You have to be "Special" to want to be an ultra runner...and I’m not talking about special ability, I'm not fast for example...nor am I even very good at running extreme distances, you just have to have the want to finish and a adventurous sprit... that, I can manage.
My (running) story began in 98' when I began running professionally, well maybe not professionally, but I was paid to do it by the Marine Corps. Every day in the Marines starts with a couple of miles on the trails, and after a few years I was hooked. I let my running slip a little when I left the military to focus on raising my kids and it wasn’t until about two years ago that I decided to have another look at my cobweb covered sneakers sitting in my garage.
Slowly I lost the sedentary me and started to hit the roads, my first 4 mile run felt like I’d been stabbed in the guts. I checked my ribs to make sure I hadn't been shot by gang crossfire or something, no I looked okay, so I plodded onward and arrived home an hour later, dying of thirst and swearing I’d never leave my couch again. But then "it" happened. I started to realize that I felt great. The bug had bitten me and I was again "a runner"
That was two years and several hundred miles ago, now 4 miles is where I start to warm up, roads have given way to hills and trails, fancy shoes have given way to minimalist trail shoes, and 12k fun runs have given way to ultra distance races.
Luckily there is a very small but dedicated group of local runners here, and with them and their encouragement I’ll be in it for the long run!
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