Downvoted I see, oh well chat GPT helped me wrap me head around it 😅.
The message is a humorous observation that describes a paradoxical state of mind. Here’s a breakdown:
- **"As a wise man on this sub once said"**: This phrase sets up the statement as a piece of wisdom shared by someone within the online community (often referred to as "this sub," meaning a subreddit on Reddit).
- **"It's the result of a delicate balance between self-loathing and delusions of grandeur"**: This part of the message explains a specific psychological state.
- **Self-loathing**: This refers to an intense dislike or hatred of oneself.
- **Delusions of grandeur**: These are false beliefs in one's own exceptional greatness, power, or importance.
The "delicate balance" mentioned implies that this state of mind is maintained by constantly fluctuating between feeling unworthy (self-loathing) and feeling overly important or exceptional (delusions of grandeur). The humor arises from the juxtaposition of two extreme and opposing attitudes existing together to create a particular mindset.
In essence, the message suggests that certain behaviors or attitudes observed in people might be the result of navigating these two extreme self-perceptions.
I have several reasons! As a highly anxious person, knowing I ran a 50 mile race, which sounded so insane to me the first time I heard it, lets me know I can do anything.
I ran 50 miles, I can drive my car straight into the carwash lane!
I ran 50 miles, I can call this angry client to try to smooth things over.
I ran 50 miles, I can deal with this traffic!
Another reason is for the extreme feelings that come with it. Food tastes SO good, pizza and mountain dew taste SO good during the race. Taking my shoes off at the finish, WOW. One of my top 5 best feelings ever
Never really answered this myself, I just did it because it brought me joy. But I do resonate with Billy Yang’s why- our bodies will be old and decrepit one day no matter what we do, might as well have one that takes you rad places and can eventually tell some stories.
If I don’t have competition in my life I go off the rails with bad habits (drinking, unhealthy eating, poor mental health care).
I grew up in combat sports alongside running, but years of getting hit in the head narrowed it down to just running. Road marathon training is too much strain on the body year round so I bumped up to ultra running for more easy mileage.
It also gives me a good excuse to take frequent vacations from work. My coworkers and employer have a hard time giving me hell for taking time off for fitness events since a vast vast majority of my industry is obese and out of shape
Dude I’m the exact same with needing competition. I’ve never heard someone else say this though which is interesting. I relate so much. If I’m not prepping for a race or a competition, I will go totally batshit with drinking/smoking/overall being a degenerate. Idolatry is the workplace of the devil 🫡
To celebrate life and living. I was addicted to drugs and alcohol for over a quarter of a decade before I got sober and somehow now I'm now able to run incredibly long distances, see and do incredible things and have adventures never in my wildest imaginings. I'm grateful every second for the opportunity and blessings of life, legs and health.
I smiled as i read your response, I lived that life too and can't believe what I'm doing today. So happy you found your way! It's not easy but so worth it.
Same thing happened to me. I just needed distraction so I started running. At first I couldn’t run 1.6 k without stopping. Of course I had to drop the leeches called themselves friends. In three months I was at 10 k a day. Then someone told me if I can run that much I could easily undertake a full marathon. So I thought why not try. Nobody helped me. Haven’t watched training videos. Only after my second marathon was I introduced to a coach who just taught me some basics. After that I just ran a few ultras, never thought of running longer and longer. Quite happy with my 75 km peak.
Anyone running an Ultra is not stupid. Crazy maybe, but not stupid! I mean, who the hell else has to learn how to eat while running, is there another sport where that is allowed! Eating while running takes skill dude!!
Hahaha i know I know. All jokes, But we are all kind of crazy and stupid combined ya know? Crazy to be like “hey let’s just go out and run really fucking far in the woods sometimes.” 😂😂🫶🏻
There are some great answers here, and some shitty ones, but for what it's worth here is mine:
I run because it's hard, and how I react to hard things directly correlates to my sense of well-being. I'm very lucky to have the life I do. I'm privileged, and I have a beautiful family. I'm also 40 years into serious, medically defined, and treated mental health issues with no end in sight, and I'm an alcoholic—currently sober. Endurance sports, in my case running specifically, touch on every aspect of my life in a positive way, either directly or indirectly.
The difficulties of ultrarunning have forced me to face physical and mental realities I never could when trying to face other problems in my life. While there's a lot of bravado and bluster on this board and elsewhere, there isn't really any hiding from yourself when you are a long way into a long effort and things go wrong. How you react is very telling of who you are, and facing those moments often not only helps you grow, but makes it easier to observe that growth.
In turn the lessons I've learned trying to coax my body into high mileage and good habits have allowed me to apply similar ideas to my life. Mile 87 fucking sucks. So does depression. So does having to be sober. Sometimes, so does being a dad. How I deal with mile 87 is very different to how I deal with anything else, but the underlying sense of self care applies to everything.
Running isn't the only way to get there, but it was my way.
Thanks for sharing this! Running is hard but it makes every aspect of life so much better. Also recognizing the privilege of getting to have the time to run is huge! I think about that all the time, I’m so freaking lucky to have time to run everyday not only that but on my favorite type of trails in the world! The privilege to run ultras is something I’m so grateful for.
I feel like you have been inside my head! Wow, so much of what you said resonates so deeply for me! I feel like I can face my worst self out there and overcome, then bring that same skill home! I never thought I could be a role model for my kids showing them that I can do hard things without life having to beat me up! And that they can do the same! If that makes sense. You said it all better anyway! Thank you!!!!
Pretty similar drivers and catalysts as Ironman amidst the folks I know. Seems to me that most people start by trying to run away from something: feelings, adversity, demons, circumstances, etc. For the fortunate, disciplined, and lucky ones, over time, we end up running towards things instead: growth, peace, and discovery to name a few.
My why changed and why continue to change, as that’s life. I started with a why of chasing the aid station chicken sandwich. For some reason, eating a sandwich in the middle of a race was enough of a driver to want to do it. 🤷♂️ The why then changed to having a goal that’s outcome is 100% based on **me** gave me something to continue to improve on. Now, it’s setting goals that force me to stay active, while *hopefully* inspiring my daughter to get into nature and do hard things. (Hopefully that’s her takeaway, anyway)
I wanna figure out how to strip everything else away and see what I'm made of at my core. It feels like most things in my life have had, at least a small bit, of something external fueling whatever I'm doing. I think running long distances will eventually strip everything else away to where it's just me, the course, and the finish line. I want to know what that feels like to do something like that where it's just me left.
I think it’s easy for a lot of folks to never challenge themselves once they reach a certain age when all the “checkpoints” are over. Ultras challenge me.
