
so I’ve been running ultra marathons for over a decade now I’ve completed out of
over a decade now I’ve completed out of
over a decade now I’ve completed out of six attempts for 100-mile races probably
six attempts for 100-mile races probably
six attempts for 100-mile races probably over a dozen 50-mile 50k runs I’ve lost
over a dozen 50-mile 50k runs I’ve lost
over a dozen 50-mile 50k runs I’ve lost track of how many marathons in a more
track of how many marathons in a more
track of how many marathons in a more ambitious moment I even ran a 50k solo
ambitious moment I even ran a 50k solo
ambitious moment I even ran a 50k solo and unsupported on the Great Wall of
and unsupported on the Great Wall of
and unsupported on the Great Wall of China now despite the slide behind me
China now despite the slide behind me
China now despite the slide behind me I’ve never actually run a thousand
I’ve never actually run a thousand
I’ve never actually run a thousand consecutive miles
consecutive miles
consecutive miles but despite the poetry of that I also
but despite the poetry of that I also
but despite the poetry of that I also thought to carried a certain relevance
thought to carried a certain relevance
thought to carried a certain relevance because when I was looking back over my
because when I was looking back over my
because when I was looking back over my training runs I saw that over this past
training runs I saw that over this past
training runs I saw that over this past decade plus in order for me to stand at
decade plus in order for me to stand at
decade plus in order for me to stand at the start line of a 100-mile
the start line of a 100-mile
the start line of a 100-mile ultramarathon with at least a reasonable
ultramarathon with at least a reasonable
ultramarathon with at least a reasonable chance of completing that run within the
chance of completing that run within the
chance of completing that run within the 30 hour time limit I need to put in
30 hour time limit I need to put in
30 hour time limit I need to put in about a thousand miles of training in
about a thousand miles of training in
about a thousand miles of training in the ten months preceding that race and I
the ten months preceding that race and I
the ten months preceding that race and I think that races themselves get a little
think that races themselves get a little
think that races themselves get a little bit too much glory if this was a movie
bit too much glory if this was a movie
bit too much glory if this was a movie it would be the race it would be the
it would be the race it would be the
it would be the race it would be the finish line where the hero or the hero
finish line where the hero or the hero
finish line where the hero or the hero in would cross it and they would do the
in would cross it and they would do the
in would cross it and they would do the slow motion and they would play some
slow motion and they would play some
slow motion and they would play some fanfare of music and the weeks the
fanfare of music and the weeks the
fanfare of music and the weeks the months the years of training would get
months the years of training would get
months the years of training would get compressed down into a montage of video
compressed down into a montage of video
compressed down into a montage of video clips or images that did not to me
clips or images that did not to me
clips or images that did not to me appropriately recognize the hard work or
appropriately recognize the hard work or
appropriately recognize the hard work or what it actually takes to show up at the
what it actually takes to show up at the
what it actually takes to show up at the start line much less make it across the
start line much less make it across the
start line much less make it across the finish line so what I want to talk about
finish line so what I want to talk about
finish line so what I want to talk about today is I want to unpack that montage I
today is I want to unpack that montage I
today is I want to unpack that montage I don’t want to talk about the race I want
don’t want to talk about the race I want
don’t want to talk about the race I want to talk about those weeks those months
to talk about those weeks those months
to talk about those weeks those months those years of training now when I began
those years of training now when I began
those years of training now when I began running races or continued running races
running races or continued running races
running races or continued running races what I didn’t expect is that I would
what I didn’t expect is that I would
what I didn’t expect is that I would have to take what I’d learned in
have to take what I’d learned in
have to take what I’d learned in training for ultra marathons and I would
training for ultra marathons and I would
training for ultra marathons and I would have to apply it to my life over weeks
have to apply it to my life over weeks
have to apply it to my life over weeks over months over in fact the past three
over months over in fact the past three
over months over in fact the past three years and I’m going to stick with this
years and I’m going to stick with this
years and I’m going to stick with this running metaphor and if I stick with
running metaphor and if I stick with
running metaphor and if I stick with this running metaphor then we need some
this running metaphor then we need some
this running metaphor then we need some sort of start right for there
sort of start right for there
sort of start right for there be a finish line so if there’s a start
be a finish line so if there’s a start
