"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.

I'm a Puddle Jumper

"Whether the weather is fine, or whether the weather is not; whether the weather is cold, or whether the weather is hot; we'll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not!" - Unknown

I grew up with a kid that only knew one way in life: skis pointed downhill, full-speed, no fear, no cares, no worries...lots of accidents. 
I, on the other hand, didn't have a broken bone as a child. Not one self-induced stitch. No ambulance rides, no emergency room visits. The only trips to Insta-Care were for the occasional flu bug. That doesn't mean I didn't have fun or experience life. Far from it. 

My dad was an adventurer and that means I joined him for many a crazy adventure. We dog sledded, slept in snow caves, climbed snow-capped peaks, ventured hundreds of feet vertically deep into caves, kayaked rivers, backpacked hundreds of miles... Yet through it all, although we faced the occasional hypothermia scare, lost trails and more than one hair raising experience, I didn't get injured enough to have a physical scar to share as a memoir. 

It's because I'm a puddle jumper. 

This realization came to me  years ago but was reinforced as I was out on a last minute trail run yesterday. Tuesday is not a running day for me. But it had snowed overnight and through the morning so there was a fresh coating of snow on the trails above my house. And I learned last year that I absolutely LOVE running on snow packed trails. It's soft yet fast, quiet and utterly gorgeous. Unfortunately, while the east coast has been clobbered by heavy snows, we here in northern Utah (the Best Snow on Earth) have been largely missed. Which means I have had only a few opportunities to run on snowy trails. This means I made time to hit the trails yesterday evening if only for 3 miles so as to not miss out on what may be the last snow run of the season. 

As I cruised down the trail in childlike delight it occurred to me that I didn't splash through the remnants of the melting snow. I didn't tiptoe around them either. Instead, I jumped over them. My feet still got a little wet here and there but not blister inducing, frozen feet sopping wet. Sure, it was for only 3 miles. But whether 3 miles or 30 miles, why suffer unnecessarily? If I can jump over the puddle why would I run through the puddle? 

And this, I reason, is why I have remained largely unscathed (physically. Emotionally is another blog for another day) through my many life adventures. I try to reason out the best course before leaping. I count costs. Some call this boring. I call it smart. After all, while a night spent in the emergency room may be a neat story, a broken bone would sideline me from more adventures. I'd rather jump the puddle. 

Are you a puddle jumper?

So, What's This All About?

I had a friend and client once tell me I'd be a lot faster if I stopped taking pictures and just focused on running. That recommendation came with the assumption that I cared to be fast. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be slow. I work very hard to be a better trail runner and one way I do that is to train for greater speed. But I would never run faster at the expense of missing the glorious surroundings that the trails above Ogden Utah have to offer. And capturing this beauty and sharing it with others makes the run all the more enjoyable and fulfilling.

So, one thing you'll be seeing on my blog are pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. I hope you enjoy. All are taken by me with my iPhone. (For a full gallery please follow me on www.instagram.com/justin_runs_ogden)

But beyond pictures of my runs I'll also be sharing reviews of products I actually have used extensively. Not just tried for a run or two. For instance, I've battled digestive issues while running for years. But I found a fuel that not only gives me consistent energy but never, and I mean NEVER upsets my stomach during a long run. I'm going to tell you about that product. Or what about shoes? Hydration packs? Gloves? Shorts? I use them and I have opinions. Maybe you'll find my impressions useful. 

And since I'm a Ogden native and spend a number of hours a week running our amazing network of trails (primarily on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail network) I'll be able to provide timely and useful trail reports. This will include various recommended routes for running, hiking and mountain biking, trail conditions, and more. If you're looking to get into trail running and you live in the area you couldn't ask for better trails to get started on. We have everything from very steep to flat, technical to clean single track, narrow trails to wide dirt roads. And all just a few minutes from downtown Ogden, the best small town in the west.

I'll also be sharing useful health and fitness tips and advice, race reports, more pictures and whatever else may help my readers. Your input will be invaluable so please feel free to share your thoughts. 

So, here goes...