Since beginning ultras I've been naturally reserved about running too much too young. I don't want to get hurt and so many people say that running too much can injure young bodies for the long term. In light of that I have been extremely careful never to overtrain and especially never to run while injured. With this mentality I've been able to maintain a high level of fitness for a long period of time with virtually no problems. This success with my training has steadily built up my confidence until after White River, when I came to terms with the fact that I now know how to run 50 miles fast. That's not to say that I'm bored with the distance or that I have run my best and won't ever improve, but I can safely say that 50 miles is nothing new for me. So when the idea of actually doing 100 miles became a consideration and then a question and now a reality I naturally became intrigued with the new adventure. This is why I do this sport! For the unknown and the excitement and the challenge of something I've never done before! Something really hard whose quest and completion will fulfill my sense of adventure and make me content with my life.
A Bear. Not the Bear, but equally tough I'm sureI've paced at enough 100's to know that it's much more than just two 50 mile races. The real challenge starts after the first half, and that's going to be a new experience for me - one that I've been dying to have since I ran my first 50K in 2008. 100 miles doesn't scare me, but I certainly have a huge respect for the distance. So I'm going to start slow and forget about the competition. Maybe after 75 miles I'll speed up a little if I feel good. But this is not a competitive race for me. This is a chance to go try something new with a lot of like-minded people. This will be a good weekend for everyone. I'll see you on the other side.
Good luck!!!
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