Athletes of the Collective: Darrin Mann
It can happen to any of us.
Training can be going like clockwork, and then out of the blue, something we never could have anticipated messes everything up.
Anyone else knocking on wood?
Week after week, Darrin was posting pitch-perfect training. A strong period of low-intensity, volume-based running transitioned into a shorter period of involved hillwork. Balancing the training with being a committed husband to Beth and father to Jack, Darrin often reported how the general grind was mentally exhausting; it's simply hard to continually find the time to get the training in. Darrin often resorts to stroller-commuting and bike-commuting Jack to preschool to get the weekday miles in. But besides scheduling challenges and totally reasonable mental exhaustion, old aches and pains had largely cleared up and physical fatigue levels were consistently in healthy ranges. Darrin was logging months of consistent work.
And then, on a descent in the New Hampshire mountains, he landed on a rock a little wrong and damaged his plantar fascia.
We are highlighting Darrin today because 5 weeks after this moment, he won the Weymouth Woods 50k.
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This is really special. Darrin would agree that he is not that local phenom speedster type guy. I see Darrin as a commensurate tradesmith in how he approaches running; he appraises his training performances with a steady eye and considers methods of nailing it in future sessions. He knows how to sit in and train; how to dial in to the little things, do the work and take care to recover. Because of this, Darrin finds himself arriving in places often considered reserved for the highly talented; the front of races.
When he got injured, he wasted no time: Darrin got diagnosed by a professional. We created a protocol, getting him riding the bike to maintain his aerobic condition. Darrin had to take full weeks off from specific training at the very moment in his build when he was about to take the gloves off and let it rip. Nonetheless, 10 days out, due to proper rest and rehab, his foot was coming around. As his coach, I was skeptical. I even suggested the option of DNS-ing (Did Not Start) and finding another race down the road that would showcase his fitness. But the airbnb was paid for, Beth and Jack were coming, Darrin was going to show up and just see what comes.
On race day, a moderately cool morning gave way to a humid-hot afternoon in the 90s. Hydration was a huge challenge for runners at the Weymouth Woods 50k. Darrin ran out of water during the second half. By no means was this a perfect race. But Darrin managed his pacing and the pain excellently; holding on through dehydration for an evenly split second 25k and a decisive win over second place.
An even split in a hot 50k on less-than-perfect training showcases Darrin’s aerobic capacity and pacing. When a soft-tissue injury derailed his training during peak preparation, Darrin was still able to lean into his aerobic conditioning and 50k experience. But that is the coach talking. Really more than any of this, it highlights his amazingly decent, humble but tough-as-nails character.
His first ultra win, I spoke to Darrin on Sunday as he was still hanging in the area with his wife Beth and son Jack. They seemed to be hanging as a family, celebrating and taking it easy. Beth was there at the Start/Finish crewing Darrin while also looking after Jack so everyone involved had a good reason to relax afterwards!
Congratulations Darrin and fam. Excited for your future explorations in the sport!