December 31, 2013

What I Learned About Ultra Running in 2013


Pacing my friend Larry R to an AC 100 finish
Giving Back 

Once I was on a run with a couple and we were talking about church. I’m not sure how it came up, but they mentioned that running was their church. Really?, I said to myself. Isn’t church about giving back? What have we runners become? Then I started running ultras. And before long I volunteered at the finish line of a race. Then I spent a weekend doing trail work, and then I paced a fellow runner through a 100 mile race. It’s not a lot, but it's something. Something that, when I look back, I’m just as pleased with as I am with finishing my own races. Unlike running 5ks or marathons, or doing triathlons or riding criterions, ultra running asks for something more. It asks you to give back. And this, I’ve come to learn this year, is what I like most about our sport.



No Comment

E=FP Squared.

This one is still work in progress, but I felt it worthy of mention because I believe it’s had a big impact on my running the last few years. It’s taken me until now to realize, through my own experience running 100 mile races, that the equation is real and not just my imagination. What is it? “It” is not meant to be a scientific formula, but rather a kind of ultra aphorism. To break it down “E” is for energy, while “F” is for fat and “P” is for Protein. Which means, of course, that when it comes to running long, and I mean really long--like 100 miles--that there is no substitute for fat and protein to produce energy in the human body.

Of course there is much to write about on this. There is the scientific perspective, which I will spare you here but will address more so in the weeks to come as I begin to explore the OFM (optimal fat metabolism) diet with my training in the coming season.  To summarize this point, if you are still sucking down gels and carbs by the mouthful to get through your racing and training, you are not only polluting your body, you’re blocking it from tapping into its own natural, deep and efficient energy stores.

In the End, It’s the Journey that Matters.

Relaxing atop Mt. San Gorgonio before Leadville 
If I could only write about just one thing, it would be this. Mainly because, when it comes to ultra-running, it is easy to get caught up in the hype of the event. Whether it’s a personal record, a do-or-die commitment to finish an extreme race, or some other kind of goal, we all tend to get obsessed with the event itself. And when we do, we forget about the importance of the journey that gets us there. And when we forget that, I believe we become slaves. Slaves to our ego and to our obsessions.

Sure, we are all motivated for different reasons. And I’m still trying to figure out what motivates me. But there is one thing that I have learned along the way. And that is that if I am unable to appreciate what I’m doing while I’m on my way to doing something, then I’m not likely to get there. Let me just leave it at this: stop every once in a while. Smell the pine trees. Look at the horizon. The clouds. Take off your earphones. Then listen.

Happy New Year Ultra Runners!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

you seems to be really an avid runner like I am. well, do blog more please and share more about your running shoe that you're using currently. I'm from singapore and I'm really passionate about running.. Please do blog more post about running in singapore or something related, :) thx!

Anyway I have actually compelled a list of sports related website including running when I was doing a research for coaching program for running. Here it is...

http://runsociety.com
http://sgrunclub.com
http://sgrunners.com

hope it help for your next blog post. follow these site and i'm sure you can come up with another blog post soon. :D

it's all about pace said...

thanks Will...

insightful as always.

Happy new year

Becky@Trails and Ultras said...

I've often thought that ultra running is a very selfish hobby...all those days spent training when I could be with family and friends. I always feel guilty about it. For 2014 I'd love to make an effort to marshall some races, help pace someone...I just realised I've never gone to a race just to support the other runners which is pretty dreadful! Changes are needed, I think! :)

EricG said...

Happy New Year Will! Peace E

wcooperjr said...

Thanks all and happy new year to everyone!!

Peter said...

E=FP squared....Love it! Will
Am here to help when ever you need to pick my brain....Both Jon Olsen and Zach Bitter are guys I coached on OFM. Don't overtrain....you don't need to do high volume right now...
best,

Peter

Peter said...

Also you are DEAD Nuts on about sucking down gels and eating a ton of carbs is polluting the body for the really long stuff....cannot begin to tell you how much from what it does to your gut to your brain...could not have said it any better...

Ashley Jean said...

Love this.

Unknown said...

J'ai essayé une poignée de compléments d'entraînement mais il y a 6 semaines j'ai acheté Penetrating Kick (Military Grade). j'ai aimé ce produit, marche bien, ce que j'ai trouvé est le mieux pour le moment. Cela permet d'aller plus loin dans l'effort!