So I think this post is long overdue, and I will refer people to my blog when they as these questions of me....which happens frequently. Some of my answers will be simple, some longer. Hopefully they just make sense.....
An ultramarathon is any footrace that is longer than the distance of a typical marathon. So anything longer than 26.2 miles. Usually ultras take place on trails as opposed to the roads. Usually there are large hills, stream crossings, high grass, biting flies, etc. Ultras do not get cancelled for lightening, heat, snow, ice, subzero windchills, etc. The pace is much slower than a marathon, and we all typically walk the uphills to preserve our energy for the next 30, 50, 95 miles of running we will be doing. We eat while we run, we develop horrendous blisters and often lose our toenails. Electrolyte imbalances and dehydration are common during ultras. Sometimes too much damage to our muscle proteins can result in acute renal failure. The most devastating thing that may occur is a DNF-did not finish, usually a result of being pulled from the race because you are too injured/dehydrated/incapacited to continue.
So why in the hell would anyone put themselves through this? Well, I don't do it for money, fame or fortune. In fact, usually I get disdain from coworkers, friends, and even fellow non-ultra runners at the thought of my doing something so stupid. My typical short, easy answer as to why is usually along the lines of "Oh I don't know-I guess I have a screw loose." My real answer is a bit more complex. I find something horribly stifling about living my life in such a way that most people don't seem to mind. Most people roll out of bed at 8am to go to a job they can't stand from 9-5pm, watch IQ destroying TV at night and go to bed. Wash, rinse, repeat. Day after day after day. Boring. This life alone could not ever be even remotely satisfying to me, and I need more. So I have turned to running as a way to satisfy this primal need I have for challenge, adventure, and dare I say fun. How many people can say that they physically pushed themselved to the brink of destruction and perservered yet another 50 miles using nothing but their willpower? Huh? Not that many. In addition to being boring, life can also be horribly complex, dissapointing, and difficult. There is something so beautiful and profound about the simplicity of running long distances in the woods. I can't explain it, but I wish everyone could experience the same peace that I do when I am trail running. Ultras have given me endurance and passion, not just for running, but for life.
Finally, why trails? I used to be a fairly good at road running, so why did I all but completely swear it off? My mature answer is because road running sucks. Just kidding:) I just like the trails better. They are easy on your joints, calming to the mind and appeasing to the spirit. If I run a road marathon I can't walk for a week. If I run a trail 50K, I can run again in 2 days. Trails are soft and forgiving. Asphalt is harsh and body-destroying.....just my opinion. I like trail/ultra runners better than road runners, too. Road runners do too much speedwork, pay way too much attention to everything they put in their mouth, are obsessed with pace, and only their finishing time determines their success-not enjoyable to me. Ultrarunners rehydrate with beer, enjoy long runs mixed with fast hiking, and I have never seen an ultrarunner elbow anyone at the finishing chute....Everyone is a winner at ultras. Trust me, if you have run 50/100/whatever miles, then you have won an enormous battle against yourself.
My favorite ultrarunning story is about Scott Jurek-only the best male ultrarunner that ever walked the earth. He wins everything-Western States, Badwater, you name it. After he beats the rest of the field by hours and hours, he also sits around and waits for the last person to finish so he can cheer them on. That means Scott Jurek wins Western States in about 16 hours, and sits around for another 14 hours to cheer on the rest of the finishers. That is the epitome of ultrarunning. And those are my very long answers to some very short questions that I frequently get asked:)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
I think I spent the entire weekend running........
Happy Mother's Day!!!!
Well, I have come to the conclusion that sometimes you just need to put your head down and barrel through the tough times as though it doesn't affect you. Humans are very adaptable and capable of putting up with much more than we give ourselves credit for. This year, I think I have had to become very good at pushing through the tough times and being adaptable. But it this very attitude that is allowing me to pursue my first 100 miler.
This was a big week for me as far as mileage goes. I have run nearly 80 miles in 7 days, which is more than I have ever run in one week in my entire life. Several weeks into running 60-70+ mileage range during a given week, I can feel the changes in my body. My appetite is obnoxious, and I feel my body is craving more sleep. I have become used to running at a semi-decent clip, without it feeling like much more work than just walking. Graduate school seemed to take away my abs, but they are finally coming back. I am just so fascinated with how adaptable the human body and mind are when it comes to running, and this weekend was a big testament to that.
Last fall I decided my plan was to BQ and PR in my half marathon, and the Indy Mini was supposed to be my place to do the latter. Well, needless to say, my goals changed drastically over the year with several ultra races being at the top of my priority list. Lots of people BQ, and I think I can too. But I just don't think a BQ is going to test me the way I want to be tested right now. I want to see if I can push myself past pain, fear, and the most extreme limits of physical endurance. I want to see if I have what it takes to run 100 miles at once. I just want to see what I am truly made of.