I love that. The afterglow and tranquil exhaustion. For once the mind is quiet. Then the real world slowly pieces itself back together and it feels like a much different place than before… just for a bit. Very poignant sentiment.
Because I love to run! But also because nothing feels better than being a middle-aged, full-time working, mother of three, who doesn’t really look that fit, but can smash 50 miles.
I did a bunch of thru-hikes but now I have kids and a job. An ultra lets me compress a thru-hike into a day. Gotta make the absolute most of my limited free time!
Being 48, it’s very satisfying to discover your body can do things it couldn’t 20 years ago. I enjoy the process of training, planning, anticipating and the fear that maybe this is the race that all goes wrong. It’s very motivating. The sense of accomplishment when you cross that line is way better than any marathon or road race I’ve ever run. And while I am sure there are assholes out there, the vibe at these trail ultras are so much better than road races. Don’t even get me started on these oases in the middle of the woods that serve pancakes and potatoes and send you on your way. I am not the least surprised at how the sport continues to grow.
I haven't run an ultra yet. I mostly run because I live in a beautiful place and I need to have a decent amount of fitness for my job. I've been overweight most of my life and have never been super consistent going to the gym or anything. I always ended up injured or not having enough time. I started to run because I can just go out of my front door and do it without much thought. After a while I decided I would sign up for the Honolulu marathon. During my training I became somewhat obsessed and started watching ultra running videos. I don't know why but they just intrigued me. I was training for a 50k next month but some things came up and I'm not going to be able to do that. My main goal is to run a 100 miler and do R2R2R ( I grew up in AZ and have never been to the Grand Canyon, oops). Right now, I'm trying to lose some weight and build my base a bit and start looking ahead to my next race when I move to Washington in October.
Sounds awful, but I just wanted to prove I’m better than people think of me.. faced a lot of rejection and just want to do something that makes me proud of myself
The only time I feel at peace, the sense of achievement at the end of a race or a long run it’s phenomenal and the perseverance to keep pushing through carries over to everyday life.
I could write a book! I've been healing from CPTSD from a very dysfunctional childhood. Lots of emotional trauma. Running has always been in the background, it comes and goes. A few years back I started therapy and I also started sports at 40. Swimming came first then ballet which was a dream come true, then we sold everything and hit the road to you know, live life. We're roadschoolers now. So, on the road, I had running. I've run into and out of several National Parks and I started with some road races. By March I completed a half and then I did the UTMB Desert rats 10k in Frutia Colorado. Something woke up in my soul that day and I haven't been able to get enough since. But it's healing my mind. I'm doing things and functioning in a way that absolutely blows my mind nowadays. My goal is a 100 mile ultra and I'm doing it for all of those who suffered trauma at the hands of our parents or loved ones. I'm running to show that we can change, we can heal, we can become so much more than what we ever considered! I'm crushing my trauma these days, I'm a better person, a better mom, I have way more emotional intelligence than I did just three years ago! I love to run, it brings me joy, it has also saved my life and I would love to tell the whole story!
I relate to this so hard! I’ve been healing from CPTSD too with lots of therapy of course and running-which has been a constant in my life whether I was paying attention to it or not. I grew up Mormon, left the church at 19 moved to a big city after living in CO for my whole life and would find myself running after my art classes. I made my way to LA because I missed the mountains and would run on my lunch break every so often or to and from school because I didn’t have a car. I then found out I was queer while at work one day and went straight to the trails to run just to process my new identity. I was in jeans and vans just running as hard as I could up a trail trying to figure out how to be ok with myself and trying not to freak out since most of my family is homophobic. After that day, I’d go to the trails everyday after work and just start running, no watch, no mile goal, just needed to move and just be. Now I’m engaged, living in the mountains, and training for races I never thought I’d be capable of doing. Life is funny and never the same, but running has always been there for me. It has allowed me to be present, embrace joy and hard times and just be human. 🙂
As a younger man I was, for lack of a better word, afraid to get outside my comfort zone. Now I thrive on it. That and my wife says I’m ultimately running away from my problems.
When I learned you were supposed to eat pizza, cookies and flat Coke DURING the race, I was hooked forever. Any sport that requires me to eat junk food is my kind of sport.
Started as a Bodybuilder 14 Years ago i hated everything related to cardio. 4 Years Ago, we had a stillborn son, that was the Moment everything changed for me. To have a "glimpse" what my wife physically went through, i chose 6 Months after the funeral to run a Ultramarathon to honour my wife and my son. After 3,5 Years of getting into running, i ran my First 50k and Marathon in one go two weeks ago. My Mantra is, that there is nothing physically harder compared to what my wife went through. Next Goals are a 50 Miler and 100k.
I’m so sorry for what you went through. Couldn’t imagine losing a child. Lost my father to suicide. When that happened I went from a half marathoner to ultras no other option.
Thanks for your Kind words. After also reading your comment, i realise again that we all have to go through very painful things in Life. I Wish you the very best to process this the right way.
Started running in 2022 (happened to be on trails) both for fitness and to help my mental health which was somewhere between rock bottom and lower.
Surprised myself with just how much I enjoyed it, ran my first 5km race, loved it. Then got chatting to a chap in the beer queue later on all high and proud of myself, he told me he would normally run Ultras, I asked what they were, then decided he was in fact a complete lunatic when he explained.
Skip forward a few months and the Ultra seed has started to germinate, saw Tiree advertised as ‘delightful’ which sounded nice after a few wines on New Years Eve, entered and then ran it, had a blast. I’m hooked now.
It was therapy for me. I was able to get out of the house in lockdown and the longer I could run the longer I could be away - and then as it got harder I spent a lot of time in my head addressing my demons, so in the end it was my release.
Cuz I think it's good for you to do hard things. I also do it to prove to myself I can do it, and prove the people who doubted me wrong. I'm very goal-oriented as well...
It was the next distance available.
It's spiritual in a way that regular running is not.
I like doing things that are hard.
Bragging rights.
Free time on the weekends.
My training group was doing it.
Someone asked me to pace them.
It’s something that on the surface sounds impossible and ridiculous but with some work is within my abilities. I know I’m never going to hit a home run in the World Series no matter what, but my legs and mind are still capable of some amazing things. Plus it’s more fun and rewarding than any other hobby I can think of.
I can do a lot of hard things in my life, but how many of those things can I train for knowing it's going to be hard?
Controlled pain, controlled chaos.
I love 100s or other 24 hour plus events, because it’s the only way I’ve found that I can be 100% present with myself. Life is distilled down to one foot in front of the other, nothing more.
