Just a few notes about how I prepare for a 50-mile race such as Squaw Peak 50. Because I’m so anal about split times, I like to construct a spreadsheet that contains a list of the various aid stations, mileages, my goal time, and any previous year times if I have run the race before. I analyze the elevation profile and set a time goal to arrive at each aid station. Surprisingly I can usually come very close. I always tend to start faster than planned, but usually always back off back to my planned pace. I usually keep a close eye on the clock during a race. It helps me to push myself at times when I get lazy.