Climbing Strong, Questioning Everything

/September 17, 2025

Countdown to Javelina

It is mid-September which means that Javelina 100 race will be here soon and I have 6 weeks of training left. How did we get here so fast? Do I have enough time to get in the shape that I want to be in when the start gun goes off? Have I done the things that I need to do to set me up for success?

That is a lot of questions and just the tip of the question iceberg. There are more questions such as:

Is ~500 kcal per hour enough?
What about the heat at the race?
Did I book that hotel room and rental car yet?

Some of these questions will only get answered at mile 70 with a headlamp strapped to my skull, so stressing about them now? That’s a hard pass.

The answer to the last question is no. The answers to the prior two questions will be determined on race day so trying to analyze it all right now will be a waste of time for me.

I have experience on my side when it comes to racing 100 mile ultras. This will be my 10th starting line and if my legs are on my side, it will also be the 9th finish line I cross. All of that time training and racing gives me confidence and an understanding in knowing where I am at right now.

The start gun is coming whether I’m ready or not. Might as well lean into the chaos and see what happens.

Low Mileage, High Return

Here’s the thing. I’m not a 100-mile-a-week guy. Never have been, never will be. My style is more “work smarter, nap harder.” Stacking mileage, focusing on recovery, and sprinkling in cross-training is how I’ve gotten to finish lines before.

My approach to the Javelina 100 training was a lot different than previous years. In prior training cycles there would be a lot of weighted vest hiking on the treadmill (I lived in a very flat area) along with plenty of double run days.

As it turns out you don’t have to live at your local trailhead to survive a 100-miler. You just have to know your body and maybe keep it off the couch long enough to remember you’re an athlete.

Strength Over Miles

This time around, I have focused more on strength. Not just going to the gym and doing deadlifts and squats but climbing a lot more than I would need for this course. The Javelina course has ~6,000 ft of elevation for the 100 miles. Doing the math that comes out to ~60 ft/mile but my runs are getting nearly 150 ft – 200 ft per mile and I can feel it paying off.

It’s funny—by training for way more elevation than the race even has, I’ve somehow made running flat sections feel easier. Strength training: 1. My quads: still negotiating.

I’m not only stronger at climbing but the descending has also been better. In addition to that, the strength needed to run when my legs are tired is there. That has translated to being able to run on the flat portions of the road and trails much easier than I originally thought it would be.

There are so many ways to get to the finish line of a race and doing what you can with what you have is important to remember. You can scroll social media and see that others are doing X or Y but they aren’t living your life and going through the things that you are going through.

Life Happens, Training Adapts

For example, we went on a trip that took me to Boston, New York and Chicago over three weeks. I had to make due with what I had in order to keep the fitness train moving forward. Beyond that, we launched the Everyday Athlete Clubhouse and that has taken a lot of time and effort as it continues to grow and expand.

Oh, and I’ve been sick along the way too. I cannot press a rewind button on life and wish away the illness so why spend time lamenting what could have been. Instead, I’m asking what I can do.

Life doesn’t pause for your race plan, so you adapt. Missed miles aren’t failures, they’re just plot twists in the training story.

Fuel, Fatigue, and the Final Push

Over the next 5 weeks I’ll continue to put an emphasis on climbing and speed work over long runs because I believe, for me, that will translate on race day. And because I have been training to eat 500 kcal per hour, I’ll be better fueled than I have ever been for a race of this distance. That should translate to having energy toward the end when the fatigue begins to set in.

If this plan works, I’ll still have gas in the tank when everyone else is running on fumes. If it doesn’t… well, at least I’ll be well-fed.

I am excited to step up to the start line of a 100 mile ultra. It will be interesting to test how well the concept of strength translates to performance over the course of 100 miles. Will the Topo Athletic Vista be able to handle the rugged terrain of the Arizona desert … .I am looking forward to finding out!

Nerd Clusters at Mile 82

And I do have one last question:

What will that package of Nerd Clusters at mile 82 taste like……I’m guessing utopia but time will tell.

Jason Bahamundi Run Tri Bike Magazine Owner Triathlete Ultra Runner Trail Runner

Jason Bahamundi, founder of Run Tri Bike, is a passionate and accomplished endurance athlete dedicated to proving that there is a spot at the starting line for everybody and every body. With a background deeply rooted in the world of triathlons, running, and cycling, Jason has not only excelled in his personal athletic endeavors but is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive world of endurance sports. This led him to establish Run Tri Bike, a platform that serves as a hub for enthusiasts to connect, share experiences, and access valuable resources. Jason's genuine enthusiasm for endurance sports, continues to inspire individuals to pursue their goals and embrace the transformative power of an endurance sports lifestyle.