Redefining
I remember hearing about Dean Karnazes sometime in the last 10-12 years. A high energy jumping jack type on late night tv talking about running 50 marathons in 50 states, in 50 days. I had never been exposed to any road or trail runners growing up in my family or any family friends for that matter. I only knew of running through track, football, olympic sprinters and a few mid distance runners. Anything beyond the mile lap was "endurance running" to me. Dean Karnazes though was a type of runner I never knew existed.
I like to believe that I helped play a role in the pioneering of youtube and the now famous google search to be what it is today. I began searching the blogs, surfing youtube, and reading about runners that run distances farther than a marathon, some even up to 100 miles and beyond. I am sorry, what? I like many others immediately dismissed this as bullshit, and wondered, "and they don't die, how?" Yet, it was captivating.
A natural reaction to anything a closed mind is ignorant to is typically dismissed due to their own biases. I am 100% guilty. Even in regards to running. Until maybe a year and half ago, my own fears of how my body would respond to even a half marathon were very narrow. I wasn't paying close enough attention. It's liberating to admit that my mindset was the limiting factor in a long perceived threshold.
There have been heart related headlines that have apparently been found to plague runners, prompting the "how much is too much" debate in regards to running. Well shit, if "experts" claim running marathons are bad for you, then how isn't a 50 miler let alone a 100-200 mile race not considered a death sentence? While I won't dismiss the stories of aging and even young runners who have fallen victim to heart issues and even death while in the act of running, I will always follow it up with, yeah but.
While in the midst of Ron Burgundy venturing out with a Veronica Corningstone for a jog(pronounced with a silent J of course), the American culture of the 70s and 80s were late to an age old party. Humans were born to run. Our bone structure and muscles like the gluteus maximus enable humans to plant one foot in front of the next while staying upright. While I am no PHD, and speaking purely from an anecdotal perspective, the masses have complicated what should be an appreciated outlet for many more.
I have yet to run a full 26.2, realistically I believe I am about one year away from that endeavor. I once saw it impossible, and then with a few mental breakthroughs, the process of building that strength to hold up for that distance began to make sense.
Whether you're running 1 mile or 100 out on the trails, it's easy to see how that environment and scenery can prompt some wild spirits to tackle some pretty heroic distances. The variability in foot placement, the up and down of the trails and the natural terrain, in my opinion, provides the platform to build a pretty epic strength base. As a kid I ran wild through the woods in my hometown, up and down our trails and the freedom it now provides as an adult takes on a whole new meaning. A connection to the trails isn't about speed intervals, or pounding through repetitive road or track intervals. Your pace might drop a minute or two on some hilly, technical terrain, but I can promise your strength and appreciation for running will only be enhanced.
While I may never have elite road running speed, I possess strengths that make me a competitive trail runner though. I have yet to run an "ultra," but the experience looks tempting, similar to dreams of running the Boston Marathon. My 3 trail races (2 x 10k, 1 x HM) helped redefine what it is I am figuratively and literally chasing down when I lace em up.
When I watch the Olympic runners, I dream of spiking it up and running a fast mile again like my clueless and overly competitive 14 year old self. When I sign up for a road race, I like to pretend I am Ryan Hall chasing down records and showing that pale white guys can stunt too. When I tune into trail runners though, a primal (I hate that word, but for story sake) side of me is tapped into. A side of me that can only be defined as a spiritual connection of sorts while adventuring through nature's playgrounds.
I respect and cosign the Avery Collins approach (relatively speaking), finding the most challenging courses with varying terrain to see who comes out on top. That's what it's all about. Don't be afraid to redefine your threshold, often it's only you holding yourself back.
I like to believe that I helped play a role in the pioneering of youtube and the now famous google search to be what it is today. I began searching the blogs, surfing youtube, and reading about runners that run distances farther than a marathon, some even up to 100 miles and beyond. I am sorry, what? I like many others immediately dismissed this as bullshit, and wondered, "and they don't die, how?" Yet, it was captivating.
A natural reaction to anything a closed mind is ignorant to is typically dismissed due to their own biases. I am 100% guilty. Even in regards to running. Until maybe a year and half ago, my own fears of how my body would respond to even a half marathon were very narrow. I wasn't paying close enough attention. It's liberating to admit that my mindset was the limiting factor in a long perceived threshold.
There have been heart related headlines that have apparently been found to plague runners, prompting the "how much is too much" debate in regards to running. Well shit, if "experts" claim running marathons are bad for you, then how isn't a 50 miler let alone a 100-200 mile race not considered a death sentence? While I won't dismiss the stories of aging and even young runners who have fallen victim to heart issues and even death while in the act of running, I will always follow it up with, yeah but.
While in the midst of Ron Burgundy venturing out with a Veronica Corningstone for a jog(pronounced with a silent J of course), the American culture of the 70s and 80s were late to an age old party. Humans were born to run. Our bone structure and muscles like the gluteus maximus enable humans to plant one foot in front of the next while staying upright. While I am no PHD, and speaking purely from an anecdotal perspective, the masses have complicated what should be an appreciated outlet for many more.
I have yet to run a full 26.2, realistically I believe I am about one year away from that endeavor. I once saw it impossible, and then with a few mental breakthroughs, the process of building that strength to hold up for that distance began to make sense.
Whether you're running 1 mile or 100 out on the trails, it's easy to see how that environment and scenery can prompt some wild spirits to tackle some pretty heroic distances. The variability in foot placement, the up and down of the trails and the natural terrain, in my opinion, provides the platform to build a pretty epic strength base. As a kid I ran wild through the woods in my hometown, up and down our trails and the freedom it now provides as an adult takes on a whole new meaning. A connection to the trails isn't about speed intervals, or pounding through repetitive road or track intervals. Your pace might drop a minute or two on some hilly, technical terrain, but I can promise your strength and appreciation for running will only be enhanced.
While I may never have elite road running speed, I possess strengths that make me a competitive trail runner though. I have yet to run an "ultra," but the experience looks tempting, similar to dreams of running the Boston Marathon. My 3 trail races (2 x 10k, 1 x HM) helped redefine what it is I am figuratively and literally chasing down when I lace em up.
When I watch the Olympic runners, I dream of spiking it up and running a fast mile again like my clueless and overly competitive 14 year old self. When I sign up for a road race, I like to pretend I am Ryan Hall chasing down records and showing that pale white guys can stunt too. When I tune into trail runners though, a primal (I hate that word, but for story sake) side of me is tapped into. A side of me that can only be defined as a spiritual connection of sorts while adventuring through nature's playgrounds.
I respect and cosign the Avery Collins approach (relatively speaking), finding the most challenging courses with varying terrain to see who comes out on top. That's what it's all about. Don't be afraid to redefine your threshold, often it's only you holding yourself back.
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