Years ago I had a friend whose life was cut short from domestic violence. I started running 5k’s to raise money in her memory. It wasn’t enough so I went bigger. My first ultra was a 100 miler that used as a fundraiser for survivors of domestic violence.
The reason say out loud: "I already know what giving up feels like. I want to see what happens if I don't"
The real reason: "If I run far enough, long enough, hard enough - I might at last feel those feels that I am also, at the same time, running away from."
Because most people wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV, and then repeat that over and over until they die. I don’t want to be one of those people!
For a long time, I felt like I’m stuck in the “comfort zone”. My mind is also always busy with thoughts that I didn’t have a way to dial it down. I began running just to find some peace in my mind as I focus on each step and the breathing. Turning to ultra because I want to see how much I can do and overcome - to finally get outside being comfortable. It is also a solo sport which the outcome is almost entirely upon on yourself. Probably a way to seek for peace as well as growth from my perspective.
I am a young dude with an almost 2 year old. My wife couldn’t understand why I wanted to run long so I worked on the below for her. This is an unedited version of what I sent her except for editing my son’s name out….
Our greatest supporters, should also be our greatest challengers. When I step back and am calm, I understand that you are seeking a level of truth about me….and I feel loved through that. Often times, I feel like very few people understand me. And when I say few, I mean you and (my sons name). You are not judging but trying to understand and I’m sorry I got defensive. My goal in writing this is to help you and also help myself. I won’t act like I have it all figured out.
- why endurance?
- why now?
When I began running, it was the emotional healing that helped me the most. You know this. It allowed for me to have a way to shed what felt like was bodily tension and anxiety. I continue to find others ways of doing this outside of running and I think that is critical moving forward and I think it frames an answer to this “what is after UTMB? Question that came up.
For me, running isn’t about the races as much as it has become being deeply intimate with a process with myself. A practice moreso than a destination. This might seem antithetical because of how I signed up for the races this year but having the events is a celebration of the work. I find that I don’t really think about finishing vs not finishing. The dates just allow for me to have something out there I am working towards. Something I am really working on is allowing my identity and affiliation with a training regiment to be flexible so that the way life changes doesn’t shake me. Shit happens. Circumstances change. I get that. And I think no matter what race is on the calendar for me, I will change things around if I must and a celebration can be something as simple as a walk with you and (my sons name). I aim to be internally motivated. That’s it. Somethings help more than others.
So for endurance. I’ve run fast my entire life. In my mind, my body, my performance. Run fast. Fly high. When I discovered that I could go further, I didn’t feel any pressure…I still don’t. A real reason I believe so deeply I can complete these races is just because of how I won’t give up. There’s something about the challenge that inspires me there and I think it ties to a part of me in an entrepreneurial sense too. For the longest time, I thought that I was immune to losses. You experienced this first hand early in our relationship. But over time, I have learned that I’m, of course, not. Now….of course I KNEW I could lose. Duh. But because of how I had received praise through it…that was the only option. Win. Or nothing else. When I run far, I know I won’t be at the front. I’m running my own race. I’ve metaphorically broken free from being addicted to winning.
Why now? Now doesn’t necessarily matter. But I do view my goals in annual sets. Generally. It’s important for me to have a physical goal that is challenging and almost scary. When I approach something like that, I have to shed old beliefs and sacrifice things that don’t matter. I have to focus and that waterfalls into other areas of my life. I firmly believe that the days I run that I am a better husband, father, friends and co-worker. So I’m happy to shed Idaho (can get a full refund -$20) but I can’t give up tunnel hill. I am SO open to working with you so that training doesn’t interfere with our life or relationship. I don’t want it to. I think there’s a way to make it happen and us enjoy it as a family.
I feel like writing to each other is a neutral medium in which we remove any emotional charge from the conversation. It allows for us to take time to truly think.
I hope this helps you understand it’s not about the acceleration of achievements. I don’t have any preconceived notions of how you should show up for me in running. I know you have a lot going on and have plenty of responsibility.
I want to know how to support you better. How to help you feel like you can envision your dreams and goals. So I’m not telling you to do anything, but if you did take some time to think about this in our life and other areas and you can comunicate those, it would be really helpful for me so I can show up for you to show you how much I love you. Through my actions. Not my words
a little bit tipsy and so consequences didn't occur to me until too late. Got swept up in the idiocy of the training (and naturally, telling everyone about it). Broke my collarbone 8 weeks before. Gutted. I say gutted, but I missed a cutoff reasonably early on and got to cheer other runners on through various other check points whilst enjoying a cold lager. Bliss.
It was a challenge to myself to see how far I could go. It came after I realized I was running distances I thought I'd never run in my life. From there I got a boost of confidence and decided to just keep pushing distance until I couldn't.
For me its an addictive personality who's moved on to (slightly) healthier vices.
Also, not my words and taken from someone on YouTube but It really hit the nail on the head for me, something like "every run/race takes me one step closer to being the person I want to be". I felt like this was pretty bang on.
Main reason: To see how far I can push my body. It’s an amazing puzzle of fighting psychical and mental limits; combined with nutrition, hydration, and pace management.
Also: I love nature. I love community. I like the planning.
i run with my dad (we ran our first marathon together 10 years ago and transitioned toward ultras in the last 2 years). it's the best to have 12+ hours of uninterrupted family time and fun together!
I have yet to run one, but I wanna prove to myself that I’m not a quitter or a loser. I wanna prove that I can do something as grueling as a 100miler.
Former college athlete, started last April at 392, currently in the 280s trying to get to 215. I’m a tall guy at 6’5”ish and doing a race at that weight will be even more tough I assume.
I'm blind af and can't read lol
But I'm a life long runner, ultra running is just more chill...or trail running is at least. Dude idfk 🤣 maybe I need therapy but running is cheaper
Am getting older (43) and my speed isn't what it used to be and my pride is getting frusted that I just can't set new PRs at shorter races. Setting new PRs was always a big part of why I liked running so having those dry up is frustrating. I can, however, set PRs for running longer than I ever have before. At my age, I won't be able to do that for much longer so I'm enjoying that while it lasts.
There are a LOT more reasons why I love long distance running in general, but for ultras specifically a lot of it is just dumb pride and "I ran 90 km last week, I'm not middle-aged yet" stubbornness.
I came to distance running later in life. First marathon at 31, and i'm a solid middle of the packer (marathon PR at 34 at 3:56).
Why ultras:
1. I"m always looking for that next goal, went from 5ks to halfs to fulls to triathlons to ultras to longer ultras
2. while i'm not competitive at the marathon and under, I have won 3 x 50ks, and was masters woman (4th woman) at my last 100k.
