You’re Crazy
You’re Crazy

“You’re crazy!”– If I had a dollar for every time I heard this phrase, I’d be rich. As an ultra runner, these two words have the ability to hit me in many different ways, depending on the source and the perceived intentions behind them.

Usually, I just roll my eyes or laugh it off because the person saying it probably doesn’t understand why I run like I do. There have been times I’ve heard this and I’ve gotten a little miffed. Why is my running considered crazy? Is it because 10 miles is an “easy” run? Or is it because I do back to back long runs on the weekends? Well, that’s how you train for an ultra marathon.  More often than not, I actually take it as a compliment. Calling me crazy just means that I am probably doing something they can’t fathom and I should be proud of that. Endurance running is an animal all its own. Trails and ultra running takes a lot of physical and mental toughness; and truthfully, unless you have done it, it is very hard to understand.

Let’s be honest. training for an ultra marathon (typically a distance of 50k and above) is no small feat. It takes months of consistency and dedication. You continue to push past exhaustion for many miles, and many hours on your feet. It’s not for everyone, but those that train for these long distances are probably feeling the same way I do.

What if it’s these long distances and the exhaustion afterwards that I find satisfying? I love having a challenge to take on and I have this insatiable hunger for adventure. Ultra running allows me to combine those two. Maybe running trails and exploring mountains for hours on end is crazy, but how else would I satiate my appetite? I feed that crazy part of me because I find satisfaction is the hard work, sweat, and dirt that comes with it. There is a concept called “Feed Your Crazy”. Created by Bard and Ricki Parnell, the basic idea is that we as athletes challenge ourselves to train hard to find that satisfaction through physically exhausting ourselves. As quoted from their website “If it’s crazy to train hard, if it’s crazy to push limits, then maybe the world needs a bit more crazy.”

It doesn’t have to ultra running. Maybe its 10k’s or half marathons. Everyone takes on different challenges. But, if you love to test your limits and get fulfillment from accomplishing a tough training run or race, then maybe you are also feeding your crazy. Just wait, if you haven’t heard it already, you will someday.

Happy Trails!

 

 
 
Seen a lot of slim chicks posting their

workouts on here so I thought I'd join 

the fun
Warning : I will bully every one of you

into daily stretches, plyo drills, crazy 

intervals, lifting heavy weights and 

epic long runs
104 °F.....  As my Grandma says, 

"Marathon training ain't for p*ssies."



Crazy old lady is right.

New Featured eBibs

You know you're a runner when..... You HATE when training runs don't end EXACTLY on a whole number.. But for some reason, you have NO PROBLEM with the  numbers13.1 and 26.2
"Is he Ok?" "I'm not sure... but he keeps asking me to pause his Garmin."
A good run is a lot like a strong cup of coffee. It energizes you, revitalizes you.. And kinda makes you wanna poop.
Raise your hand if you ran a little  harder today because you were thinking about everything you ate over the weekend.
One day, my fridge will take revenge  on me. Every half hour it will go  to a room, open my door,  stare at me for 3 minutes,  then it will leave...
Can you come pick me up? Where am I? Well I was on a runner's high and  I think I am in Ohio.
I plan on having such an  awesome run, Morgan  Freeman should  narrate it.
Me at night: I'm getting up at 6am  to run. Me next morning: maybe I'll  just do a few sit-ups and call it a day.
I wish running felt great during and  terrible after instead of the reverse, because I seem to be better about  doing things in vodka order.
I'm sorry if I don't wave or smile back at you while I'm running. It's just that I'm trying very hard to not die.
Tomorrow I'm definitely going to start running, no matter how many days it takes
Don't cry because it's over,  cry because you forgot  Body Glide and it's time  to take a shower.
I'm thinking of running a marathon.  Well, I'm thinking of TRAINING for  a marathon. Okay, I just want to carboload.
Woke up in running clothes. I really  admire drunk me and her ambitions.
Running is the only time my mind  is quiet. Probably because I'm  focusing on not falling down.
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