finished the run determinately. An hour later, I was online with a client. 

#5 (12 am) After the online session, I chef'd up soba with piman (green peppers), kinoko (mushrooms) and kara-age (fried chicken). 12 am approached stealthily; though I had practiced eating before runs, I wolfed down two rounds, and it proved to be unwise too close to the start line. Bloated, I ran like a submarine boat; midway through the darkness began to shimmer, I witnessed the stars at my feet instead of high above. Overmaning it, four miles later and back inside, I showered, meditated and slept for 90 minutes. Though I was 5 hours short of the sleepless mark in 2021, it was much-needed and well-received.

#6 (4 am): I appreciate the quietest parts of the night. It sounded and felt like the interior of my essence was on display; not a soul was in the room. The streets were empty as if time had frozen; I took long strides over the bridge and back in the dark on those long streets. Then, before I thought twice, I was back on my couch, where I dozed off before the sun slowly started its ascent. Like a year before, the first night was strange, but I made it through to a brighter day. 

Cold Showers

Replenish & Reset—(Read Here: Cold Therapy [2019])

The sub-zero characteristics of cold showers shock the system. Restricting the blood, the body reacts as hemoglobin flows freely, muscles tense up, the shivering creates warmth as the mind dials into the moment, and the reset button is activated. The cold demands you step out of comfort, reach into the moment, replenish cells, and reset your mood. Daily Cold Showers is much needed to do what I must. At 1:21 am, the frigidness of pouring H2O was rapaciously applauded by my tendons, muscles and, most importantly—mood.

Half-Way Theory

Every goal has a finish line and a halfway point. All measurements are divisible into halves, whether distributed in minutes, miles or calories. If you create common denominators using Quarter Thinking—by default, you will find yourself halfway to your goal from the get-go. The mindset becomes "halfway to halfway." With this approach, one can chain checkpoints at 25%, 1/2, three-quarters and ultimately, destination: 100. Once I've accessed the halfway marker, I run downhill into the second half by seizing momentum. From there forth, I am midway to finish. From there, the halfway point requires less distance, time and energy.

Runs 7, 8, 9

#7 (8 am): The morning was bright with a week's anticipation of sunshine—a warm breeze and faces wearing giant smiles were a bonus. I ran in between gable rooftops and back down into town. I ran quietly past rows of crops and evenly through my splits to complete mile 28. Afterward, I sent a few messages, made a few calls and ate a rare breakfast consisting of granola, peanuts, yogurt, and chunks of banana and apple. My stomach would later question the decisions made by my mouth—for a solid portion of the morning, I was a one-man trumpet band on the toilet. It was likely the peanuts. 

#8 (12 pm): For Run Eight, I decided to run to and spend a couple of hours at the beach. Mid-run, I answered two calls—the conversation was quick, so I called back the Bro and Brother when I got to the beach. I wanted to toss up some shots, but with no ball, I stretched, took in the palm trees, the sun, a sea of screaming kids, couples streaming their emotions and others on the patio eating ice cream.  

#9 (4 pm): I left Long Beach at 2:30 pm, travelling over bridges and the expressway. Though I did not intend to, I ran the farthest distance (considering both years). Having modified the schedule to allow more chill-out time before the 8 pm run, I spent the next hour grabbing cash and then groceries to re-up the pantries. In retrospect, I discovered (in the last year) that riding the bike is excellent for recovery. I hypothesize working other muscles relieves and rejuvenates the major run muscles. Cycling helps reset my body while keeping my mind in motion. 

