Cruel Jewel 100 (CJ100) starts in 11 days. This past weekend I ran my last long run and I am now firmly into taper and fine tune mode as I try to reach the start line positioned to run the best race possible.
I wanted to write up this post to summarize my training and thinking leading into CJ100. After the race I plan to reflect back on this post to see what sort of takeaways I can glean from the results.
Training Update
My build for CJ100 has been the most consistent of any ultra I’ve run. While I’ve had some issues to work through, I’ve managed to run consistently and avoided having to take significant time off during the build due to injury. I did have some lower leg issues crop up about six weeks ago which forced me to dial back my planned total mileage, but I was able to maintain consistency and put together a solid final push.
The table below shows my total mileage, single longest run each week, and total vert accumulate each week during the 16 week build.
A few observations and notes regarding this data:
- I planned on peaking at around 60 miles per week in April but lower leg issues forced me to scale back those plans and go into recovery mode for a three week stretch in late March and April. During this recovery window I transitioned away from steady-state long runs on rolling gravel roads to trail runs focused on vert.
- My longest run was 20 miles and I had four additional runs of 15 miles or longer. I had planned on having a couple runs in the 25-30 miles range but the injury in late March forced a more conservative approach.
- The final weeks included long runs of 12, 15, and 16 miles which is pretty light for a hundred mile race build. However, what this doesn’t show is that the 12 mile run was followed by a second 12 mile run the next day. Similarly, the 15 mile run was followed by a 10 mile run the next day. Length of the single largest effort was limited, but training impact was bolstered by stacking long runs back-to-back.
- My average runs per week during this build 5.56. That is far higher than any prior ultra build and is evidence that I’m figuring out how to train more sustainably.
Comparing the CJ100 Build to Prior Ultra Builds
Prior to CJ100, I’ve run three long, mountainous trail ultras:
- Georgia Death Race (GDR) in March 2023
- Cruel Jewel 50 (CJ50) in May 2024
- Georgia Jewel 100 (GJ100) in September 2024
My training for CJ100 has looked very different from my training for any of those races. In my builds for each of those prior races I have dealt with injuries which limited my ability to run frequently – something I attempted to make up for by logging some really long runs (>25 miles).
If I focus in on the 16 weeks prior to each of these ultras, here’s what my run frequency and long runs have looked like:
| Race | Runs / Wk (Avg) | B2B LRs in Last 6 Wks | Runs 15+ miles | Runs 20+ miles |
| CJ100 | 5.56 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| GJ100 | 2.44 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| CJ50 | 2.69 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
| GDR | 3.56 | 1 | 10 | 3 |
In summary, in my build up for CJ100 I’ve managed to run much more consistently than in any prior race build. However, I’ve also logged fewer 15+ mile long runs than in any prior build. One of the open questions in my mind is how this different approach to training will translate to race day.
One other element not cleanly captured in the data: CJ50 was the first week of the 16 week build for GJ100. You might think CJ50 was a massive training stimulus. However, I left CJ50 pretty badly broken and the next 9 weeks of training were very limited including 4 weeks where I ran effectively zero miles. So did CJ50 serve as a massive training stimulus and contribute to GJ100, or did it leave me so broken that I effectively ran GJ100 on 6 weeks of training? I think CJ100 will help provide the answer to that question.
Something not captured in any of this data is how I feel with 11 days until race day and how I felt during the build. Aside from some minor lower leg issues, this has been a really solid and consistent build. With 11 days to go I feel strong and healthy. I can’t recall how I felt leading into CJ50, but how I feel now is a strong contrast to how I felt leading up to GDR and GJ100. In both of those cases I had really overextended myself in training in the last couple of weeks trying to cram for the final exam and I was riding some significant injury issues into the taper. My confidence in my health and training is much higher leading into CJ100 than into GJ100 or GDR.
What Matters Over the Next 11 Days
With 11 days to go, there isn’t much time to put the finishing touches on my training. As I work towards race day I have four items left on my to-do list to prepare for CJ100.
Prime My Ability to Run Uphill in Zone 2
Over the course of a long race, there’s a big time difference difference between hiking at 17-18 minutes per mile vs jogging at 13-14 minutes per mile when going up gentle inclines. However, if I’m going to be able to jog up gentle grades, I have to be able to do so with my heart rate well under control.
While it’s tempting to completely eliminate all intensity at this point, I think if I do that I’ll lose just a little of my uphill running ability. So this week I want to get in a couple of short gentle hill sessions where I run gentle grades (~3-6%) while staying comfortably in zone 2 to maintain fitness and prime the body to do the same thing on race day.
One Last Mini Downhill Session
Over the last several weeks I’ve heavily prioritized running downhills fast in training to try and protect against my quads failing early during CJ100. This coming weekend I want to get one last brief quick downhill session – not enough to produce DOMS or serious fatigue; just enough to reinforce the training I’ve absorbed over the last month.
Lower Leg Health
I’ve been working through post-tib and peronneal issues for the past 8 weeks or so. Today, my legs feel the best they’ve felt in 2026, and over the next 2 weeks I want to continue the trajectory by continuing to prioritize the things that have gotten me to this point: twice daily lower leg PT movements, maintaining good form during easy runs (don’t let my arch collapse, keep some tension in the achilles and calf), and avoiding fast running or running on highly cambered surfaces.
Prioritize Rest and Recovery
Finally and perhaps most importantly, I’ve already begun to reduce my total volume and will be prioritizing getting as much sleep as possible and ensuring plenty of recovery between efforts. The goal is to get to the starting line sharp and as close to 100% healthy as possible.
Ready, Set, Wait
There’s an anxiousness that settles in during a taper. I’m training less so I have a little more time and my energy levels are higher. My motivation to train is higher than ever with no where to go.
With a race like CJ100 coming soon, there’s also more than a little anxiety directly attached to the race. It’s going to hurt, I’m going to want to quit, I’m going to wish I’d never started the race or running ultras, and my brain is going to work overtime trying to find a rationale excuse for why I should quit and why it’s not my fault if I do. In the face of all this anxiety what would really help is going for a really long and hard run, but it’s the one thing I need to avoid the most.
It’s ok. The wait won’t be long.