A Few Thoughts On my First 24 Hour Event

Just a little over a week away from my first 24 hour race - I'm very excited about - perhaps more so than any ultra I've run to date. The mental challenge of running over a set course is part of it, although it is a 1 mile loop through a scenic state park - many 24 hour races are held on a traditional quarter mile track - now that takes a very strong mental constitution. Another factor - and this may be the largest part - is the freedom within the structure provided. It's entirely up to the runner what mileage they fill that time frame with - from 1 mile to 100+. Of course I wish for many miles - my main goal is to reach a distance PR (63+) and this should be doable simply by staying on the course for the entire 24 hours. Anything over 70 and I will be satisfied, 80+ and I will be thrilled. Anything above that I don't think my brain has processed yet. Simply running until I am out of time is a worthy goal. Running happy - of course - trumps all else.

Peace,
Eric

Ultra Running and Detachment

Detachment plays a vital role in ultra running - yes we need the desire and drive to train for events, to push through the hard times and continue going - yet without detachment we become too caught up in what each moment offers and lose sight that no moment (or what's contained within the moment) will last. Detachment offers freedom. Our desires remain intact but we have the freedom to maneuver around them instead of being manipulated by them. Placing demands on the body during a race becomes an ego game and will often leave us burned out and unable to finish a given race. A preference however means that while we are still driven towards a particular outcome - we are no longer attached to it's achievement. Detachment means that we are aligned with present circumstances and our surroundings - there is no wasted energy on placing demands on things beyond our control. To stay in alignment we allow ourselves the emotional space to shift when needed, to make necessary changes when we must and stay in motion when we are able. In Ultra running this means forward progress.

Any Low Mileage Ultrarunners Out There?

I love to run - obviously - but not so obvious is how that fits into my thoughts right now on reducing training mileage in the near future. I have never worked up to terribly high mileage - I think peaking at around 90 miles while training for the C&O 100 - and usually while training for a race I seldom go past 80 miles. Right now I'm thinking of a more flexible approach where the mileage would vary yet top out for training in the low 60s to mid 50s. I'm looking for strength in my training and longevity - even though I felt fine hitting 90 miles in a week - I knew it wasn't sustainable and that a long recovery would follow. My plan is to race often - from 5k to 50 miles and use the racing to push for bigger mileage races - ultimately at least two 100 milers this year. Maybe more. It's been done and it's being done - I'm interested in learning more. If anyone would like to share their stories on low mileage training and frequent racing please do. Thanks!

Peace,
Eric

Running With Forgiveness

Forgiveness and running - a stream of becoming. With forgiveness comes rebirth and we no longer run with the previous mind or body. Aches and pains may still exist - yet we no longer run with them as obstacles to be overcome but opportunities to learn about our body and how we respond to what limits we may be faced with. Forgiveness brings freedom. No run is judged by performance - ego aside - we run in a holy space free of attachments to all of what we may have ever wished for from our running. Running simply is - forgiveness erases the concept of past so every moment given to motion we are reborn to run in original innocence. There is an art to forgiveness and running becomes a vehicle of it's expression. We run to become artist - the road and trail our canvass.

Peace,
Eric

Bliss

Bliss - happiness beyond apparent reason. We are divinely aware of God's presence in this state, we experience a kinship with all life. This is a moment expressed in deep meditation. It's what I aspire towards and ironically it is only available when we surrender goals, agendas, and aspirations. It's beyond all these things - it a of grace and inspiration. A paradox - if we don't attempt to find bliss it remains far and if we do strive for blissful states we drive it further from our reach. And as in all paradoxes the answer lies in a willing surrender to something greater than ourselves - and in this state - we find bliss.

Peace,
Eric

Nothing Seems The Same

There was a moment when
You whispered –
"Turn to me"
I turned…and now nothing seems
The same.

The world turned with me.

 

 

`

 

We will be called upon. God, the Universe, the Tao....something will whisper in our ear or tap us on the shoulder and tell us - "it's time." And from this moment on nothing will be the same and yet still - things will be no different. Except our smile will hold a mystery.

 

 

Peace,

Eric



Least Effort

My meditation flows best when I cease to struggle, relax and simply listen to the mantra playing through my mind. When thoughts distract - repeat above instructions. Running is most enjoyable when I quit struggling with expectations of time and distance. When I run - simply run - I run my best. There is a theme here - the law of least effort.

Peace,
Eric