Stretching is non-negotiable

The focus is hamstrings, quads, calves, and groin when I stretch after runs. These are the largest muscle groups that carry my day. My left hamstring loses form and is unstable whenever I slow down during runs. This causes numbness and/or fatigue, which travels to either my left glute or left calf; when things get pretty loosey-goosey, I have to modify my stride to complete the run. In addition, my groin tightens up; the aftermath is a build-up of pressure in my lower abdomen—at times, it feels like chronic herniation. Hence, all I need is a few minutes to feel a waterfall of relief. It is a plus in the shower and steam to grab my ankles, even for a few minutes. Lastly, I often utilize break time at school using a platform higher than my hips to target my hamstrings, with legs extended forward—the more discomfort I feel, the more relief I gain, and the less pain I store and transport. From my earliest days of basketball fun, I have always carved time to work out the aches, strains, and soreness. I recall coaches and trainers advising that one way to extend one's athletic life is to be flexible to reduce injuries, which would accelerate recovery. Stretching frequently for extended periods is the main ingredient to durability and longevity. In a quarter-century of athletic competition, excluding a few pulls and partial tears, I've remained healthy, avoiding lengthy durations of inactivity due to injuries. 

Runs 10, 11, 12

#10 (8 pm): Hydrated, stomach satisfied, and a day of U.V. painted satisfaction onto my face. In a straight line, I headed uphill. In a blur and the dark, I picked up momentum, with gravity on my side—Number Ten fell at my feet. I showered for the third time and slept for a sweet yet frustrating 100 minutes. Stumbling out of bed, I was two runs away from closing out 2022's Forty-Eight in Forty-Eight.

#11 (12 am): I could taste the finish line—using two straight lines, I regained my stride and ran splits as if I had to split. I floated on the route like the crescent moon high above. It felt great to push it, retrieving my form. Afterward, I laid down, attempting to imitate some kind of a nap—half successfully, I woke for the Dirty Dozen. 

#12 (4 am): When you fall, you gotta get up—so I did. Without sight, my feet danced in the dark until the uneven pavement brought me down to earth. When you are falling, it is unbelievable, your mind murmurs an elongated, "Noooo, am I actually going down." Reminiscent of a few months prior, I braced the fall with a hand, then rolled onto a shoulder and a knee that greeted the ground gracefully. But like a dead man, taking minimal damage, I rose out of my tomb of momentary embarrassment. The fall, perhaps, was the most adversity I faced—if only for a moment, my pride was wounded. Ironically, the runs were not draining; though my pace slowed, my body felt good. Nonetheless, I finished Mile 48 with fancy footwork and a jovial mood. Instead of another nap, I wrote the outlines of the words that occupy this page: "48in48."

Hydration is Pivotal

Recently, I found a bag of hydration tablets on a shelf for 70 yen that has done wonders for my recovery. Before infusing every glass of water I drank with these vitamin and mineral tablets, to avoid cramping, I would load my water bottle with sliced lemons and sea salt. When I ran out, I used table salt. Since switching to the hydration tablets, I have not cramped during the day nor in the middle of my dreams. Though the weather is not very humid, I stay hydrated throughout the day. As well, I average one banana a day. 95% of what I drink is water and tea. Nothing beats a tall glass of deliciously chilled H2O.

Victory Lap

#13 (8 am): Doing the minimum required is insufficient. Word to the wise—whatever you do, do your best and some extra. Make a statement against mediocrity, push further, and be a little better. At the end of last year's Challenge, 12 runs were not enough. Riding the energy of my willingness, I found myself on the track to cement all I had accomplished 48 hours earlier. Enough is never enough. You are only finished when you decide you are done; this cannot come from anyone else—you must choose the end when you are good.

Barelegged and fresh in green shorts, I lit up in early March's early morning sun as curious eyes feasted on unfamiliarity. I skated for 5 laps and tapped danced to end a successful challenge. Officially, the 56 miles I travelled took 50 hours—Friday morning seemed like a time far, far away. But, interestingly enough, during the second half of 48in48, as I ran, I began to think—how else could I make this Challenge more difficult in 2023? Should I decrease the resting duration, add more miles per run, go deeper into no sleep, and/or fast for more extended periods?! 

All questions remain unanswered, but I have another 364 days to find a suitable answer! 

Number of Sleeps: 4

Number of Meals: 4

Number of Showers: 4

Number of Bathroom Breaks: 5

Route Gallery