Running is Dangerous. I don't know about other people but when I run I am never more vunerable then when I am in the middle of a nice long run. Something happens in the middle of a run that makes you think you can do anything. And I for one hate to argue with myself so I usually just nod my head until I get home. That is when running is it's most lethat, when I get home and get on the computer. That is one google starts to work overtime and I start typing in searches such as ultras in Spring, marathons in New england, double ironmans and even once typed in grand slam of ultras. For those that are not up on ultra running the grand slam is four 100 mile races in eleven weeks. Do I think I can do it? sure. Would I do it if I got into the western states lottery(this is a lottery only race)? You bet you I would.
So all this leads back to the fact that, for me and maybe some of you my craziest ideas come to me when I run long. There is just something about being out there for a couple hours that makes you think you can do anything. There is nothing wrong with dreaming big, especially when sometimes they stay just that, dreams. However sometimes you just got to google that dream and make it happen. This is how I found Ironman and every other ultra marathon (3 and counting) I have done. It all started for me by picking up a copy of Competitor magazine and seeing a off road duathlon (run, bike, run) that was 8 weeks away. I was about a month removed from my mixed martial arts debut for which I had trained 3 years for. I went the distance and lost a decision, but I learned far more in that octagon than any school book could teach you. I learned that I was capable of anything. This information in the wrong hands can be deadly. I am the wrong hands.
After completing that first duathlon I jumped on google and decided to ratchet up the training. I did a sprint triathlon, I trained all summer and did an Olympic triathlon, and then I followed that up with 3 half ironmans the following year. Then I signed up for Ironman, and not once did I think I would fail at any of these events. I am not afraid to fail and in fact I a constantly looking for an event that will kick my ass, throw dirt on me and leave me in a heap on the ground not wanting to go any further. I suspect that day will come when I do a 100 mile run or a ultra Iron race. This is what makes me tick. Constantly pushing myself to see what I am made of. I know that failure is possible at anything I set out to do but I feel with the proper training and the right mind set I can do anything I set out to do.
My very first half Ironman race was Rev3 Quassy in CT and it has been called by the best triathletes in the world one of the hardest 70.3 courses in the world. That race without a doubt kicked me square in the face. I physically could not run from miles 2 to 4 and then again from 6 to 8. I loved it. As I ran by Amy at mile 10 I shouted over to her that I had been humbled. Finally a race had given me something that forced me to dig deep and show me that it aint all rainbows and unicorns. I live for challenges like this and for me all these ideas come to me when I run long.
So with every run comes a new, crazier idea and I am sure Amy will tell you that she has learned to tune more than half of them out. She knows by now that when we talk about things like a 100 miler over lunch that she doesn't need to worry. However when it comes up at dinner she knows that it is go time and I am just working out the details in my head. So really I have two options, stop running long or disable google. Neither of these options are very reasonable so for now I will just acknowledge that running is dangerous.
