24 Hours of Palmer Lake

Ultra events are increasing in popularity. Humans like to push the boundaries of physical endurance. 24 Hours of Palmer Lake can be a low pressure event. Walkers and runners circle the 0.82 mile loop around Palmer Lake for as many times as they can.

Four runners this year achieved 100 miles. That takes mental and physical toughness of a high level. Others ran marathons, 50 miles, 75, and other impressive distances.

The most frequent response my family received when we said we'd signed up for the event was variations on, "that sounds crazy." It makes perfect sense to me. I went as far as I could, considering the limited training I had done. I managed 15.58 miles. More than a half marathon.

In typical ultra events, runners may spend many miles between aid stations. If you don't make it to a station within a certain time limit, you receive a DNF - Did Not Finish. At 24 Hours of Palmer Lake, you were never more than 0.82 miles from the aid station, the porta-potty, or your own comfy camp chair. 

With various ailments plaguing the three of us, we bailed at 8 hours. But we ended the event with smiles. Race Director Lance congratulated us. We felt no shame in being among the low mileage participants. We had a blast. ​

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