be a finish line so if there’s a start to this race that was October 16 2013
to this race that was October 16 2013
to this race that was October 16 2013 which was approximately one month after
which was approximately one month after
which was approximately one month after this photo was taken in this photo I was
this photo was taken in this photo I was
this photo was taken in this photo I was preparing to cross the finish line of
preparing to cross the finish line of
preparing to cross the finish line of the hallucination 100-mile ultramarathon
the hallucination 100-mile ultramarathon
the hallucination 100-mile ultramarathon in southeast Michigan with the support
in southeast Michigan with the support
in southeast Michigan with the support of my wife but October 16th was not a
of my wife but October 16th was not a
of my wife but October 16th was not a day where there was a race it was in
day where there was a race it was in
day where there was a race it was in fact perhaps to be cliche a normal day I
fact perhaps to be cliche a normal day I
fact perhaps to be cliche a normal day I was at work at the University teaching
was at work at the University teaching
was at work at the University teaching my wife Holly was at home with our
my wife Holly was at home with our
my wife Holly was at home with our two-year-old son Oliver my
two-year-old son Oliver my
two-year-old son Oliver my seven-year-old son was at school in
seven-year-old son was at school in
seven-year-old son was at school in second grade I remember it was 4/20 I
second grade I remember it was 4/20 I
second grade I remember it was 4/20 I was leaving my statistics course and in
was leaving my statistics course and in
was leaving my statistics course and in a bit of a rush to get home because I
a bit of a rush to get home because I
a bit of a rush to get home because I knew our older son Elliott had to get
knew our older son Elliott had to get
knew our older son Elliott had to get ready for karate class I remember
ready for karate class I remember
ready for karate class I remember pulling in the driveway and thinking I
pulling in the driveway and thinking I
pulling in the driveway and thinking I hope that Holly had him in his karate
hope that Holly had him in his karate
hope that Holly had him in his karate uniform so that things would be less
uniform so that things would be less
uniform so that things would be less rushed in order to make it to class on
rushed in order to make it to class on
rushed in order to make it to class on time when I walked through the door
time when I walked through the door
time when I walked through the door Elliott called up from the basement that
Elliott called up from the basement that
Elliott called up from the basement that he could not wake up his mother I went
he could not wake up his mother I went
he could not wake up his mother I went down quickly when I touched her knee I
down quickly when I touched her knee I
down quickly when I touched her knee I knew that something was seriously wrong
knew that something was seriously wrong
knew that something was seriously wrong called 911 chest compressions I asked
called 911 chest compressions I asked
called 911 chest compressions I asked Elliott to take Oliver upstairs but
Elliott to take Oliver upstairs but
Elliott to take Oliver upstairs but Oliver was too and he still is
Oliver was too and he still is
Oliver was too and he still is strong-willed so they sat on the
strong-willed so they sat on the
strong-willed so they sat on the basement floor quietly watching while I
basement floor quietly watching while I
basement floor quietly watching while I did chest compressions and counted off
did chest compressions and counted off
did chest compressions and counted off with the 9-1-1 operator i remember the
with the 9-1-1 operator i remember the
with the 9-1-1 operator i remember the police arriving a short time later and a
police arriving a short time later and a
police arriving a short time later and a few months a few months later we found
few months a few months later we found
few months a few months later we found out that she had passed away from
out that she had passed away from
out that she had passed away from essentially a undiagnosed heart
essentially a undiagnosed heart
essentially a undiagnosed heart condition and that she had passed
condition and that she had passed
condition and that she had passed quietly quickly perhaps like falling
quietly quickly perhaps like falling
quietly quickly perhaps like falling asleep now needless to say you don’t go
asleep now needless to say you don’t go
asleep now needless to say you don’t go through something like that and walk out
through something like that and walk out
through something like that and walk out the other side the same person although
the other side the same person although
the other side the same person although I confess to you that I had a bit of an
I confess to you that I had a bit of an
I confess to you that I had a bit of an expectation that I would go
expectation that I would go
expectation that I would go through some sort of grieving process
through some sort of grieving process
through some sort of grieving process and I in fact would be able to walk
and I in fact would be able to walk
and I in fact would be able to walk through to the other side and form some
through to the other side and form some
through to the other side and form some sort of normal because I thought the
sort of normal because I thought the
sort of normal because I thought the grieving process perhaps like a race
grieving process perhaps like a race
grieving process perhaps like a race would have some finish line at the end
