07/08/2022
Why run an Ultramarathon?
Everytime someone learns that I'm going to run 90 km in one go, they question my sanity. Which is fair, my longer runs are 30 km and if I feel sore and tired after running 30 km. How the hell will my mind and body cope with the remaining 60 km?
My sanity aside, there are some excellent reasons for running an Ultramarathon or any other physical challenge for that matter.
Learning about yourself. When you take on a new challenge there's going to be plenty of opportunities for self discovery. How do you respond when it gets tough? Do you give up or keep fighting despite the discomfort and uncertainty? I have learned so much about myself during the hours of solitude and pain that comes with training for races. It's liberating and has allowed me to be myself, I have dropped relationships and habits that no longer resonated with me and my goals.
Clarity, peace, serenity (I'm confident Fergie is a runner).
It's amazing how movement affects our mind. Whenever I have a long day, I'm overly emotional, problems seem infinite and hopeless. I go for a run or hit the weights. Sometimes the cure is blasting heavy metal and deadlift until the room starts spinning. Other days a light run in nature does the trick. Afterwards it feels like the weight of the world left my shoulders.
The kindness and support in this community. People that challenge and take care of themselves are generally happy and supportive people. I have made so many friends from doing triathlons and striking up conversations in the gym. Some of my favorite moments are when me and my father trained for Ironman Copenhagen. Our longest training session was around 9 hours. We didn't say much but I never felt closer to him and I’ll remember those moments for the rest of my life.
Running an Ultra or doing an Ironman can seem like a daunting or even impossible task. However if you break it down and start taking small steps you'll be amazed by what you can achieve in a few years. I never thought I'd ever complete an Ironman or sign up for an Ultra. But here I am ~2 weeks from Ultravasan.
I have taken the first steps of my journey, will you join me?
