My Ultramarathon Plans for 2026: Progress So Far

I had high hopes for my ultra running this year. I hadn't run an ultramarathon in 2 years so it seemed like a good time to commit to SOME ultra this year! I had a few opportunities:

• January: Riddle Run 28 miler = DNF at 14 miles
• July: Backyard Ultra ("Last Man Standing") = DNS
• August: Howl at the Moon 8-hour = DNF at 20 miles (4.5 hours)
• September: Limestone Rocks 8-hour = ??? (probably skip)
• October: Allerton Trail Ultra (29 miler) = hopeful to finish
• November: no ultra, but registered for a half-marathon = can do 13.1 miles!
• December: Clinton Lake Winter Solstice 30 miler = will do if weather cooperates

Not a good record so far. Two DNFs (did not finish) and one DNS (did not start). I am not going to be ready for Limestone Rocks 8-hour so that is likely a pass (not registered yet, so not a DNS or DNF). October will bring cooler weather and more time to train--think Allerton Ultra is possible. And the Clinton Lake Winter Solstice ultra in December sounds great if the weather is not nasty snow and ice. 

I have currently completed 113 lifetime ultra/marathons. I'd like to tick that up to 114 or 115 by the end of the year. If not in 2026, then 2027 will be my year of the ultra! Hope springs eternal. 

2026 Howl at the Moon: My 19th and Last

The red barn at Howl

Yesterday I "ran" the Howl at the Moon 8-Hour ultra in Danville, IL. It was my 19th time. And it ended poorly after just 6 loops (19.5 miles). I was not injured. Was not ill. Just tired, bored, and unmotivated. Also untrained. My longest run of the year had been 14 miles...in January! With the heat and humidity, my lack of miles really showed. I was unhappy and realized this was not for me. I walked the entire 6th loop. In addition to being unprepared, I really missed the vibe that came with previous Howl races. I used to know most of the volunteers and scorers. And I knew 20-30 runners. We'd pass each other and offer encouragement. It was fun. It was motivating. No more. I knew maybe 6 runners this year and no volunteers. This race is not the same as it was. I've changed too. If I'm not motivated, or at least enjoying the run, I will stop. I call that wisdom. I don't have anything to prove.

This was my 19th Howl at the Moon. And probably my last. I have 707 miles over the years at Howl, averaging over 37 miles each year. Twice I hit 47 miles! Yesterday was 19.5 miles. I have fallen. And I don't think I'll get up for another Howl. 

I'm currently stuck at 113 ultra/marathons. Haven't completed an ultra in 2 years and I would like to add to that total. Think I'll try for Allerton free ultra in October...and Winter Solstice 30 miler in December. Free ultra runs with lots of friends. Sounds good! 

Mahomet 5K Race Time Prediction

I'll be running the Mahomet 5K race this Saturday. It's my local race. I've run it many times (it was my first race I ever ran--25+ years ago). What is my expected finish time this year? Here are my race times for the last 5 years:

• 2025 = 24:52
• 2024 = 22:47
• 2023 = 22:28
• 2022 = 22:20
• 2021 = 23:30

Last year (2025) I was still recovering from pneumonia. It was an anomaly. Here are predicted times based on my current running data and software:

• Runalyze = 25:53
• Amazfit (GPS watch) = 22:45 
• Stryd run pod = 21:48

Recent 5K race times:

• Parkrun on July 25 = 23:49
• Parkrun on July 18 = 26:00 (very hot)
• Parkrun on June 27 = 23:55 

Based on the above statistics and my gut feeling, I think Amazfit is close to the correct prediction. I think I can run around 22:45. Probably a littler slower since hilly course and will be warm and rainy on Saturday morning. My prediction is 23:00. I'll do much better than last year (24:52) but not quite as good as in 2024 (22:47). We'll see! 

UPDATE: Finished in 25:11. My worst 5K ever. Yikes. It was warm and drizzly. So humid! Think my hard run on Thursday night was a big mistake. Still made 1st in age group (60-69).