So today I thought I’d chat about something near and dear to my heart. The 100 mile distance! It’s definitely not an easy feat but I thought I’d share some reasons why you should (and shouldn’t) run a distance of this magnitude. Just some things to think about if you are thinking about hitting that registration button!
You can check out my 100 mile ultra experience here and here.
–Do it for you and only you. I definitely think running this distance is not for the faint of heart. You have to go into a race like this knowing without a shadow of a doubt that you WANT to finish. Sure, it’s not going to be easy. But mentally, you have to just be ALL IN. You can train your ass off but frankly if it’s something you are not sure you want to do, it’s not going to happen for you. There are no bones about that. Be confident in your abilities and know that you are capable of making it to that finish line.
–DON’T do it for social media or for bragging rights. Because let’s be honest, most people on social media do not even really understand why someone in their right mind would even want to accomplish such a feat. It takes a special kind of crazy to run an ultra, specifically a hundo. Hey, if you are looking for likes on instagram, just go run a marathon. You will probably get more likes doing that anyway. 100 miles is not about bragging rights. It’s about proving to YOURSELF that you can push past those limits and achieve something incredible. It’s an accomplishment that no one can take away from you.
–Do it to immerse yourself into nature. If you are a true nature lover like myself you can totally geek out on God’s great masterpiece. You will see the sunrise, sunset, trees and if you’re lucky maybe even some wildlife. It’s freaking amazing and makes me want to sign up for another one just to go explore some more incredible parts of the world.
–Don’t do it to compare yourself with your fellow runners. It should always be you vs. you when it comes to running and racing. Because at the end of the day, there will always be someone faster or who can go longer than you. Sizing up yourself against others will get you nowhere. Be proud of every milestone that you make and keep moving forward.
–Do it for the experience that you will truly remember for the rest of your life. When I signed up to run the 100 miler, I truly had no idea the impact it would make on my life. It’s truly like living a lifetime in a day. More than 24 hours of being out on a trail will really change you from the inside on out. It brought out emotions and feelings in me that I did not know I had. I made best friends with total strangers and remember so many amazing people who made my experience worthwhile. All of that is what makes this distance so special.
What are some reasons why you would sign up for a 100 mile race or an ultra?
thedancingrunner 
LOL. I have no reasons to run a 100 miles right now. Ask me in a few years. I might have changed my tune after putting a few marathons under my belt. 🙂
That’s wonderful too!! Keep on keepin’ on!
I think you must be in a very special league to be able, physically and mentally, to achieve this. It’s such an incredible achievement. I think you deserve bragging rights of some kind!
Well hey, maybe a little! 🙂