would have some finish line at the end
would have some finish line at the end that I could cross if I simply worked
that I could cross if I simply worked
that I could cross if I simply worked hard enough and challenged myself to put
hard enough and challenged myself to put
hard enough and challenged myself to put in the appropriate number of miles the
in the appropriate number of miles the
in the appropriate number of miles the problem was it wasn’t like that it was a
problem was it wasn’t like that it was a
problem was it wasn’t like that it was a whole lot more like this with ups and
whole lot more like this with ups and
whole lot more like this with ups and downs two steps forward followed by
downs two steps forward followed by
downs two steps forward followed by three steps back
three steps back
three steps back memories that came with sights and
memories that came with sights and
memories that came with sights and sounds and smells within a house that
sounds and smells within a house that
sounds and smells within a house that was filled with memories and even worse
was filled with memories and even worse
was filled with memories and even worse years later when perhaps the memories
years later when perhaps the memories
years later when perhaps the memories did not come as quickly as they had
did not come as quickly as they had
did not come as quickly as they had before but I was ambitious and I thought
before but I was ambitious and I thought
before but I was ambitious and I thought hey if other people have traversed this
hey if other people have traversed this
hey if other people have traversed this journey this thousand miles if you will
journey this thousand miles if you will
journey this thousand miles if you will metaphorically of grief it’s something
metaphorically of grief it’s something
metaphorically of grief it’s something that I could do as well and I decided
that I could do as well and I decided
that I could do as well and I decided that I needed a framework to imagine the
that I needed a framework to imagine the
that I needed a framework to imagine the unimaginable and so I turned to that
unimaginable and so I turned to that
unimaginable and so I turned to that which I was doing regularly anyway I
which I was doing regularly anyway I
which I was doing regularly anyway I thought I would turn to the rules that I
thought I would turn to the rules that I
thought I would turn to the rules that I had used in my ultra marathon training
had used in my ultra marathon training
had used in my ultra marathon training and so these are the four things that I
and so these are the four things that I
and so these are the four things that I took from my running and I did my utmost
took from my running and I did my utmost
took from my running and I did my utmost to try to get through those weeks those
to try to get through those weeks those
to try to get through those weeks those months those now going on three years so
months those now going on three years so
months those now going on three years so the first rule in ultra running as I
the first rule in ultra running as I
the first rule in ultra running as I applied it was keep moving forward
applied it was keep moving forward
applied it was keep moving forward if you’re running long distances this
if you’re running long distances this
if you’re running long distances this makes sense if you can’t run you walk if
makes sense if you can’t run you walk if
makes sense if you can’t run you walk if you can’t walk you crawl I’ve never
you can’t walk you crawl I’ve never
you can’t walk you crawl I’ve never actually crawled during a race but I
actually crawled during a race but I
actually crawled during a race but I have shuffled forward with such pathetic
have shuffled forward with such pathetic
have shuffled forward with such pathetic speed it would have been faster if I had
speed it would have been faster if I had
speed it would have been faster if I had crawled and I have distinct memories of
crawled and I have distinct memories of
crawled and I have distinct memories of my first 100 mile race standing by a
my first 100 mile race standing by a
my first 100 mile race standing by a campfire at an aid station in the woods
campfire at an aid station in the woods
campfire at an aid station in the woods of Ontario Canada with the temperature
of Ontario Canada with the temperature
of Ontario Canada with the temperature dropping I kid you not
dropping I kid you not
dropping I kid you not wolves howling in the distance friendly
wolves howling in the distance friendly
wolves howling in the distance friendly aid station workers and a chair that I
aid station workers and a chair that I
aid station workers and a chair that I could have sat in and curled up under a
could have sat in and curled up under a
could have sat in and curled up under a blanket and spent the entire night there
blanket and spent the entire night there
blanket and spent the entire night there the problem was the finish line was
the problem was the finish line was
the problem was the finish line was still 25 miles in the other direction so
still 25 miles in the other direction so
still 25 miles in the other direction so there was a seduction in
there was a seduction in
there was a seduction in staying still and similarly there’s a
staying still and similarly there’s a
staying still and similarly there’s a seduction in some of the memories that I
seduction in some of the memories that I
seduction in some of the memories that I would have liked to hold on to
would have liked to hold on to
