Day 3181 —Running for a Research Study— with ICE!

    I wish I had someone take a picture of me doing my baseline metrics the entire test fascinated me. This study aims to measure the effects of a 100-mile race on a person. I've always been curious to do a real VO2 max test and get all my metrics, but I never thought I'd get the chance without paying for it. The only test I knew about was the one on a treadmill, which usually involves wearing stuff on the chest. However, in real life, I had to breathe through a tube and had my nose closed with a modified safety pin.

    I felt a little nervous with so many people around me as I tested, but the group was extremely positive. My heart rate looked normal as I ran. Unfortunately, I didn't reach my true max heart rate because I struggled to breathe through the tube and my safety pin came off. Now, thinking about it makes me want to redo the whole thing, but I'll get that chance after the race because I'll have to come back to redo some of the testing to see the difference.

    I was delighted to talk to other runners from the race and Karolina, who is conducting the study, about her experiences as an ultra-runner. She emphasized that she wants to identify the differences between ultra-runners and other athletes. According to Karolina, the little work done on ultra-runners consists of small sample sizes and lacks depth. I don't know if others would find it interesting, but I've always been interested in what these tests measure. Stay tuned for updates on my results through the course of the study.

    I just finished a run in my work clothes in the Central West End during lunch to make up for the missed run this morning. Despite the chilly weather, it was the perfect opportunity to run in slacks!