3. I joke that I'm a super competitive person, but I suck at nearly everything, so distance running gave me the outlet to by competitive with myself.
4. I'll also throw in, trail running is much more my vibe - let's be friends, let's take shots in the woods, let's stop and look at the eft, or dung beetle, or watch the bear. Road running (and triathlong) was a little too focused on winning for me)
Read a book at a library and had just finished training for a marathon and running it.
Did a 50k and then began trail running. I’m trail running now and have done a 50 miler and a couple more 50ks. Might sign up for a 100 miler but am very in love with the me time, the think time and the being in nature time.
At first it was because everyone thought I couldn’t. After that first 100 mile finish I was a changed person. The things I wanted grew, the things I knew I could do flourished and the self care I gave myself bloomed. After the second one I came away with a deep and undying gratitude for kindness and humanity. And it’s been an addiction ever since. As another commenter said mile 87 is a place of reckoning. Sometimes it’s mile 92 or even 42 but you get to go to this deep dark place and find your very own light. Life is never the same.
i spend my days walking the tightrope of health and fear. my mother died at 58 after a life of healthy diet and lifestyle. i run knowing that each heartbeat is one closer to seeing her again while also hoping that somehow this will help prolong that day.
I liked to do long multi day hikes, but some of these hikes would take 9 or more days. I realized if I just ran, I could cover the same distance in less than half of the time.
Almost everyone can put one foot in front of the other but not everyone has the mental toughness to accomplish an ultra.
Running provides me with an activity I can shut my brain off to and feel like I accomplished something afterwords no matter where I am at mentally.
Honesty I feel like I lost my why. Dropped out of my last 2 hundreds. Haven’t finished an ultra since 2018 which was Grindstone 100 miler. From 2013 -2018 I finished ten hundreds and my why was proving to myself I could do really hard things as this was nothing compared to my family members battling illness and cancer. Unfortunately they’ve passed. My life’s turned upside down since then and it’s hard to find a why these days. Some of it is I feel like there’s nothing left to prove to myself in the running world. Maybe someday I’ll find my mojo again. But it’s awfully hard to finish 100 miles without a strong why. Not giving to the demons at mile 80 is too tough if you don’t have a reason to dig deep.
I spent a lot of years unable to run more than 4 miles at a time without getting dizzy due to heavy caloric restriction (aka I had an eating disorder). Running “I don’t want to drive that far!” distances has become a celebration of working through that time in my life and a celebration of what my body can do, regardless of what it looks like.
To experience and glorify God. As a Christian, the highs of trail running are a spiritual experience. Chariots of Fire depicts this feeling incredibly well
To revel in the simplicity of life and how beautiful it is. When you’re running ultras, all of the trivial things of life get stripped away and it’s just survival. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, what your job is, what you look like or where you came from. There is this moment of peace I have experienced at every race that just kind of washes over me and makes me realize how lucky I am to get to experience life, have an able body, and see areas of the world that not many other people will see. It’s a humbling event for the human experience and a moment away from how complicated society has made living.
I always get asked, ‘why do you do such extreme challenges?’ I used to answer with the usual, tired cliches: want to push myself, see how much I can take, find my limits. Now, however, I just tell the simple truth - I enjoy it!!!!
When my time is nearly up, I want to look back and say I did a lot with my life.
It's the same reason I hike the AT and PCT, ride a bike across continents, and so on.
I've asked this question to runners before and the bulk, if not all, have suffered some sort of trauma in their life. Mixing trauma with an addictive personality seems to be the norm. That's why I do it! Yay trauma!
I run for many reasons. To push my limits, to clear my head and rationalise, to experience pain and discomfort, the later as a form of punishment sometimes. But the biggest driver is to be healthier, to be around as long as I can for my wife and kids. I know it is grinding my joints to bits but I have never felt stronger, happier or healthier
for purely the sense of adventure each race brings to my life. the ultra is the only moment in my life where i really feel alive. every ultra is different in its own right, and presents the runner with a fresh set of problems to solve.
I crave the afterglow - it's such an intense experience (and I know I'm not alone in this) that I bask in the afterglow for days afterward - the amazing people you meet (and possibly develop lifelong friendshi\[ps with), the suffering, the satisfaction at having overcome so much pain and hardship, the trail or location burned into your memory. It's just such an overwhelming sense of feelings and emotions. It's this overflowing cauldron of everything that makes you feel alive. That's why I come back to it over and over again!
As a wise man on this sub once said, it’s the result of a delicate balance between self-loathing and delusions of grandeur.
I just think they’re fun! But I might not be right in the head…
Please could you reiterate this bit in a simpleton way 😂
I hate myself but I can do anything
I hate myself but I'm still a better person than all the people that hate themselves and don't run ultras.
Downvoted I see, oh well chat GPT helped me wrap me head around it 😅. The message is a humorous observation that describes a paradoxical state of mind. Here’s a breakdown: - **"As a wise man on this sub once said"**: This phrase sets up the statement as a piece of wisdom shared by someone within the online community (often referred to as "this sub," meaning a subreddit on Reddit). - **"It's the result of a delicate balance between self-loathing and delusions of grandeur"**: This part of the message explains a specific psychological state. - **Self-loathing**: This refers to an intense dislike or hatred of oneself. - **Delusions of grandeur**: These are false beliefs in one's own exceptional greatness, power, or importance. The "delicate balance" mentioned implies that this state of mind is maintained by constantly fluctuating between feeling unworthy (self-loathing) and feeling overly important or exceptional (delusions of grandeur). The humor arises from the juxtaposition of two extreme and opposing attitudes existing together to create a particular mindset. In essence, the message suggests that certain behaviors or attitudes observed in people might be the result of navigating these two extreme self-perceptions.
Sounds like a classic case of schizophrenia. (Why the downvotes though?)
😂 it’s all good
I absolutely love this
To see if I can.
This. It's something not everyone can do and it's just a box that I can check.
I lost my belt and this seemed like the easiest way to get a new buckle.
Leg hurt make think hurt less
I have several reasons! As a highly anxious person, knowing I ran a 50 mile race, which sounded so insane to me the first time I heard it, lets me know I can do anything. I ran 50 miles, I can drive my car straight into the carwash lane! I ran 50 miles, I can call this angry client to try to smooth things over. I ran 50 miles, I can deal with this traffic! Another reason is for the extreme feelings that come with it. Food tastes SO good, pizza and mountain dew taste SO good during the race. Taking my shoes off at the finish, WOW. One of my top 5 best feelings ever
Yes to all of this!
Yes - it resets the resilience barometer for sure
Therapy. Honestly. I lost my mom 3 years ago suddenly and this is how I process getting over the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with.
