Chicago Lakefront Ultras `7-Questions -n- 7-Answers` with 50K Champion Nolan McKenna
BT Q1.) Congratulations on your remarkable finish at this 2024 Chicago Lakefront Ultras Spring Season 50K! You now have three finishes of Chicago Lakefront 50K, all in first place. How do you feel about your performance at this race?
NM A1.) I feel really good about this race! I love the 50k Distance because it allows me just to go have fun without the baggage of expectations attached. I just go run and enjoy the process. Every time I do a 50k I learn a little bit more. I learn about how my training, the pacing of the race, nutrition, and I learn what I am capable of. I think I executed this race pretty well for what I had on the day.
BT Q2.) Did you have specific goals, such as setting a personal record, setting an age-group record, or making a USA team this time around?
NM A2.) The window for qualifying for the USA team is not open at the moment, but that cut off is 3 hours so that was a goal that I had coming in. I would of said that the best case scenario would have been the course record, my B goal was to break 3, my C goal was to run a PR (3:04) and my D goal was to run a 2024 USA #1 (3:11)
BT Q3.) Did you find Saturday's racecourse to be well-marked, set up well, and conducive to reaching your pre-race goals?
NM A3.) The course is well marked and easy to follow. I do like the three lap setup becasue each time you come around you notice new things about the course and try to take the turns a little better each time.
BT Q4.) In addition to three past first place finishes, your finish time of 2:58:54.5 on Saturday is the second fastest time ever run at Chicago Lakefront 50K. What did you do differently in your training and preparation leading up to this race?
NM A4.) I started training with TriDot. And I coach with them as well. TriDot and RunDot are Data Optimized Training. It is a really advanced program that does an amazing job of balacing your workload. Basically this time around I was training smarter and not just doing a bunch of junk mileage. I was only running about 50 miles per week, but with cross training and quality workouts. In the past I would do a ton of extra mileage that just made me tired and took away the quality from my workouts. TriDot and RunDot make a Big difference. And I coach with them as well so let me know if you are interested!
https://app.rundot.com/onboard/sign-up/nolanmckenna
BT Q5.) Your three 10.36-mile laps were aggressive and consistent. Were there any particularly "low moments or stretches" of your race where you felt like you were not going to hold a 5:45_ish pace per mile pace?
NM A5.) I tried to hold 5:40's the whole way. There were a couple stretches the last 10 miles where the sun was bouncing off the water and I had no breeze to cool me off and things got really challenging. I tried to keep all the miles under 6 no matter how I was feeling. Focusing on form and efficiency instead of how bad I was feeling.
BT Q6.) Do you think you'd ever try to break Dave Dunham's Chicago Lakefront 50K record of 2:57:29, set in 2001; you're only 1:26 off his mark?
NM A6.) That is definitely something I would like to do! I don't know when the next world championships are for the 50k, but when the qualifying window opens up I will make another attempt and use that as motivation to go get that record.
BT Q7.) What are your racing plans for spring/summer of 2024?
NM A7.) 2024 I am using as a year just to have fun. I want to chase big goals, but with a focus on enjoying the process along the way. I am currently on the waitlist for a 100 Mile race, but may also look into doing a 24h race instead. But lots of training and fun races ahead for sure!
BT.) Thank you, Nolan
! See Nolan's checkpoint splits under the "Webcast" tab at:
Nolan's Checkpoint Splits