You know you got this. You make predictions on finishing times and on minutes per mile. Your excitement abounds and there is no ceiling on the possibilities. You have done the training and are feeling good. You are truly ready in your own mind. You area about to embark on the longest run ever and unlike many people, you represent the very small minority who actually have the guts to walk onto the starting line of a 50 mile race. You are excited. 3,2,1…GO and you start your running adventure.
So why do you do it? Why suffer the intimidating odds? Why put yourself thru the pain of running farther than most people drive in a day. Here is why. If you look deep inside, you will admit that ultra running is a personal development journey. You are an ultra runner for the same reason some climb the highest mountains -- not for the view, but because it is a test of who you are and whom you can become day in and day out.
This past weekend, I had the honor to pace a friend thru his first 50-mile race. The pacer does not run the entire race, the pacer starts fresh when the runner is already tired and sometimes already having a hard time. In my case, I met Sean at mile 27, and I was to deliver him to mile 44 of a very challenging course. As a pacer it is my job to make sure Sean does the things he is supposed to do in order to finish the race, like eat, drink, and not get lost.
It is amazing to reach the point of complete physical exhaustion and pain, a point where you think you definitely cannot continue, but somehow you carry on. Having a pacer will likely increase the probabilities that you will not give up. I have seen many strong runners give up when they had resources left, but simply lost the will to keep moving, and that is when a pacer is crucial.
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We always talk about learning and taking advantage of experienced mentors and friends that can help us thru our lives,We have said that we should not do life alone. We should always find a mentor, someone that has already solved our problem. But there is another side of the coin. We all are in a position to help others go thru their challenges. We can help someone, we might already have the solution or the experience to help others. Here are two things you probably need to consider. When you give, you are likely to get back! People will notice that you are generous. As a result, they’ll probably be generous as well. And, when you help others, you help yourself! Doing good things for others boosts your self-respect and makes you feel the satisfaction that comes from giving.
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Skilfully edited by Lloyd Capistrano
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