So the Indy Mini was a big shocker to me this weekend....so much different than the types of events I have been running lately. I was running the race with my running partner, who is also an ultrarunner. She was planning to run it in around 2 hours, and I was planning to stay with her. My half marathon PR is around 1:35. Now granted I cannot run this time right now with no speed work under my belt, the former road runner in me did have the urge to pick up the pace. I am so glad I didn't. Not only for the fact that it was just the beginning of many more miles this weekend, but also because I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We finished in around 2 hours, both feeling like the race was a nice easy warm up and a fun spectacle just to be a part of.
So for the rest of my miles this weekend, I moved on to dark side of running...literally. Being back in Fort Wayne on Mother's Day allowed me to run with some old friends which was awesome. And of course we had to keep things interesting by starting the HUFF course at 4:30am in the pitch black darkness. I woke up at 3am to get ready and be there to start by 4:30am (good practice for sleep-deprived running). I would just like to point out that 3am is a completely obnoxious time to wake-up to go trail running. However, for the 100 miler I will be running all night after running all day so I just better get used to it. Mud, water, getting lost, peeing in the woods, and two loops of the HUFF later, we found ourselves at about 22+ miles for the morning. GREAT training run! After all of that this weekend, I find myself sleepy, but my legs are just fine after about 37+ miles of running in 2 days. Interesting and amazing how adaptable the body is. Maybe just a year ago, I would have been incapacited by such a feat. However, I will be running at 6am sharp tomorrow...quietly working my butt off so I am prepared to test my limits in June.
Well, I have come to the conclusion that sometimes you just need to put your head down and barrel through the tough times as though it doesn't affect you. Humans are very adaptable and capable of putting up with much more than we give ourselves credit for. This year, I think I have had to become very good at pushing through the tough times and being adaptable. But it this very attitude that is allowing me to pursue my first 100 miler.
This was a big week for me as far as mileage goes. I have run nearly 80 miles in 7 days, which is more than I have ever run in one week in my entire life. Several weeks into running 60-70+ mileage range during a given week, I can feel the changes in my body. My appetite is obnoxious, and I feel my body is craving more sleep. I have become used to running at a semi-decent clip, without it feeling like much more work than just walking. Graduate school seemed to take away my abs, but they are finally coming back. I am just so fascinated with how adaptable the human body and mind are when it comes to running, and this weekend was a big testament to that.
Last fall I decided my plan was to BQ and PR in my half marathon, and the Indy Mini was supposed to be my place to do the latter. Well, needless to say, my goals changed drastically over the year with several ultra races being at the top of my priority list. Lots of people BQ, and I think I can too. But I just don't think a BQ is going to test me the way I want to be tested right now. I want to see if I can push myself past pain, fear, and the most extreme limits of physical endurance. I want to see if I have what it takes to run 100 miles at once. I just want to see what I am truly made of.
So the Indy Mini was a big shocker to me this weekend....so much different than the types of events I have been running lately. I was running the race with my running partner, who is also an ultrarunner. She was planning to run it in around 2 hours, and I was planning to stay with her. My half marathon PR is around 1:35. Now granted I cannot run this time right now with no speed work under my belt, the former road runner in me did have the urge to pick up the pace. I am so glad I didn't. Not only for the fact that it was just the beginning of many more miles this weekend, but also because I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We finished in around 2 hours, both feeling like the race was a nice easy warm up and a fun spectacle just to be a part of.
So for the rest of my miles this weekend, I moved on to dark side of running...literally. Being back in Fort Wayne on Mother's Day allowed me to run with some old friends which was awesome. And of course we had to keep things interesting by starting the HUFF course at 4:30am in the pitch black darkness. I woke up at 3am to get ready and be there to start by 4:30am (good practice for sleep-deprived running). I would just like to point out that 3am is a completely obnoxious time to wake-up to go trail running. However, for the 100 miler I will be running all night after running all day so I just better get used to it. Mud, water, getting lost, peeing in the woods, and two loops of the HUFF later, we found ourselves at about 22+ miles for the morning. GREAT training run! After all of that this weekend, I find myself sleepy, but my legs are just fine after about 37+ miles of running in 2 days. Interesting and amazing how adaptable the body is. Maybe just a year ago, I would have been incapacited by such a feat. However, I will be running at 6am sharp tomorrow...quietly working my butt off so I am prepared to test my limits in June.
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