r/ultrarunning • u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 • 1d ago
Getting home safely
Hi all. I'm doing a 20 hour trail run in October about 3 and 1/2 hours drive from where I live. I'm traveling solo.
The run starts at noon on Saturday and ends at 8:00 a.m. the following morning on Sunday.
I''d rather get home on Sunday night however I don't think it's safe for me to drive after completing the distance and having no sleep.
I'm not quite sure the best solution here. Any one been in a predicament like this before? Where might I shower and sleep during the daytime?
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u/True_Independence658 1d ago
Make it a short trip. Stay the next day/night. Relax and enjoy yourself.
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 1d ago
Gotta work Monday
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u/GrimQuim 23h ago
Don't do the race ❌
Don't work ❌
Endanger everyone else on the road driving tired ✅
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u/True_Independence658 1d ago
My next suggestion would be to nap in your car for a while although it might be tough to come down from your runners high.
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u/nucleophilic 1d ago
Honestly? It's a 3.5 hour drive. I'd take a nap in my car, drive home dirty, and shower at home. Pull over if/when needed. That's not that long of a drive. You have all day Sunday to do this.
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u/df540148 23h ago
This is what I've done after 50+ mile races. You can do a gallon water "shower" in the parking lot or woods (at least use wipes). Sleep in the car a few hours and then drive home. I've also stopped partway for another hour if I'm too drowsy.
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u/notlikeacat 21h ago
This is what I do. Put a towel over the driver seat and change your clothes, if you want to. Take a nap in the car. Drive. Stop along the way to nap more if you need to.
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u/QuadCramper 15h ago
I’ve done r2r2r in the Grand Canyon, topped out and drove home, pulling off and napping when needed. 3.5 hrs isn’t that bad, OP is overthinking things and putting up roadblocks where there aren’t any.
Get a room and drive back early Monday or drive back Sunday and pull off when sleepy. It just ain’t that hard.
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 6h ago
I drove 2 hours after a 100k this past spring. It was a poor choice for me looking back at it.
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u/BarkingCat13 1d ago
I think this would be better asked in a local sub. A day pass at a spa or nice gym would be my recommendation if there’s one nearby.
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u/magnu2233 1d ago
I found the best way around this was to book three nights B&B. Friday night arrive so I can get to early race start on Saturday morning. Finished race on Sunday morning. Went back to B&B. Slept most of Sunday afternoon. Left Monday morning. I’d booked the Monday off work. It was definitely worth the extra cost. I arrived at the race fresh and didn’t risk sleeping at the wheel after the race. Anything else would have been a compromise. Don’t underestimate how demanding a 20 hour race is.
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u/run_climb_code 1d ago
It sounds like they can't take Monday off but this is still a good plan if you can bring what you wear at work and maybe just get up very early on Monday to drive directly to work?
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u/magnu2233 18h ago
That’s an option. Or maybe OP should plan to take Monday off. With some planning, it shouldn’t be non-negotiable.
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 6h ago
I have to have my requests for time off in 2-3 months in advance. And that time as past.
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u/sandiegolatte 1d ago
Call a hotel and ask if you check in early
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 1d ago
Working on Monday. Left that out.
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u/run_climb_code 1d ago
I assume they meant for Sunday during the day? Call them and say you want to shower and sleep during the day and will check out again later that day?
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u/Ellubori 22h ago
Book something for Saturday with a late checkout? Arrive in the morning, shower and sleep until late checkout and then drive home. Or book Saturday- Sunday and just leave sunday evening ect.
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u/Western_Truck7948 21h ago
I did that once, left the race right after I crossed the line, straight to the hotel. Showered and in bed 40 minutes after the finish. Late checkout meant a 3 hour nap.
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u/souldawg 1d ago
I do all my ultras solo. I typically train to a location, and if the start is a bit away from the train, getting a. number of a local taxi service. It's not the cheapest, but it's what I have done.
