Clinton Lake 30-Mile Ultra: Not For Me

The Clinton Lake 30-Mile Ultra was yesterday. I started the race back in 2007. I'm glad it's still going, but I did not run it yesterday. It's been a long time since I ran the race after I stopped directing it. I used to volunteer, but now I don't even do that. The race vibe I liked has disappeared. And I barely hear it advertised so often forget it is coming. Plus, no one asks me to volunteer or run it! Guess that is fine. One day, I may be back racing on those single-track trails around the northfork of Clinton Lake! Most likely just "running" and not "racing." Here are my likes and dislikes about that race in its recent form:

Like:

• Love the 10-mile loop. It's a beautiful trail with lots of variety. Many hills for central Illinois!
• Good aid stations. Only 2 aid stations, but they tend to be solid and staffed with excellent volunteers that know ultra runners needs. 
• Race director that is a ultramarathon runner himself. Makes a positive difference when the director knows ultras, the trails, and the runner needs.

Not like:

• Too expensive. Why do short ultras charge so much for a simple trail run? Volunteers are from the club. No police are closing roads. Easy access to aid stations. Nothing that costs extra! 
• Race requires runners to volunteer at another race or on trails. Volunteering by definition is by choice, not required. I applaud the need for more trail maintenance and race volunteering in general, but encourage it, don't require it.
• Addition of a 10-mile race. This is an ultra and it should stay focused on ultrarunners. Including young and old, fast and slow. Maybe add an early start for slower and older runners. No need for 10 mile race--it dilutes the ultra experience. 

Maybe I'll run it next year. Or not. Maybe they'll reduce the race fee, drop the 10 miler, eliminate the volunteer requirement, and add an early start for slower runners. Maybe not. Kudos to the race director and club for keeping the race going. It is their race and they make the decisions. Runners have choices too. 

5 Weekends, 5 Races

I just finished a 5-weekend streak of races. From January 31 to February 28, I participated in five Saturday races. They are more like "runs" than races, but I tried hard and there are results. That counts. Here are the races and results:

• Jan 31: Riddle Run 28-mile ultra, DNF at 14 miles
• Feb 7: Morrissey Parkrun 5k, 24:02
• Feb 14: Morrissey Parkrun 5k, 23:13
• Feb 21: Morrissey Parkrun 5k, 23:22
• Feb 28: Morrissey Parkrun 5k, 23:14

I seem to be better trained for 5Ks! The ultra was in very cold and windy weather, with several inches of snow. It was brutal. Plus, I was not trained. Indeed, right now, I am prepared for 5K, not ultras. Or 10Ks, or half-marathons, or marathons. I have a trail HM on April 12 and plan to work my way into fitness for that race. Fortunately, I have fairly stable finish times in these 5Ks. I'd like to break 23:00 soon. By the end of the year, I want to break 22:00. I like to dream. Now that I am in the 60-64 (or 60-69) age group, I'm a serious age-group competitor! Just signed up for my first 1-mile race too (via Illinois Marathon). It'll be fun to see how fast I can run one single mile. Good indicator of my potential for 5k and 10k races. 

Next races? I have a couple more Parkrun 5Ks in March, plus an actual 5K "Pi Run" race on March 29. Then I hit April and have my first "real" race of the year, Allerton Trail Half-Marathon on April 12. Last year was my worst effort there, this year I hope to be top 3 in age group. Comeback kid! 

Running Goals for 2026

Holy cow! I am glad 2025 is over. It was not a good year for me and my running. Excited to start 2026 fresh, healthy, and happy. No injuries (except a nagging heel/Achilles soreness). Here is a link to my 2025 running goals. I failed all five of them. Need to think about new goals for 2026. Reasonable but challenging. And motivating. I'd like to return in one year and see that I accomplished all of my goals. And feel proud of those achievements. OK, here are my running goals for 2026:

1. Hit 25 Completed Parkruns. I have 14 total so far, so only 11 more 5K parkruns to hit the 25 milestone. You can buy a shirt after that achievement! One a month seems doable. In the back of my head I think I could hit 50. But maybe 50 should be a goal for 2027. One step at a time. One parkrun at a time. My local parkrun is at Morrissey park in Champaign, IL. Every Saturday at 9am. Free and fun. 

2. Run at least one ultramarathon. We have the "Free Ultra Quadfecta" that encompasses 4 trail ultras. All free. All local. I can and will finish one of them. Maybe two. Three? All 4 for the grand slam? I guess it is officially a Quadfecta! Similar to the parkruns, I'll take this goal one step at a time. One ultra in 2026. Maybe a slam in 2027.

3. Run at least 1,200 miles. I always like to have a distance goal in my year plan. I only ran 670 miles in 2025. Sad. This year I can knock off 100 miles/month. 1,200/year. Easy peasy! That will be almost double 2025 miles. Nice!

4. Break 22:00 for a 5K. My last 5K (one week ago) was 22:58. My best in 2025 was 22:28. I can drop 30 seconds off my best time in 2025. One minute off my most recent attempt. Hard, but doable! Here comes 21:59 for 2026. 

5. Join a local running club and do one of their races. I used to be very involved with local running. I was a member of more than one club, board member and president of Second Wind Running Club, and I started and directed 2 races that are still going (Buffalo Trace Trail Race and Clinton Lake 30-miler). Local clubs pissed me off and I quit them. It's been a few years so I should give them a try again. Join and run a race. Easy, right? Maybe I'll make a new friend. 

6. Go to the gym at least 50 times. I can hit the gym once a week, right? Weights, cross training, even a treadmill run. It's doable. I set 50 as the benchmark so I can have 2 full weeks of nothing and still hit my goal. Of course, I can go twice/week and have even more time off and still hit 50 minimum gym visits.

Those are my goals for 2026. Notably missing is a BQ qualifying time (need 3:50). That would be nice, but do not want to pressure myself. If the year goes well, I might try for a BQ time in September. No promises.