Thoughts on the Run

I remember back in 2007 when I started training for my first half marathon. Training runs were 4 or 5 miles … 8-10 miles was a long run. Finding someone to talk to about the plan and even getting another person to run with me wasn’t that hard. Training could be done during lunch, just before work, or even after dinner. It was still hard work as I had not done more then a 5k race before this, but very much doable.

Then came training for a marathon. More time needed to get ready for this which involved following a plan. Like many, I followed one of Hal Higdon’s plans and stuck to it. This is when my circle of friends started to change … and get smaller. Granted, I added a couple new friends: the front desk worker at the gym I saw at 4a each morning, the only person at the office that had completed a marathon, and one customer. They got it, but they also said they wouldn’t do it again. That seemed weird to me.

The training for the marathon went on and on. Some days the runs felt to short and other days I didn’t think I would make it past mile 2. I put in the time, lost a lot of sleep, and watched my body change. Training for anything that introduces 6 hours a week of cardio exercise has to cause a physical change. What I wasn’t expecting was the mental change that occurred.

I can look back to that time and see a change in how I handled challenges in my life. Spending that much time on my feet by myself also helped re-evaluate priorities in life. No longer was I willing to work 60 hours a week or spend my weekends in front of a computer. First off, if I needed to spend that much time working, then I wasn’t doing it right. Second, family is more important and there are opportunities out there that understand that. People used to come into the office and brag how they put in 70 hours a week. Why is that okay? Even Inc. has an article about this called Why Working More Than 40 Hours a Week Is Useless. You need to have balance or you will not be effective.

Spending all that time alone and training had its good and bad points. Initially it was fun, quiet, and peaceful. Then I started to annoy myself. My own thoughts irritated me. It became a challenge to enjoy running because I was there. Never said I was normal.

Even though my first marathon was a silly 5:30 time, it introduced me to a new world. Those that know me know that I get out of bed in the morning to learn something new. It was clear that I had a lot to learn about this long distance running thing. With that, it was time to find some new friends.

When I use the word friend, I use it in the modern context. These are people that I’ve met on Twitter mostly that have already been through this. I’ve not met any of them face-to-face, but they have helped me immensely. Their advice, motivation, and stories have kept me going. While my runs are still lonely at time, I know that there is a large hidden population experiencing the same challenges.

Every chance I get, I pay it forward. I pass the information and my experiences on to others looking to change their lives. Through this blog, strangers in the office building, conversations with extended friends, and Facebook/Twitter, I share what I know and have learned.

8 marathons later, I still have much to learn and more room to grow.

That’s when I learned about ultramarathons … a distance of anything more then 26.2 miles. I thought training for a marathon was lonely … my world just got a little smaller. Kind of.

When training for my first ultramarathon, it became abundantly clear that I had only 1 friend to talk about it. He had completed a few so I absorbed as much information as I could. The pattern that I noticed was that there was no “training plan.” All there was to put as much time on my feet as possible, eat real food, and drink plenty of water. The rest is just moving forward.

Running trails was something I hadn’t done since high school cross country running. Being back on the trails made me feel like I was back home in Maine. Soaring over roots, jumping off rocks, and rounding trail bends like a NASCAR driver. Going out on morning runs I was able to reconnect with nature and talk with the deer. It was an incredible feeling that opened my world to what was already around me.

I was fairly sure that completing a 50 mile ultramarathon at high altitude (10k – 12k feet) would mark the end of my long distance ventures. It was no doubt a challenging day, but I kept smiling the whole time. I have photos and witnesses that back this up and tell stories of me walking around aid stations telling jokes and delivering high fives. I was just so happy to be in this community and scenic environment.

Crossing the finish line, I continued my smile and pictured me able to go for another 15 miles. In fact, I drove home that night! My knee hurt a bit, but that’s because I feel on my face at mile 20. Otherwise, just another day on the trail.

With 50 miles behind me, it is time to look ahead to the Leadville 100 Mile Trail Run this August. I practically had a panic attack registering for this event and still have my moments. A 100 mile race is not just a 50 mile race twice. There is much more to it. Mentally though, I am ready to go on the adventure.

Ultra training and race day is a lonely world for me. However, I choose for it to be that way. There are times I’ll go on a 20 mile trail run with someone. Most of the times it is because I enjoy their company, but there is also the concern of safety. It’s just nice to know that if I’m to be attacked by a lion that someone can carry me out. The real reason I run alone is that I think differently. I’m not out there to be fast. In fact, I’m out there to be slow. If I go fast, I’ll miss what’s really important. After all, nobody is trying to get through life fast in order to arrive at death first. I want to enjoy nature, stop to take in the sights, and listen to nature. I am in awe of those that can crank out 6 minute miles on a trail, but that is not my goal. It is not just the starting line and the finish line that contain the parties. It is the journey in between that you will remember forever.

Every morning when I wake up is my starting line and when I go to sleep is my finish line. These are the only defined moments of my day. Everything else in between is up for an adventure.

Life is an adventure of it’s own. I look forward to each day what challenges I’ll encounter, personalities to discover, and things to learn. Life, like running, is one foot in front of the other. You will trip and you will stumble, but everyone is going through it at the same time. Be transparent, be honest, and you will find new opportunities exist all around.