I missed Uwharrie in 2022 — dropped out the week before. I had COVID about two weeks out, and while I was feeling fairly recovered, I didn’t think it would be wise to push my body that hard… But I was bummed not to get that 10th finish. And while I was lacking motivation this year when sign up came around, I really wanted that 10th mug! So I signed up and did the training… Well, enough training to get by.

I won’t write much, just update the table:

Year	Time	Place	1st 20	2nd 20
2010	7:57 (short course)	30/71
2011	8:50:22	30/88
2012	7:57:17	27/148
2013	8:49:06	33/90
2015	8:05:07	17/88	3:49:13	4:14:32
2016	7:31:30	7/101	3:33:42	3:57:48
2017	7:43:54	9/94	3:29:04	4:14:18
2018	20 miler….	11/190	3:25:37
2019	Volunteer!
2020	8:10:01	9/73	3:46:30	4:22:07
2021	7:56:17	7/54	3:52:xx	4:04:xx
2023	8:56:23	22/78	4:11::00	4:42:42

I admit I’m a little disappointed in that 2nd 20… Thought I would have held up a bit more. But then again, my current training is 20 mpw (avg over the year, but with some bigger weeks before an ultra like this), so not sure I should have those expectations.

What I have found is that in a race like this, that I have run so many times, it is impossible not to compare my current self to my past self. How much of the slow down is due to age, how much due to how my training has changed, or how much is it something else?

I’m sure it’s a combination…. I know I shouldn’t compare, but it’s not in my nature not to.

(I would note that my total training time per week is likely the same, if not a little more now, but instead of running 40+ mpw, I’ve added a lot of time on the bike, and a lot more time in the gym. I think I’m probably healthier overall, and my current training is more geared towards health span than performance. But I’d still like to perform well!)

Morning after coffee… I now have 11 of the big mugs (volunteered one year), and 1 medium size mug (the one year I ran the 20).