12/13/24 –
Welcome to my new (first) blog! I’m so excited to have you here, and I thought I’d kick things off by sharing a bit about my background and why I’ve decided to run an ultramarathon (spoiler: I might be out of my mind).
So, let’s start with a little bit about me. I’m 29 years old and, to be honest, running was never my thing. Growing up, I was a sprinter and pole vaulter on my high school track team, and I only joined track to stay in shape for football. Fast forward a elven years, and I found myself getting into running this past summer. I decided it was time to get in shape, but the thought of running long distances was pretty much the last thing on my mind, I was just trying to shed my beer belly.
But here’s the thing—life’s unpredictable sometimes, and apparently so am I. Because, after only a few months of running, I’ve set myself an insane challenge: I’ve decided to run an ultramarathon on my 30th birthday. Yep, you read that right. I’m planning to run a 50-mile race, probably the Yeti Ultramarathon in Washington. And did I mention I’ve got 195 days to train? No biggie.
Now, just to put this into perspective, my longest race ever was a 400-meter sprint back in middle school. You know, a quarter of a mile. And that was many years ago. So, what the heck am I doing signing up for a 50-mile race? A midlife crisis? Maybe. Or maybe I’m just looking for the ultimate adventure. Who knows? Either way, I’m committed.
And I’ll tell you what—if nothing else, this race will give me the chance to explore Washington, a state I’ve always wanted to visit. I mean, what better way to celebrate my 30th birthday than by running through the gorgeous landscape of the Pacific Northwest? A 24-hour drive to get there? Sure, why not. The more I talk about it, the more I’m convinced I might be losing my mind.
But hey, that’s the fun of it, right?
I know I have a long road ahead of me (literally), and there are days when the whole idea feels completely insane. Today I took my dogs, Aspen and Woodson, for a walk in this freezing cold Wisconsin weather. Three miles today. And as I was trudging through the snow, I’m thinking, “Well, this is like 6% of the race I’m signing up for.” But what’s a little cold and discomfort when you’re training for something this wild?
So, yeah, what have I gotten myself into? The truth is, I don’t know. But I’m in it now. I’m committed. And I’m looking forward to the journey, even if it means doubting myself a little along the way.
For anyone reading this who’s thinking about taking up running or maybe even doing something crazy like an ultramarathon, here’s my advice: don’t overthink it. Sometimes the best decisions come from those “what the hell” moments. You might surprise yourself. If I, a mild asthmatic with practically no running experience can attempt a 50-mile race in less than a year, you can do something amazing, too.
I’m writing this blog mainly to keep me accountable. If someone actually reads this, hopefully it can inspire them to chase a crazy dream of theirs to.
Stay tuned for more updates on my training progress (or lack thereof). It’s going to be a wild ride!