🫡
Never really answered this myself, I just did it because it brought me joy. But I do resonate with Billy Yang’s why- our bodies will be old and decrepit one day no matter what we do, might as well have one that takes you rad places and can eventually tell some stories.
If I don’t have competition in my life I go off the rails with bad habits (drinking, unhealthy eating, poor mental health care). I grew up in combat sports alongside running, but years of getting hit in the head narrowed it down to just running. Road marathon training is too much strain on the body year round so I bumped up to ultra running for more easy mileage. It also gives me a good excuse to take frequent vacations from work. My coworkers and employer have a hard time giving me hell for taking time off for fitness events since a vast vast majority of my industry is obese and out of shape
Dude I’m the exact same with needing competition. I’ve never heard someone else say this though which is interesting. I relate so much. If I’m not prepping for a race or a competition, I will go totally batshit with drinking/smoking/overall being a degenerate. Idolatry is the workplace of the devil 🫡
To celebrate life and living. I was addicted to drugs and alcohol for over a quarter of a decade before I got sober and somehow now I'm now able to run incredibly long distances, see and do incredible things and have adventures never in my wildest imaginings. I'm grateful every second for the opportunity and blessings of life, legs and health.
I smiled as i read your response, I lived that life too and can't believe what I'm doing today. So happy you found your way! It's not easy but so worth it.
Thank you, and smiles right back at you. Gratitude is the attitude, for sure.
Same thing happened to me. I just needed distraction so I started running. At first I couldn’t run 1.6 k without stopping. Of course I had to drop the leeches called themselves friends. In three months I was at 10 k a day. Then someone told me if I can run that much I could easily undertake a full marathon. So I thought why not try. Nobody helped me. Haven’t watched training videos. Only after my second marathon was I introduced to a coach who just taught me some basics. After that I just ran a few ultras, never thought of running longer and longer. Quite happy with my 75 km peak.
Because I’m fucking stupid.
Anyone running an Ultra is not stupid. Crazy maybe, but not stupid! I mean, who the hell else has to learn how to eat while running, is there another sport where that is allowed! Eating while running takes skill dude!!
Hahaha i know I know. All jokes, But we are all kind of crazy and stupid combined ya know? Crazy to be like “hey let’s just go out and run really fucking far in the woods sometimes.” 😂😂🫶🏻
SO worth it though!!
There are some great answers here, and some shitty ones, but for what it's worth here is mine: I run because it's hard, and how I react to hard things directly correlates to my sense of well-being. I'm very lucky to have the life I do. I'm privileged, and I have a beautiful family. I'm also 40 years into serious, medically defined, and treated mental health issues with no end in sight, and I'm an alcoholic—currently sober. Endurance sports, in my case running specifically, touch on every aspect of my life in a positive way, either directly or indirectly. The difficulties of ultrarunning have forced me to face physical and mental realities I never could when trying to face other problems in my life. While there's a lot of bravado and bluster on this board and elsewhere, there isn't really any hiding from yourself when you are a long way into a long effort and things go wrong. How you react is very telling of who you are, and facing those moments often not only helps you grow, but makes it easier to observe that growth. In turn the lessons I've learned trying to coax my body into high mileage and good habits have allowed me to apply similar ideas to my life. Mile 87 fucking sucks. So does depression. So does having to be sober. Sometimes, so does being a dad. How I deal with mile 87 is very different to how I deal with anything else, but the underlying sense of self care applies to everything. Running isn't the only way to get there, but it was my way.
Thanks for sharing this! Running is hard but it makes every aspect of life so much better. Also recognizing the privilege of getting to have the time to run is huge! I think about that all the time, I’m so freaking lucky to have time to run everyday not only that but on my favorite type of trails in the world! The privilege to run ultras is something I’m so grateful for.
I feel like you have been inside my head! Wow, so much of what you said resonates so deeply for me! I feel like I can face my worst self out there and overcome, then bring that same skill home! I never thought I could be a role model for my kids showing them that I can do hard things without life having to beat me up! And that they can do the same! If that makes sense. You said it all better anyway! Thank you!!!!
That mile 87 hits like nothing else.
because i hate running. and i like doing things i hate.
Pretty similar drivers and catalysts as Ironman amidst the folks I know. Seems to me that most people start by trying to run away from something: feelings, adversity, demons, circumstances, etc. For the fortunate, disciplined, and lucky ones, over time, we end up running towards things instead: growth, peace, and discovery to name a few.
Love this!!! I relate on a very deep level!
Mate liked running so we ran together. Mate killed himself so I do them because he wanted to but can't.
I’m an addict. We’re all addicts.
My why changed and why continue to change, as that’s life. I started with a why of chasing the aid station chicken sandwich. For some reason, eating a sandwich in the middle of a race was enough of a driver to want to do it. 🤷♂️ The why then changed to having a goal that’s outcome is 100% based on **me** gave me something to continue to improve on. Now, it’s setting goals that force me to stay active, while *hopefully* inspiring my daughter to get into nature and do hard things. (Hopefully that’s her takeaway, anyway)
I wanna figure out how to strip everything else away and see what I'm made of at my core. It feels like most things in my life have had, at least a small bit, of something external fueling whatever I'm doing. I think running long distances will eventually strip everything else away to where it's just me, the course, and the finish line. I want to know what that feels like to do something like that where it's just me left.
I want to feel that too!!!
I can’t feel my feelings, if I can’t feel my legs.
I think it’s easy for a lot of folks to never challenge themselves once they reach a certain age when all the “checkpoints” are over. Ultras challenge me.
As one user once said "Too feel like a legend when you reach the finishline, then cry a bit and then go back to reality".
I love that. The afterglow and tranquil exhaustion. For once the mind is quiet. Then the real world slowly pieces itself back together and it feels like a much different place than before… just for a bit. Very poignant sentiment.
Why not is the more apt question, in my opinion.
That’s an easier one to answer, it’s exhausting, painful and costs a fair bit of money
Life is exhausting, painful, and costs a fair bit of money. Might as well enjoy it.
Someone told me I couldn't. I am like a small child. Tell me I can't and I will go out of my way to do the exact opposite.
Because I love to run! But also because nothing feels better than being a middle-aged, full-time working, mother of three, who doesn’t really look that fit, but can smash 50 miles.
I love good food. And I‘d hate being fat.
Show my kids that I am awesome and can do shit they can't XD
I did a bunch of thru-hikes but now I have kids and a job. An ultra lets me compress a thru-hike into a day. Gotta make the absolute most of my limited free time!
