A bit of a BIO would be in order...
I started running in middle school (7th grade), but didn't take it serious until a friend bet me that I couldn't make the sub-8 minute honor list. This list consisted of a dozen or so names of kids that had broken the 8:00 barrier over the 1.4 mile x-country course. The names went fairly far back, more than 20+ years. Of course, my friend was one of the few to have made the cut the previous year. Once in 8th grade, I surprised the head coach by moving from barely varsity in 7th grade to lead runner in ever race, and becoming the 3rd fastest runner ever on that course. The rest is history as some would say. I don't want to bore you my high school and college successes. To summarize, x-country become my base period for a rather successful 800/1000 meter and mile career, culminating in a 2x DIII national qualifier. I was not a distance guru - though I thoroughly enjoyed x-country, my blend of anaerobic/aerobic and fast twitch muscles screamed Middle Distance Runner (note song reference here).
After college, much like most athletes, I didn't really have a proving ground. I struggled to maintain the training for nearly 5 years before finally tossing the shoes for (almost) good. During those 5 years, I trained with the Fort Bragg elite Army racing team and completed my first half marathon with decent success (1:21). After the last race, I decided to take a two week rest...which turned into a 10 year hiatus.
My return to running was due to a massive imbalance in my personal life. Work dominated the scene. I needed something I could put in front of my boss and not get the rebuttal. Who could argue with staying healthy. A firm statement that 6PM was training time, and I won't attend any more meetings after 5:30PM was accepted. Mind you, I had to be on a 6AM conference call every day as well, so morning runs were out of the question. It took a few meeting rejections over the next month for it to really sink in with the VP that I was serious.
About this time (Fall 2009), some of my staff, who were novice runners, prepared to run Disney Marathon. They knew of my running past and urged me to join them. As a 'veteran' runner, I wanted something that would push me beyond attempting to finish a marathon. I knew with a few months of training I could finish, but finish to a Boston Qualifying Standard, and to get into 2012 Boston would be my golden challis. Little did I know, that this drive to pursue races, events, etc that were completely new for me would be my new driving force. (Note, I missed 2012 BQ - but made up for it with '13. Finishing 90 minutes before the nightmare).
One thing I learned upon returning to the running scene - speed was gone and recovery takes longer! My days of training at near race pace for 10 miles, followed up the next day with a track workout were lost. I blamed it on the lengthy time off. However, I also took solace that skipping out on 10 years of training and the 15,000 or so miles, may have saved my joints. I am blessed that the only issue I have now is with weak ankles, and that is only due to my desire to be on technical trail almost every day over the past three years. While I am somewhat competitive now at the shorter distances, I have found that it takes me a good 2 miles before my pulse drops and pace can pick-up. Long and on trail has been where I found happiness.
While training for Boston, I tried my first 50k in Alabama. I had completed my first road marathon in the previous fall, so the extra distance didn't frighten me. I laugh at it now, but I felt I had a legitimate shot at victory based on times from previous years. This was the beginning of my ultra education. First eye opener about the cavalier atmosphere was at the sign-in. The sign at the picnic table stated this isn't a true 50k, but rather closer to approximately 33 miles. On the road, races are USATF certified...I have a GPS to map my every foot covered. What is this roughly shit? I fell in love with the atmosphere immediately. Honestly, I felt like I was at a Hash House Harriers weekend gathering, where there is NO pressure no matter what the talent. Very low key. No pressure. Camaraderie at the max. This continued on trail as well - throughout the entire 33 miles. Road racing, while bonds are formed, still feels to me very much an competitive race - me against you...and against the clock. Within an Ultra, it feels like a big team event. Don't get me wrong, there is a race up front - but watching videos of this weekend's Skyrunning championships where the top 2 crossed the finish line arm in arm, the camaraderie goes all the way to the top too. The reason is simple to me, an ultra goes beyond the running challenge. It is a mental and physical challenge. You hit numerous lows. Nutrition now is a key player. Trail hills....no road is this steep, and most ultra's have several of them before you even hit the half way point. During an ultra, everybody has similar pains. Familiarity breeds bonding. I hit the wall in my first 50k, and mentally called it quits at 17miles. After sitting on the side of the trail for 10 minutes - watching countless people shuffle by - one 'experienced' runner came by and reminded me that this isn't a race against the clock or other people. It is against me. He promptly finished the encouragement with a fact that he stopped for an hour,20 miles into a 50k once. It hit me, who cares if I rest 15 or 30 minutes. What is the difference between 6hr or 6:30? Finish is the objective. I rested a few more minutes and promptly found my way to the finish - and forever in love with conquering the unknown challenges that I present to myself through the woods.
