KyQuan Phong

Coincidentally, running an ultramarathon became a goal of mine on January 1, 2024, when my wife’s friend invited me to run one with her. I was hesitant at first since I didn’t know what an ultramarathon was, how far 100k was, and whether I was equipped mentally, psychologically, and physically to even complete one. The only organized races I’ve participated in were four 5k’s in the past three years, and the longest distance I’ve run was a personal 10k, which resulted in a shin injury that put me out for two and a half months. With those thoughts going through my mind, I said “YOLO,” and signed up that night.

My training started on January 2nd.  The Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT) 100K was on February 24th.  That gave me fifty-three days to train to run a 100k.  Considering all the training guidelines I found online said a novice runner like me would need six to twelve months of training to properly prepare for an ultramarathon, I knew my goal was aggressive and very daunting.

Due to the short amount of time I had to train, I made sure I increased my weekly mileage at a slow enough pace to not injure myself and fast enough to get a good amount of time on my feet.  I knew I had only fifty-three days to work with, so I couldn’t risk an injury that put me out for weeks.  With that in mind, I made sure to listen to my body the whole time during training; if something pinched, throbbed, or felt off, I monitored it for a few minutes before deciding to walk, take a break, or call it a day.  I wasn’t distracted by music or companionship during my outdoor training or the actual run, so I was very much in-tune with how I was feeling and what I was needing.

I don’t run with any distractions for two reasons: convenience and focus.  Firstly, convenience refers to not having to carry something that’s unnecessary like an earphone case or dealing with wires when I need to stay organized.  I run with a battery pack, but I have zero intentions to charge up any devices unless it is an emergency.  And secondly, I’m able to stay focus.  Our minds are powerful tools, so I was able to exercise a great deal of control over my thoughts and emotions.  Focus on the goal, be present, and keep the good vibes flowing.  I had to remind myself that pain is acceptable, expected, and inevitable but anything broken or torn is not; as along long as none of the latter happened, I was going to keep moving forward.

The LOViT 100K was a rugged out-and-back on trail/dirt/fire roads with substantial rocks, roots, ruts, and some but very little pavement.  Total elevation gain/loss was 10,000 feet.  Along the run, there were seven aid stations fully staffed and fully stocked. Participants of this year’s 100k were blessed with low/not overflowing streams, good weather, clear day and night, full moon, and great temperatures; that was one way to trick a guy like me into running more ultramarathons.

My race started at 6AM on Saturday, February 24th, and I returned on Sunday the 25th at 1:24AM (nineteen hours, twenty-four minutes, and fifty-seven seconds later) to receive my LOViT 100K medal.

I’m a novice and still have a lot to learn, but I am always open to talking more about my experience.  If I can do it, you most certainly can too.

If you feel so inclined, reach out to me on Instagram @KyQuan