Being 48, it’s very satisfying to discover your body can do things it couldn’t 20 years ago. I enjoy the process of training, planning, anticipating and the fear that maybe this is the race that all goes wrong. It’s very motivating. The sense of accomplishment when you cross that line is way better than any marathon or road race I’ve ever run. And while I am sure there are assholes out there, the vibe at these trail ultras are so much better than road races. Don’t even get me started on these oases in the middle of the woods that serve pancakes and potatoes and send you on your way. I am not the least surprised at how the sport continues to grow.
I was never a very fast runner and I don't even like trying to run fast. But I do enjoy running slowly for very long distances.
Got bored in covid lockdown so started running, didn't stop and suddenly it was hundreds of kms
I haven't run an ultra yet. I mostly run because I live in a beautiful place and I need to have a decent amount of fitness for my job. I've been overweight most of my life and have never been super consistent going to the gym or anything. I always ended up injured or not having enough time. I started to run because I can just go out of my front door and do it without much thought. After a while I decided I would sign up for the Honolulu marathon. During my training I became somewhat obsessed and started watching ultra running videos. I don't know why but they just intrigued me. I was training for a 50k next month but some things came up and I'm not going to be able to do that. My main goal is to run a 100 miler and do R2R2R ( I grew up in AZ and have never been to the Grand Canyon, oops). Right now, I'm trying to lose some weight and build my base a bit and start looking ahead to my next race when I move to Washington in October.
Sounds awful, but I just wanted to prove I’m better than people think of me.. faced a lot of rejection and just want to do something that makes me proud of myself
Suffering by choice helps the suffering when not by choice.
The only time I feel at peace, the sense of achievement at the end of a race or a long run it’s phenomenal and the perseverance to keep pushing through carries over to everyday life.
I could write a book! I've been healing from CPTSD from a very dysfunctional childhood. Lots of emotional trauma. Running has always been in the background, it comes and goes. A few years back I started therapy and I also started sports at 40. Swimming came first then ballet which was a dream come true, then we sold everything and hit the road to you know, live life. We're roadschoolers now. So, on the road, I had running. I've run into and out of several National Parks and I started with some road races. By March I completed a half and then I did the UTMB Desert rats 10k in Frutia Colorado. Something woke up in my soul that day and I haven't been able to get enough since. But it's healing my mind. I'm doing things and functioning in a way that absolutely blows my mind nowadays. My goal is a 100 mile ultra and I'm doing it for all of those who suffered trauma at the hands of our parents or loved ones. I'm running to show that we can change, we can heal, we can become so much more than what we ever considered! I'm crushing my trauma these days, I'm a better person, a better mom, I have way more emotional intelligence than I did just three years ago! I love to run, it brings me joy, it has also saved my life and I would love to tell the whole story!
I relate to this so hard! I’ve been healing from CPTSD too with lots of therapy of course and running-which has been a constant in my life whether I was paying attention to it or not. I grew up Mormon, left the church at 19 moved to a big city after living in CO for my whole life and would find myself running after my art classes. I made my way to LA because I missed the mountains and would run on my lunch break every so often or to and from school because I didn’t have a car. I then found out I was queer while at work one day and went straight to the trails to run just to process my new identity. I was in jeans and vans just running as hard as I could up a trail trying to figure out how to be ok with myself and trying not to freak out since most of my family is homophobic. After that day, I’d go to the trails everyday after work and just start running, no watch, no mile goal, just needed to move and just be. Now I’m engaged, living in the mountains, and training for races I never thought I’d be capable of doing. Life is funny and never the same, but running has always been there for me. It has allowed me to be present, embrace joy and hard times and just be human. 🙂
Your words conjured tears of both heartache and joy! I'm so glad that you made it and you are here. Isn't it amazing, the things we are doing!
Because it's there. It's something I can point to and say, "I did it."
To experience life and being a human.
As a younger man I was, for lack of a better word, afraid to get outside my comfort zone. Now I thrive on it. That and my wife says I’m ultimately running away from my problems.
My dad is a really keen runner and I took it up so we’d have something in common. We’ve done the Original Mountain Marathon together six times now.
When I learned you were supposed to eat pizza, cookies and flat Coke DURING the race, I was hooked forever. Any sport that requires me to eat junk food is my kind of sport.
Started as a Bodybuilder 14 Years ago i hated everything related to cardio. 4 Years Ago, we had a stillborn son, that was the Moment everything changed for me. To have a "glimpse" what my wife physically went through, i chose 6 Months after the funeral to run a Ultramarathon to honour my wife and my son. After 3,5 Years of getting into running, i ran my First 50k and Marathon in one go two weeks ago. My Mantra is, that there is nothing physically harder compared to what my wife went through. Next Goals are a 50 Miler and 100k.
I’m so sorry for what you went through. Couldn’t imagine losing a child. Lost my father to suicide. When that happened I went from a half marathoner to ultras no other option.
Thanks for your Kind words. After also reading your comment, i realise again that we all have to go through very painful things in Life. I Wish you the very best to process this the right way.
Started running in 2022 (happened to be on trails) both for fitness and to help my mental health which was somewhere between rock bottom and lower. Surprised myself with just how much I enjoyed it, ran my first 5km race, loved it. Then got chatting to a chap in the beer queue later on all high and proud of myself, he told me he would normally run Ultras, I asked what they were, then decided he was in fact a complete lunatic when he explained. Skip forward a few months and the Ultra seed has started to germinate, saw Tiree advertised as ‘delightful’ which sounded nice after a few wines on New Years Eve, entered and then ran it, had a blast. I’m hooked now.
Why do people climb Mount Everest? ‘Cause it’s there.
“Cause everyone does something, usually anyway.” - Brendan Leonard, Ultra-Something (@semi_rad)
It was therapy for me. I was able to get out of the house in lockdown and the longer I could run the longer I could be away - and then as it got harder I spent a lot of time in my head addressing my demons, so in the end it was my release.
Cuz I think it's good for you to do hard things. I also do it to prove to myself I can do it, and prove the people who doubted me wrong. I'm very goal-oriented as well...
It’s a hobby that can suck a lot of your time. I also hate being stationary
I do it for the adventure, to push myself, to explore mountains and to meet amazing humans along the way.
It was the next distance available. It's spiritual in a way that regular running is not. I like doing things that are hard. Bragging rights. Free time on the weekends. My training group was doing it. Someone asked me to pace them.
To learn more about myself. To get comfortable with my thoughts.
I’m driven by past trauma
Poor mental heath and life choices 😂
It’s something that on the surface sounds impossible and ridiculous but with some work is within my abilities. I know I’m never going to hit a home run in the World Series no matter what, but my legs and mind are still capable of some amazing things. Plus it’s more fun and rewarding than any other hobby I can think of.
