19/04/2026
Running as catharsis
Running is irrational. If you’re a runner—especially a marathoner or ultrarunner—you’ve heard the question: why? And how often can you answer it rationally?
Maybe that’s the point. It is irrational.
Humans are often irrational. Predictable, perhaps—but that’s not the same thing. Our patterns of behaviour can be deeply unreasonable. Take drinking: we have one too many, suffer through the hangover, swear never again… and by the next Friday, we’re right back where we started.
So why am I thinking about this now?
A fellow runner recently told me about her latest trail race. At every aid station, her partner—new to this world—was met with distress. She was upset, visibly struggling. Naturally, he asked if she should stop.
“No,” she said. “I’ll see you at the next stop.”
And off she went, wiping away tears as she headed back into pure Misery and Hell.
You can imagine the confusion that her poor partner would have felt as he's left questioning, "what the f**k is actually happening here? We could be enjoying a lovely holiday in a beautiful location." When she finally crosses the finish line, the finisher's momento in hand, and a sense of accomplishment in her heart, it finally does make sense.
Perhaps trail and ultra running is about stripping back the layers. Confronting your deepest fears. It permits you to be irrational in the best way. Where else do you have time with yourself and really feel? Where else are your emotions stripped back without the filter of daily norms and societial reserves? Where else can you cry uncontrollably whilst taking in the scenery, ignoring the blisters and chafing, and yet still achieve something incredible? No wonder the finish line is vital, no matter how difficult the journey.
So next time someone asks why, you can simply answer:
Because I’m irrational.