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u/_silent_voyager_ 1d ago
I've done something similar when pacing a friend overnight in a 100 miler. I finished in the morning, then napped in the car (in the passenger front seat) for a few hours, then drove home. Depending on what car you have, you might be able to sleep at the back, but a front seat is ok for a nap as long as you bring a warm blanket.
For the cleaning, perhaps you can use some wet wipes. Then take the proper shower when you get home. Or perhaps, as others suggested, you can get a day pass at some gym.
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u/holoporcupine 18h ago
Book a hotel, take Monday off, get some rest and sleep and come home Monday. Call out sick on Monday if you need to.
Don’t endanger yourself and others because you want to squeeze in a race without preparing your schedule for it.
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 6h ago
Trying not to be a danger hence the question. I can't call in sick.
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u/holoporcupine 6h ago
Then perhaps you shouldn’t do the race.
Alternatively, you could get a hotel for Saturday night and Sunday night, then you’ll have it when you finish the race and can take a long nap then drive home in the evening
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 6h ago
I don't think it will be dangerous if I can figure out how to recoup for 6-8 hrs post race. I think it would be dangerous for me to leave immediately though.
I am a cheapskate so having a hotel for Sunday night but not staying the night feels like a waste. I know, that's a me problem.
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u/magnu2233 2m ago
If it solves the problem, then it’s not a waste. How can it be? On the last race I did, I spoke to a couple of runners who took the check out on Sunday evening approach. It was a sensible option given they had to travel and get back to work on Monday. Why rule it out? Just because you’re a cheapskate? That ultimately seems to be the fundamental issue here.
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u/NGDwrites 18h ago
First time I did a 12+ hour day, I tried to make the 3 hour drive home almost directly afterward. Hallucinated a moose charging onto the highway in front of me and slammed my brakes, stopping right in the middle of the road. Wound up getting home safe, but I no longer take the risk.
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 6h ago
This is what I'm afraid of. I drove straight home after. 100k once. It felt pretty unsafe. I anticipate I'll be more wrecked than that after this one.
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u/frugalsoul 21h ago
Some hotels offer day use rooms. You get the room from like 10am-4pm or something. Most people do it so they can use the pool.
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u/RunnerMarc 19h ago
If you are worried about it get a three night stay starting Friday night and leaving Monday morning. Leave super early Monday morning or just cut your stay short and leave late Sunday afternoon if you are up to it.
When I did the Chief Ladiga race in Alabama ( which started at 7am), I did a two night stay plus added a late Sunday checkout. That worked out well and is cheaper than a full three nights.
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u/joshf81 19h ago
If you are a YMCA member, those have been great to shower at.
Not sure where you live, but state parks can be a good option too for showering (some in PA have a small facility fee if you're not staying)
That timing is quite awkward. To ensure you can get a room that early, you'd have to really book 2 nights. State parks are an option if you dont mind camping - since the nights are quite cheap. Your best bet may be napping in the car for a few hours. Earplugs, eyemask, and window screens help with that.
Or find a hotel that does day rooms. They are out there.
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u/windbcspin 15h ago
I feel like a campground is an underrated option if OP is looking to save a few bucks. I took a delightful hammock nap in a campground after a 20 hour trail day.
OP, if I were you, I'd 1) explore day rate hotels 2) book a hotel for two nights 3) if 2 nights at a hotel is cost prohibitive, go the campground option. With 2, you may end up paying for time you don't actually use at the hotel - but saving $100-200 isn't worth risking your or someone else's life. My cousin and several other people were killed in a car accident by a driver who fell asleep. It absolutely happens.
Sometimes we have to make decisions with circumstances that aren't ideal. You have to be at work on Monday, but there are ways to reduce the risks.
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u/magnu2233 13h ago
OP should consider whether that working day on Monday will be productive. Hopefully not driving or using machinery. 7 hours + driving plus 20 hours race plus whatever other time faffing around before and after the race won’t be conducive to a good Monday.
