"Because It's There"

"If you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to live. That is what life means and what life is for.” 
― George Mallory, Climbing Everest: The Complete Writings of George Mallory

This Friday I will embark on my longest run yet. 62 miles through the desert just outside Zion National Park. If you are a weekend runner, half marathoner, even someone that has accomplished the rightfully glorified 26.2 mile distance, 62 miles may seem silly if not insane. Interestingly, a race of this distance isn't even close to what may 'legitimize' someone as an ultra-runner. Sure, any distance beyond 26.2 is considered Ultra, but I sense among the Ultra community that anything short of completing a 100 mile race doesn't quite measure up. Don't get me wrong. The Ultra community is inclusive, accepting and encouraging. If you complete a 50k, 50 miler, or 100k you will be cheered on and promptly patted on the back with a sincere 'job well done!' But there still seems to be something missing from the resume of us runners that have completed those 'shorter' distances without having sacrificed our body and mind to take on, and hopefully complete, the holy grail of Ultra distance running: 100 miles.

But why? Why a marathon? Why an Ultra? Why 100 miles or 200 miles? Why run across America, through deserts, over mountains? Indeed, why?

Many have tackled this question. If the whole notion of spending more than 3-5 hours running (in reality many trail ultra runners spend a lot of time power hiking...but I digress) seems foolish, crazy, or makes you question the mental and/or emotional well being of said participant, then my explanation may not at all resonate with you. Or maybe it will. Hear me out and then pass judgement.

First let me say I WILL complete a 100 mile race. Not this year. My racing schedule is full for the season with this upcoming 100k, a 28 miler, a 50 miler and a 26.2, all on trails. But the 100 will happen. Likely next year. But again, why?

Each person will give a different answer but many will land on a similar theme: To be a better person. If running a stupid-long time doesn't translate to becoming a better person in your mind I can't really blame you. But you'll find among ultra runners a pretty high (no pun intended) concentration of former drug addicts, alcoholics, depressed souls and anxiety ridden minds. We battle demons from many sources and to varying degrees. And in running we have found a way to prove to ourselves that we are better and stronger than our demons. We can choose a better way. There's a certain clarity that comes with pushing your body to do things that you never thought possible. But even more than pushing the body is harnessing the mind to do what most will never even contemplate. And when we can do that, when we can make ourselves go beyond our previously held mental and physical limits...Well, it means we can be better people. We can kick bad habits. We can be better husbands, wives, children and parents. No, no, no. Not we can. We will. Because the only ones that complete ultra races don't go in to the race with a 'can-do' attitude. We go in with a 'will-do' attitude. WE WILL DO THIS DAMMIT! And we will be better people for it.

George Mallory famously responded, when asked why men climb Mt Everest, "Because it's there." And while this terse response isn't inaccurate, he knew there was more to it. I have no doubt he had demons he was trying to conquer. His answer was Everest. Mine is found in distance on mountain trails. 62 miles this time. 100 miles down the trail.