There's no more putting it off now. No more "Maybe next year". No more "I'm not sure I want to do this". No more "I'm not ready". Today is the day to "shit or get off the pot" as they say. Today I started training for a distance that I've never gone before. After 12 years of training and running distance races I must admit that the various unknown aspects of this event scare the hell out of me. So many questions, so many new things to figure out, so many what if's. But then again, that's one of the more exciting reasons of why to do it in the first place.
Waking up this morning I could tell that it was going to be a special day. I know people who aren't distance runners won't see why a day like today would be special. But, for runners like us it's a chance to go beyond our perceived limits and see what we're truly made of. I don't need to prove myself to anybody other than myself. I think that's why distance running appeals so much to me. I'd love to win my first ultra-marathon. But, I'd love to prove I could go the distance more. There's something magical about being better than you were the day, month, year before. Even small victories of tenths of a mile and seconds are celebrated. What's life for other than to become the best that you could possibly be? A long time ago I decided that I didn't want to exist. I wanted to live and endurance events like this give me that alive feeling. Who'd of thought beating up on yourself could be so rewarding?
Today's run went amazingly well considering that I stayed up way too late eating and drinking things that I know aren't good for me. Even though I'm new to ultra-running, I'm a veteran when it comes to training for distance events. There's a lot of planning that goes into training for 16 weeks. You need to eat right, get good sleep and do the work. Throw in the additional time it takes to do all of those things, a full-time career and family and you've got quite a handful to juggle. So, for the last four days I've had my fun. Now, the real work begins. It felt damn good to have a goal again. The mini taper I put myself through rewarded me with a good kick in my legs and very little hip and hamstring tightness. The energy in the air was palatable as I knocked out exactly seven miles in an hour. Had a lot of fun playing with the new camera. But, that talking thing when your running is tough! I give mad props to you podcasters who do that on a regular basis!
Over then next 16 weeks I'm going to try to give you my thoughts and show you my experiences as I travel down this unfamiliar road. I'm not sure where it's going to lead, how I'm going to get there and what it's going to be like when I arrive. Hopefully it'll be one of the best experiences of my life. I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to ultra-marathons. But, that isn't going to stop me from giving it my best shot and have a hell of a time doing it. Don't be afraid of the unknown. Believe in yourself. Believe that you have what you need inside of you to get through the challenges placed before you. You wield an amazing amount of power in your life. Everybody tries to muddle up what life's really about. You need to act this way, do these things and get these results. But, it's much less complicated than that. All you need to do is close your eyes, breathe and take the first step. Let me know if I can help.
Ride that lightning my friends...
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