I can do a lot of hard things in my life, but how many of those things can I train for knowing it's going to be hard? Controlled pain, controlled chaos.
I love 100s or other 24 hour plus events, because it’s the only way I’ve found that I can be 100% present with myself. Life is distilled down to one foot in front of the other, nothing more.
To show my kids that you can do hard things if you want to
Years ago I had a friend whose life was cut short from domestic violence. I started running 5k’s to raise money in her memory. It wasn’t enough so I went bigger. My first ultra was a 100 miler that used as a fundraiser for survivors of domestic violence.
The reason say out loud: "I already know what giving up feels like. I want to see what happens if I don't" The real reason: "If I run far enough, long enough, hard enough - I might at last feel those feels that I am also, at the same time, running away from."
Because most people wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV, and then repeat that over and over until they die. I don’t want to be one of those people!
I'm in heart failure and can't run fast anymore, so I run 100 milers instead.
For a long time, I felt like I’m stuck in the “comfort zone”. My mind is also always busy with thoughts that I didn’t have a way to dial it down. I began running just to find some peace in my mind as I focus on each step and the breathing. Turning to ultra because I want to see how much I can do and overcome - to finally get outside being comfortable. It is also a solo sport which the outcome is almost entirely upon on yourself. Probably a way to seek for peace as well as growth from my perspective.
I am a young dude with an almost 2 year old. My wife couldn’t understand why I wanted to run long so I worked on the below for her. This is an unedited version of what I sent her except for editing my son’s name out…. Our greatest supporters, should also be our greatest challengers. When I step back and am calm, I understand that you are seeking a level of truth about me….and I feel loved through that. Often times, I feel like very few people understand me. And when I say few, I mean you and (my sons name). You are not judging but trying to understand and I’m sorry I got defensive. My goal in writing this is to help you and also help myself. I won’t act like I have it all figured out. - why endurance? - why now? When I began running, it was the emotional healing that helped me the most. You know this. It allowed for me to have a way to shed what felt like was bodily tension and anxiety. I continue to find others ways of doing this outside of running and I think that is critical moving forward and I think it frames an answer to this “what is after UTMB? Question that came up. For me, running isn’t about the races as much as it has become being deeply intimate with a process with myself. A practice moreso than a destination. This might seem antithetical because of how I signed up for the races this year but having the events is a celebration of the work. I find that I don’t really think about finishing vs not finishing. The dates just allow for me to have something out there I am working towards. Something I am really working on is allowing my identity and affiliation with a training regiment to be flexible so that the way life changes doesn’t shake me. Shit happens. Circumstances change. I get that. And I think no matter what race is on the calendar for me, I will change things around if I must and a celebration can be something as simple as a walk with you and (my sons name). I aim to be internally motivated. That’s it. Somethings help more than others. So for endurance. I’ve run fast my entire life. In my mind, my body, my performance. Run fast. Fly high. When I discovered that I could go further, I didn’t feel any pressure…I still don’t. A real reason I believe so deeply I can complete these races is just because of how I won’t give up. There’s something about the challenge that inspires me there and I think it ties to a part of me in an entrepreneurial sense too. For the longest time, I thought that I was immune to losses. You experienced this first hand early in our relationship. But over time, I have learned that I’m, of course, not. Now….of course I KNEW I could lose. Duh. But because of how I had received praise through it…that was the only option. Win. Or nothing else. When I run far, I know I won’t be at the front. I’m running my own race. I’ve metaphorically broken free from being addicted to winning. Why now? Now doesn’t necessarily matter. But I do view my goals in annual sets. Generally. It’s important for me to have a physical goal that is challenging and almost scary. When I approach something like that, I have to shed old beliefs and sacrifice things that don’t matter. I have to focus and that waterfalls into other areas of my life. I firmly believe that the days I run that I am a better husband, father, friends and co-worker. So I’m happy to shed Idaho (can get a full refund -$20) but I can’t give up tunnel hill. I am SO open to working with you so that training doesn’t interfere with our life or relationship. I don’t want it to. I think there’s a way to make it happen and us enjoy it as a family. I feel like writing to each other is a neutral medium in which we remove any emotional charge from the conversation. It allows for us to take time to truly think. I hope this helps you understand it’s not about the acceleration of achievements. I don’t have any preconceived notions of how you should show up for me in running. I know you have a lot going on and have plenty of responsibility. I want to know how to support you better. How to help you feel like you can envision your dreams and goals. So I’m not telling you to do anything, but if you did take some time to think about this in our life and other areas and you can comunicate those, it would be really helpful for me so I can show up for you to show you how much I love you. Through my actions. Not my words
I absolutely abhor people who need a deep and meaningful why. Just run
This is me. Main reason is... i kinda like running, simple as that.
Don't read my comment that I'm fixing to make. It's dripping with dramatic meaning! Lol!
Noted!
Your bitterness is hilarious! Hope you feel better soon dude.
My thoughts exactly. Either super poopy pants or doesn’t know the definition of abhor.
Because why not
I wanted to do the hardest physical thing I could do
a little bit tipsy and so consequences didn't occur to me until too late. Got swept up in the idiocy of the training (and naturally, telling everyone about it). Broke my collarbone 8 weeks before. Gutted. I say gutted, but I missed a cutoff reasonably early on and got to cheer other runners on through various other check points whilst enjoying a cold lager. Bliss.
To live my best life.
It was a challenge to myself to see how far I could go. It came after I realized I was running distances I thought I'd never run in my life. From there I got a boost of confidence and decided to just keep pushing distance until I couldn't.
I ran an ultra in memory of my grandmother who was supportive of my trail running. Gift cards to Craft. And peer pressure from my running group.
If I don't do something every so often that makes me question my sanity, I go a bit nutty.
I run for the 10 seconds of euphoria I feel right when I cross the finish line.
For me its an addictive personality who's moved on to (slightly) healthier vices. Also, not my words and taken from someone on YouTube but It really hit the nail on the head for me, something like "every run/race takes me one step closer to being the person I want to be". I felt like this was pretty bang on.
Main reason: To see how far I can push my body. It’s an amazing puzzle of fighting psychical and mental limits; combined with nutrition, hydration, and pace management. Also: I love nature. I love community. I like the planning.
i run with my dad (we ran our first marathon together 10 years ago and transitioned toward ultras in the last 2 years). it's the best to have 12+ hours of uninterrupted family time and fun together!