would have liked to hold on to indefinitely because those memories have
indefinitely because those memories have
indefinitely because those memories have her still alive the problem of course if
her still alive the problem of course if
her still alive the problem of course if you have a two-year-old and you have a
you have a two-year-old and you have a
you have a two-year-old and you have a seven-year-old the two-year-old needs to
seven-year-old the two-year-old needs to
seven-year-old the two-year-old needs to be potty trained give up his pacifier he
be potty trained give up his pacifier he
be potty trained give up his pacifier he needs to most recently get ready to go
needs to most recently get ready to go
needs to most recently get ready to go to kindergarten by seven year old of
to kindergarten by seven year old of
to kindergarten by seven year old of course had soccer and Cub Scouts and all
course had soccer and Cub Scouts and all
course had soccer and Cub Scouts and all of the other million things that are
of the other million things that are
of the other million things that are part of being a child and regardless of
part of being a child and regardless of
part of being a child and regardless of my desire that they remain in the
my desire that they remain in the
my desire that they remain in the pajamas that were sewn by their mother
pajamas that were sewn by their mother
pajamas that were sewn by their mother they outgrew them so I moved forward as
they outgrew them so I moved forward as
they outgrew them so I moved forward as best I could but I needed some rules and
best I could but I needed some rules and
best I could but I needed some rules and moving forward because there is also a
moving forward because there is also a
moving forward because there is also a danger in moving forward too quickly and
danger in moving forward too quickly and
danger in moving forward too quickly and so I applied the second rule which is
so I applied the second rule which is
so I applied the second rule which is the 10% rule and for those of you who
the 10% rule and for those of you who
the 10% rule and for those of you who don’t run that is the idea that you
don’t run that is the idea that you
don’t run that is the idea that you should not increase your training
should not increase your training
should not increase your training mileage by more than ten percent in any
mileage by more than ten percent in any
mileage by more than ten percent in any given week so that you do not put your
given week so that you do not put your
given week so that you do not put your body under stress that it is not able to
body under stress that it is not able to
body under stress that it is not able to hold up under and then you become
hold up under and then you become
hold up under and then you become injured and undermine your entire
injured and undermine your entire
injured and undermine your entire training plan and so I did my utmost to
training plan and so I did my utmost to
training plan and so I did my utmost to move forward incrementally took her
move forward incrementally took her
move forward incrementally took her clothes out of the closet a little bit
clothes out of the closet a little bit
clothes out of the closet a little bit at a time before finally moving into a
at a time before finally moving into a
at a time before finally moving into a storage unit because I did not want to
storage unit because I did not want to
storage unit because I did not want to throw them away
throw them away
throw them away all at once and the truth is it didn’t
all at once and the truth is it didn’t
all at once and the truth is it didn’t always work very well there were times I
always work very well there were times I
always work very well there were times I took on too much on myself laying in bed
took on too much on myself laying in bed
took on too much on myself laying in bed staring at the ceiling for hours under
staring at the ceiling for hours under
staring at the ceiling for hours under the emotional weight or yelling at my
the emotional weight or yelling at my
the emotional weight or yelling at my children for things that were not their
children for things that were not their
children for things that were not their fault I’m not necessarily proud of that
fault I’m not necessarily proud of that
fault I’m not necessarily proud of that but I did move forward and I moved
but I did move forward and I moved
but I did move forward and I moved forward with help and that was the third
forward with help and that was the third
forward with help and that was the third rule the third rule if you’re training
rule the third rule if you’re training
rule the third rule if you’re training for an ultramarathon
for an ultramarathon
for an ultramarathon is you need people to help you if you’re
is you need people to help you if you’re
is you need people to help you if you’re going to run for 12 hours just on a
going to run for 12 hours just on a
going to run for 12 hours just on a training run you need someone to watch
training run you need someone to watch
training run you need someone to watch your kids if you’re going to run for 28
your kids if you’re going to run for 28
your kids if you’re going to run for 28 29 or 30 hours you need somebody who’s
29 or 30 hours you need somebody who’s
29 or 30 hours you need somebody who’s going to help you change your shoes as
going to help you change your shoes as
going to help you change your shoes as they swell up over the first 50 hours
they swell up over the first 50 hours
they swell up over the first 50 hours you need somebody to remind you to eat
