Running is About Much More than Fitness

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference. 

Robert Frost 

We all come to a fork in the road in our life’s journey. Actually, life’s journey is probably a series of forks from which to choose. I can distinctly remember the moment I decided to start running and getting into shape. I had come out of an all-Saturday morning meeting on a cold and wet November morning. When I got out of the conference center the cold light rain hit my face and I felt the cold immediately and was uncomfortable. I thought of my younger brothers who were doing the Tough Mudder. I was thinking they must be very cold and wet right now. The next weekend when they regaled us with the difficulty they had with the cold weather and swimming in frigid water as well as being covered from head to toe in mud. I was jealous. I wanted that same challenge! I wanted to be as miserable as they were! 

It was then that I chose which path I would take and that would be running to get in shape. I am not sure which great American philosopher I was following Robert Frost or maybe it was Yogi Berra who once said “When you come to a fork in the road take it.”. Yet I not only walked down the path I ran down it. I knew where it would lead. It would lead to being in better shape and much healthier than I was.  Maybe even a better quality of life in terms of being able to do more things physically despite the aging process. Yes it was Robert Frost I was following because not many people go into obstacle races, trail races and eventually ultra-marathons after the age of fifty. 

A funny thing happened after I went full speed into obstacle races, trail races, or any other race I could find. Yes, as expected my fitness improved and I was able to quickly increase the distances and difficulty of my runs. Yet what I didn’t expect or even think of, was that I found a community. A running community. Every race was a collection of friends who I hadn’t met yet. I began to see the same faces at races. The ultra and trail running community is a rather small community. So, we end up signing up for some of the same races. You begin to know the race directors as well since this is such a niche sport. 

I know that I am bias, but frankly it is one of the best communities I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of.  It is a community that is built on being supportive. Especially in the trail and ultra running community. I do not know anyone’s religious or political beliefs or their economic status. I can certainly guess but it really has no bearing on our relationship. We come together to push each other and challenge ourselves. 

These friendships form quickly. After running one ultra with someone you seem to be connected for life. Even if you never see them ever again you feel a connection with someone you may have run with. For example, when I did a 50k in Utah I ran the last ten miles or so with a man called Fletch and we were determined to finish together despite his legs seizing up. Another time on a trail half marathon a woman ran behind me for almost the entire race. At the end another woman runner passed me who I thought was her. However, it wasn’t. When I finished twenty yards ahead of her I turned around to greet her and congratulate her. She joked “You thought that was me passing you after trailing for eleven miles didn’t you?”  We hugged and laughed. 

With the advent of social media, we can cheer each other on, from afar. I believe it has enhanced the closeness of the community because we stay in contact with each other sharing race adventures. I may only see someone once or twice a year but I am not out of touch with their life. In fact, I have a few running friends that I correspond with that I have never met in person. Two people, in particular Richard and Cynthia I met when we were the most frequent posters on running website. When the running sight went down, we continued our conversations via email. I believe that we help motivate and inspire each other. While I have never met them, we are definitely friends. 

While most of these people I would not know if I had not taken up running, Some people in my neighborhood community and work life I would have met, Yet sharing our running interest has deepened and enhanced our relationships. 

On maybe my most epic adventure of running, almost two hundred miles from the top of New Jersey to the bottom I did it with some people I barely knew. Yet by the end of the run Ian, Robb, Anthony, Dave, and I were very close. We had worked together to accomplish what seemed like a near impossible goal. We formed a bond through being supportive and encouraging to each other. When you accomplish something as a team you are bonded for life. 

To me the essence of friendship you get from finishing something together helps explain the closeness of the running community. It is like my New Jersey run. Everyone pushing themselves to do their best and we are not only focused on our race but being supportive of other runners. This support is not faked, it is real. Which is why the finish line is so important. It is the goal for everyone. It may be even more important to the last place finisher because it was more difficult. Yet it is a place to share camaraderie. So much so that many races have some type of celebration at the end as well as give out finisher medals. We all wear our medals with pride, and they all are exactly the same because we are one community.

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were sitting in our living room after dinner talking when our cell phones started dinging. It was two of my running communities group chats starting up. My wife who does not run, has however gotten to know many of my running friends and is on one group chat and follows many others on Facebook. She looked at me and said “It is amazing the friends and relationships we have now.” It is people we would not have known if I had not taken up running. They have all enriched my life greatly and I thank them all. 

Robert Frost was right. I took the road less traveled “And that has made all the difference”.

