Understand Why I Run

Before you even start reading this let me say that no, I do not plan to become an ultramarathoner.

Now, that being said, this is one of the most incredibly inspiring things I've ever seen in my life.  This guy runs ultramarathons to raise money to send fallen soldiers' kids to college.

No, I didn't know what an ultramarathon was either.  Turns out it's anything over 26.2 miles (that distance being a marathon).  Most of numbers I heard in the video were in the order of 100 to 150 miles.  And it's done as a "you have to make 150 miles within 24 hours" thing - at least they said that about one race.

As I watched this video I realized that much of what he said rang incredibly true to me.  It's like he has the perfect understanding of why I run.

"I like to see what I'm made of," he says.  Yeah, me too.  I like to set myself a specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-based goal and then see if I have the sheer grit to do whatever it takes to reach that goal.  Am I disciplined enough?  Am I driven enough?  Just exactly what can I make myself do when I have a reason to do it?

"If you can see yourself doing something you can do it.  If you can't see yourself doing it, usually you can't achieve it."  I remember my high school bandleader Mr. Mills taking us through a visualization exercise on the week before State competitions.  I've believed in the power of visualization ever since.  But to achieve something really difficult, it's not enough just to envision it.  You have to have the mental power to imagine it so strongly you can believe it and can actually see it in your mind.  Am I mentally disciplined enough to do that?  Do I have the strength of imagination to pull it off?

Yeah, when you quit you feel horrible.  When you quit on yourself you beat yourself.  Now I never did really see the sense in learning to be a good loser (sorry, Mom).  But I did understand enough to learn to hide it well enough to be socially acceptable, at least most of the time.  But deep inside it bugs me to no end to lose.  And to lose to myself?  That just tears me up.  It's one of the worst feelings I've ever had in my life.  But!  The flip side of that is when I win it is one of the absolutely most magnificent feelings I've ever had in my life.  When I reach a goal that I've set for myself I feel a soaring exhilaration like nothing else I've ever known.  Yes I was disciplined and driven enough to make my mind strong enough to order my body to do something and my body strong enough to comply.

"I'm never happy and satisified with one thing I do.  It's always gonna be a continuous journey."  Oh that's definitely me!  Now that I've reached the top of that mountain and proven myself able to overcome whatever obstacles got in the way, I find myself wondering what kind of obstacles are on that taller peak and can I overcome them too?  I know I can, but only if I have the courage to take on the mountain and the strength and stamina to give it my very utmost.  I can do anything I set my mind to!

So please watch this video if want to at least begin to understand why I run.  Or ..... you know, you could come running with me?  Don't worry, I'm not training for an ultramarathon.

I can't see that mountain at all.

Yet.