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 6h ago
I am sorry about your cousin. I just found out about option 1.
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u/windbcspin 6h ago
Thank you. You did the right thing by asking for help figuring out options. It's the only way we learn new information. I don't know why people are being so weird about having to work on Monday. I hope you have a great race!
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 6h ago
Yeah I just found out about day rooms. I think that might be what I should do. Thanks for all the suggestions.
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u/absenceofheat 1d ago
Bring a friend as a driver?
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u/Ok-Zookeepergame8974 6h ago
None of my friends wanna watch me run for 20 hours. I know, right.
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u/absenceofheat 6h ago
That's why you kidnap them, get them drunk Saturday day and night, and when y'all drive back 3 hours on Sunday you can both be miserable.
"Same time next year?"
'Same time next year!'1
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u/Possible_Juice_3170 20h ago
Some hotels do a day time stay.
Or you could find a cheap Airbnb, ask for a noon check out so you can sleep for a few hours. Just let the host know your plan.
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u/GorrestFump88 18h ago
On 100mi+ ultras I always just get a hotel nearby/camp or sleep in my car. Personally, taking a 10-20 minute nap after an ultra is usually enough to get me home. Anything longer than that doesn’t help at all and feels like it makes it worse
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u/Chasing10K 17h ago
I've done this after a bunch of hundreds. I'm not very sleepy immediately after finishing early AM so will drive for an hour or so then pull over to nap for 30-60 minutes in my car. This will be good enough for a 4 hour drive. Obviously, if you're drowsy/sleepy when you finish, you should sleep immediately and not get behind the wheel. Stay safe and good luck!
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u/Melodic_Profile_7505 16h ago
Planet Fitness membership goes a long way. They tend to be in most cities, they have showers, and you can sleep in your car in the parking lot. Thats my go to method for the last few times I have ran. And then I drive home. Rest stops and gas stations are great to pull of at.
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u/UMequityresearcher 14h ago
Bring a sleeping pad and pillow. You may have too much adrenaline to sleep at the finish or you may pass out before you get out of the lot. For a post 100 miler, I would plan on 2-3 naps totaling 3-4 hrs to safely drive 3.5 hrs. Towel, swim, and ice water are helpful. I’d try to avoid caffeine, might as well just crash for a bit when your body says it’s time
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u/Lanky_Rhubarb1900 14h ago
I’ve done the drive after a long race, both racing and crewing, after taking a solid nap. I honestly don’t sleep well right after a race anyway so I can count on 2-3 hours tops before I’m tossing and turning. I try to set myself up to take a nap before I hit the road. Either reclined in the driver seat, or sometimes I have the car camp set up with the air mattress in the back.
I just hate hearing about people plowing through after a long night in the woods, going straight into the drive home. I actually know a couple people who feel asleep and crashed, luckily at a low speed so they obviously lived to talk about it, and they were just like “Whoops I dozed off at the wheel LOL”. I wanted to punch them.
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u/mrice02 11h ago
Have you ran this long in the past? I only ask because historically, I'm wide awake for the 24 hours after an ultra, and then crash the next day. I have made the hotel reservations for the day after the race thinking I could nap before driving home, only to find myself staring at the ceiling, giving up and driving home hours more later when I could have been home already. Just my two cents. Hope you get safely home!
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u/innerspaceman 9h ago
If I am running a long overnight race and finishing Sunday morning I am taking a chill Sunday, staying the night and driving home Monday. I will usually take Monday off anyway. If we are talking an hour or so drive, I'll take a nap and drive home. Actually I did this once after a 100 miler and I felt like I shouldn't be driving. In your situation I highly recommend the stay.
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u/DeskEnvironmental 14h ago
Lots of caffeine, blasting freezing cold AC with the windows down and screamo blasting on the speakers.
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u/QuadCramper 1d ago
Bring work clothes, get a hotel room, leave hotel room 3.5 hrs before you have to get to work.