 

Ultra Races Finding Supportive People in an Unsupportive World

I was once again finishing another of my 3.25 mile trail loop runs on my 24 Hour Endurance Ultra when Elise was finishing her last loop and calling it a day.  She had achieved her goal and had other brutal races coming up so she was saving her body for them. A smart move.  As I continued on she yelled out to Lou the race director “Ray is crushing this course!”  Lou responded “Keep going Ray!” I smiled and made a wise remark that I can’t remember. If a total stranger had observed our banter, they would have assumed that we were three old friends meeting up for our one, of many races. They would be wrong.  I knew Elise less than 24 hours and this was the second time that I had met Lou. 

That is the magic of running races particularly ultra-trail races. It is a place in which trust, support, and friendships are built almost instantaneously.  A place in which everyone is striving to improve and push themselves. A place in which you feel pain, misery, happiness, and pride all at the same time. A place in which everyone is cheering and supportive of each other. A place that stands out in this ever increasingly divided and politically polarized world. Because it is a place of solidarity and unity.

An ultra-trail race may be the most egalitarian place I know.  You are judged in very simple terms. By your running ability and your positive attitude.  All the runners know the elite runners and marvel at their ability to run not just extremely long distances but at a fast pace.  Yet even us mediocre runners get praise because we are pushing our bodies and our minds to it limits and everyone knows it. It is an unwritten rule as well, that everyone is encouraging to each other. As I run and an elite runner is either lapping me or on their way back from a loop that I am just starting, they almost always say “looking strong” to me even though I am racing like a Kia to their Jaguar. Cheerfulness is always valued as we all push ourselves.

The other thing that is amazing is that I have no idea of anyone’s socio-economic status as we run.  Our running gear camouflages our social status.  I don’t know if someone is a wealthy doctor, lawyer or someone who struggling to make their rent payment. It is so nice that people are not judged by where they live or how much money they make but on their ability and their friendly personality.

I can’t think of a truer reflection of the American ethos than the ultra-race scene.  You are strictly judged on your ability, your effort, and your positive attitude towards others. That’s it. Not on who you vote for. Not how wealthy you are. Not on your race or religion. It is truly a community and that includes the race directors and the volunteers.

Okay I will admit that most of us are a little quirky and our family and friends will attest to that.  After all who else but a slightly quirky person pays to run for 24 hours?

(A shared fire at a race)

On most of my ultra-trail races I have made not only friends but having a shared experience of getting through a struggle with someone. In my first ultra a 50 mile run two woman Denise and Jen joined me and we survived the ordeal together. In a 50k my new friend Fletch and I made it to the end despite his muscles seizing up. In another 50k Scott and I battled for a mile or two bringing out the best in each other. In my 100 mile run Ilene moved on her crutches inspiring me to push myself while Celeste persevered through digestive issues to finish with a personal long.  Besides Elise on this 24 Hour Race Felipe and Dave were two runners who I saw often and we all pushed each other.  All these people and more, inspired me to push on and I hope that in some way I returned that favor.

Elise and I ran only one of our loops together and as we chatted, she told me why she ran ultras and asked why I did.  I mentioned how I love to push myself to its limits and how great it feels to finish one.  How when you finish one you feel that you can do anything. Yet I knew my answers were missing something.

I don’t know if Elise will read this but now I know the rest of the answer. I forgot to tell her that I love the people at an ultra-trail race.  I love meeting people like her and all the others I mentioned, plus many others. It is inspiring to be around people pushing themselves to their limits.  Okay maybe we are a little quirky but that endears them even more to me. I know that this sounds corny but I know that on some of these races when things got very difficult I know that if something bad happened I could truly count on my running colleagues (That once again includes the race directors and race volunteers.) to keep me going.

Now I know that this sounds even cornier but to me it is truly an honor to run an ultra with these other runners.  They are people who are giving it their all even if they fall short, people who are nonjudgmental, people who are tough, and people who are inspiring. I am truly a better person for having met all these people.

When I got back from my race and told my wife about my experiences. She said it sounds like you enjoyed my time with “your people”.  Yes that is one more reason I do trail races, to be with “my people”. My wife meant it more to make fun of me and all the other quirky runners. Yet to me it is a badge of honor to be with these quirky people. Because in a world where everyone seems ready to pounce on you for anything it is good to go to a place where everyone is ready to pounce on you with a smile and positive support. They are my kind of people.