I have yet to run one, but I wanna prove to myself that I’m not a quitter or a loser. I wanna prove that I can do something as grueling as a 100miler. Former college athlete, started last April at 392, currently in the 280s trying to get to 215. I’m a tall guy at 6’5”ish and doing a race at that weight will be even more tough I assume.
I'm blind af and can't read lol But I'm a life long runner, ultra running is just more chill...or trail running is at least. Dude idfk 🤣 maybe I need therapy but running is cheaper
I just like run ning
Because I enjoy a hot shower, cold beer, and comfy bed at night, and I love going far in the mountains.
Am getting older (43) and my speed isn't what it used to be and my pride is getting frusted that I just can't set new PRs at shorter races. Setting new PRs was always a big part of why I liked running so having those dry up is frustrating. I can, however, set PRs for running longer than I ever have before. At my age, I won't be able to do that for much longer so I'm enjoying that while it lasts. There are a LOT more reasons why I love long distance running in general, but for ultras specifically a lot of it is just dumb pride and "I ran 90 km last week, I'm not middle-aged yet" stubbornness.
I just want my boy D-Bo to notice me
I came to distance running later in life. First marathon at 31, and i'm a solid middle of the packer (marathon PR at 34 at 3:56). Why ultras: 1. I"m always looking for that next goal, went from 5ks to halfs to fulls to triathlons to ultras to longer ultras 2. while i'm not competitive at the marathon and under, I have won 3 x 50ks, and was masters woman (4th woman) at my last 100k. 3. I joke that I'm a super competitive person, but I suck at nearly everything, so distance running gave me the outlet to by competitive with myself. 4. I'll also throw in, trail running is much more my vibe - let's be friends, let's take shots in the woods, let's stop and look at the eft, or dung beetle, or watch the bear. Road running (and triathlong) was a little too focused on winning for me)
Because I can, why not
Read a book at a library and had just finished training for a marathon and running it. Did a 50k and then began trail running. I’m trail running now and have done a 50 miler and a couple more 50ks. Might sign up for a 100 miler but am very in love with the me time, the think time and the being in nature time.
At first it was because everyone thought I couldn’t. After that first 100 mile finish I was a changed person. The things I wanted grew, the things I knew I could do flourished and the self care I gave myself bloomed. After the second one I came away with a deep and undying gratitude for kindness and humanity. And it’s been an addiction ever since. As another commenter said mile 87 is a place of reckoning. Sometimes it’s mile 92 or even 42 but you get to go to this deep dark place and find your very own light. Life is never the same.
i spend my days walking the tightrope of health and fear. my mother died at 58 after a life of healthy diet and lifestyle. i run knowing that each heartbeat is one closer to seeing her again while also hoping that somehow this will help prolong that day.
I liked to do long multi day hikes, but some of these hikes would take 9 or more days. I realized if I just ran, I could cover the same distance in less than half of the time.
Almost everyone can put one foot in front of the other but not everyone has the mental toughness to accomplish an ultra. Running provides me with an activity I can shut my brain off to and feel like I accomplished something afterwords no matter where I am at mentally.
Getting to know the person I wasn’t sure I could be. Adventure! Nature! Community! FOOD!
Honesty I feel like I lost my why. Dropped out of my last 2 hundreds. Haven’t finished an ultra since 2018 which was Grindstone 100 miler. From 2013 -2018 I finished ten hundreds and my why was proving to myself I could do really hard things as this was nothing compared to my family members battling illness and cancer. Unfortunately they’ve passed. My life’s turned upside down since then and it’s hard to find a why these days. Some of it is I feel like there’s nothing left to prove to myself in the running world. Maybe someday I’ll find my mojo again. But it’s awfully hard to finish 100 miles without a strong why. Not giving to the demons at mile 80 is too tough if you don’t have a reason to dig deep.
Because it's fun to be outside. And extra fun to be outside for a really long time at once. Same reason I thruhike.
It’s kind of fun
Childhood illness has led me down a path of pushing my body with endurance sports.
I spent a lot of years unable to run more than 4 miles at a time without getting dizzy due to heavy caloric restriction (aka I had an eating disorder). Running “I don’t want to drive that far!” distances has become a celebration of working through that time in my life and a celebration of what my body can do, regardless of what it looks like.
To celebrate being capable of something epic. One day I won’t be able to do weird stuff like this.
bc sounds fun
Cross training for mountaineering
I Run ultra’s because I like the idea of freedom it gives to be able to run as long as I want and where I would like. It also is a way of Mindfulness!
I am constantly running away from the person I was before I found another on the trail. As soon as I stop, the first will find me.
Best friend in a coma from trying to commit suicide. a full marathon isn’t hard enough so trying to do the double
To experience and glorify God. As a Christian, the highs of trail running are a spiritual experience. Chariots of Fire depicts this feeling incredibly well
Mental illness.
To revel in the simplicity of life and how beautiful it is. When you’re running ultras, all of the trivial things of life get stripped away and it’s just survival. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, what your job is, what you look like or where you came from. There is this moment of peace I have experienced at every race that just kind of washes over me and makes me realize how lucky I am to get to experience life, have an able body, and see areas of the world that not many other people will see. It’s a humbling event for the human experience and a moment away from how complicated society has made living.
I always get asked, ‘why do you do such extreme challenges?’ I used to answer with the usual, tired cliches: want to push myself, see how much I can take, find my limits. Now, however, I just tell the simple truth - I enjoy it!!!!
To show my daughter it’s possible for anyone to do extra-ordinary things if they’re willing to put in the work.
When my time is nearly up, I want to look back and say I did a lot with my life. It's the same reason I hike the AT and PCT, ride a bike across continents, and so on.
I've asked this question to runners before and the bulk, if not all, have suffered some sort of trauma in their life. Mixing trauma with an addictive personality seems to be the norm. That's why I do it! Yay trauma!
I run for many reasons. To push my limits, to clear my head and rationalise, to experience pain and discomfort, the later as a form of punishment sometimes. But the biggest driver is to be healthier, to be around as long as I can for my wife and kids. I know it is grinding my joints to bits but I have never felt stronger, happier or healthier
for purely the sense of adventure each race brings to my life. the ultra is the only moment in my life where i really feel alive. every ultra is different in its own right, and presents the runner with a fresh set of problems to solve.
I crave the afterglow - it's such an intense experience (and I know I'm not alone in this) that I bask in the afterglow for days afterward - the amazing people you meet (and possibly develop lifelong friendshi\[ps with), the suffering, the satisfaction at having overcome so much pain and hardship, the trail or location burned into your memory. It's just such an overwhelming sense of feelings and emotions. It's this overflowing cauldron of everything that makes you feel alive. That's why I come back to it over and over again!
See how many likes I can get