Tour de Pain Race Report
Date: August 1–2, 2025
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Distance: 3 races in 24 hours
Website: Tour de Pain Website
Shoes: Brooks Hyperion Max 3
Introduction
The Tour de Pain is an August three-race series packed into less than 24 hours—a 4 mile run, a 5K, and a one-mile sprint nicknamed the “Sizzler”. For this series, I wasn’t necessarily focused on chasing PRs, I just don’t perform well enough in the heat. Instead, it was about keeping my “race every month” streak alive, soaking in the August race atmosphere, and testing how my body would respond to the recovery week and taper plan as we move closer into marathon training for December.
Race 1 – Friday Evening: 4-Mile Run
Goals: Finish. Maintain a steady effort in extreme 6pm heat, stay relaxed, and avoid overpacing for later races.
Time: 34:58
Pace: 8:45/mile
Overall Place: 136/546
Age Group Place: 17/42
Conditions: 6:00PM 97°F, Sunny, heat index Over 100°F, 45-50% humidity
Strategy: Start conservative, keep the effort sustainable, find shade where possible.
Race Recap:
It was so, so hot. The heat index topped 100°F, and the front half of the race was directly into the sun. Surprisingly, I felt amazing despite the conditions. Clearly my taper strategy was effective. Overall, this race was an indicator to me that even though my pace was not breaking records today, I am getting stronger and as we move in to cooler months I think my performance will continue to peak.
Takeaways:
- Handled the heat and raced better than expected.
- Recovery + Taper Plan worked Perfectly
- Confidence boost looking forward toward the fall and cooler races.
Race 2 – Saturday Morning: 5K Road Race
Goals: Push a little harder than the night before, aim for as close to 8:00/mile pace as I can tolerate
Time: 26:02
Pace: 8:26/mile
Overall Place: 168/563
Age Group Place: 21/42
Conditions: 7:00 AM – 76 °F, mostly cloudy, 95% humidity, light 2 mph WNW breeze, few sprinkles
Strategy: Feel out the first mile, then increase pace.
Race Recap:
The 5k defined Tour de Pain, actually had some real sharp elevation changes including over bridges / overpasses. Very interesting course. Completely blew my strategy right from the start, ran positive splits, and felt the effects of poor recovery: little sleep because I had trouble settling down, no focus on nutrition, and zero electrolytes. Despite this, I held a strong pace to the finish and was happy with the result. My pacing continues to trend well, and I’m looking forward to racing in cooler conditions.
Takeaways:
- Results were solid despite poor recovery habits.
- Proper fueling and hydration could have improved performance.
Race 3 – Saturday Afternoon: 1 Mile Sizzler
Goals: Give full effort despite fatigue, aim for sub-8:00, and focus on form.
Time: 8:16
Pace: 8:16/mile
Overall Place: 251/527
Age Group Place: 30/42
Conditions: 86 °F, partly sunny, 75% humidity, 8 mph wind
Strategy: Go out strong and hang on.
Race Recap:
Cramping hit almost immediately, making this the toughest race of the series. I pushed through, but it was a grind from start to finish. Clearly fatigue is a real thing.
Takeaways:
- Need better recovery between races to avoid cramping.
- Fun Series
Overall Tour de Pain Results
Total Time for All Races: 1:09:16
Final Thoughts:
The Tour de Pain lived up to its name—heat, humidity, fatigue, and interesting courses. This year’s experience reinforced the importance of having a plan, hydration, electrolytes, and appropriate recovery between workouts—things I’ll prioritize next time.