you need somebody to remind you to eat
you need somebody to remind you to eat to drink you have to think about
to drink you have to think about
to drink you have to think about headlamps the batteries for those
headlamps the batteries for those
headlamps the batteries for those headlamps you have to think about
headlamps you have to think about
headlamps you have to think about changing weather conditions changing
changing weather conditions changing
changing weather conditions changing clothes appropriate
clothes appropriate
clothes appropriate nutritional needs how many calories can
nutritional needs how many calories can
nutritional needs how many calories can you take in versus how many six or 700
you take in versus how many six or 700
you take in versus how many six or 700 calories you’re burning per hour and you
calories you’re burning per hour and you
calories you’re burning per hour and you need somebody to assist you as you
need somebody to assist you as you
need somebody to assist you as you engage in what I like to think of as
engage in what I like to think of as
engage in what I like to think of as cognitive decline which is the nice way
cognitive decline which is the nice way
cognitive decline which is the nice way of saying you get stupid the farther you
of saying you get stupid the farther you
of saying you get stupid the farther you run and to remind you to eat or to drink
run and to remind you to eat or to drink
run and to remind you to eat or to drink or just tell you that you look fine even
or just tell you that you look fine even
or just tell you that you look fine even though you know that you do not I had a
though you know that you do not I had a
though you know that you do not I had a great support system I’m very grateful
great support system I’m very grateful
great support system I’m very grateful to my parents who supported me in every
to my parents who supported me in every
to my parents who supported me in every way that they could from watching the
way that they could from watching the
way that they could from watching the children to help me me renovate the
children to help me me renovate the
children to help me me renovate the basement Holly’s parents in a generous
basement Holly’s parents in a generous
basement Holly’s parents in a generous Act soul of their houses and moved
Act soul of their houses and moved
Act soul of their houses and moved nearby because raising children without
nearby because raising children without
nearby because raising children without their mother is not something that
their mother is not something that
their mother is not something that concludes after one week or two weeks a
concludes after one week or two weeks a
concludes after one week or two weeks a year or even three the truth is I’m not
year or even three the truth is I’m not
year or even three the truth is I’m not great at asking for help I’m kind of one
great at asking for help I’m kind of one
great at asking for help I’m kind of one of those independent personalities that
of those independent personalities that
of those independent personalities that had to think about where and when and
had to think about where and when and
had to think about where and when and how to ask for help and actually in
how to ask for help and actually in
how to ask for help and actually in order to do that I had to do the fourth
order to do that I had to do the fourth
order to do that I had to do the fourth thing which was learned to pay attention
thing which was learned to pay attention
thing which was learned to pay attention to pain which I realize sounds a little
to pain which I realize sounds a little
to pain which I realize sounds a little bit masochistic when I say it out loud
bit masochistic when I say it out loud
bit masochistic when I say it out loud but then again you realize if you’re
but then again you realize if you’re
but then again you realize if you’re training for an ultramarathon
training for an ultramarathon
training for an ultramarathon if you’re going through months of
if you’re going through months of
if you’re going through months of intense training there are times that
intense training there are times that
intense training there are times that things hurt and in fact there are times
things hurt and in fact there are times
things hurt and in fact there are times that things hurt where it is if you will
that things hurt where it is if you will
that things hurt where it is if you will a good sort of pain because your muscles
a good sort of pain because your muscles
a good sort of pain because your muscles are breaking down and they’re preparing
are breaking down and they’re preparing
are breaking down and they’re preparing to rebuild themselves stronger with more
to rebuild themselves stronger with more
to rebuild themselves stronger with more endurance that’s the point but if things
endurance that’s the point but if things
endurance that’s the point but if things are going poorly and you’ve got the pain
are going poorly and you’ve got the pain
are going poorly and you’ve got the pain that is associated with ill-fitting
that is associated with ill-fitting
that is associated with ill-fitting shoes or overtraining or your joints are
shoes or overtraining or your joints are
shoes or overtraining or your joints are starting to break down and you do not
starting to break down and you do not
starting to break down and you do not address that problem you can again
address that problem you can again
address that problem you can again undermine this training plan that is
undermine this training plan that is
undermine this training plan that is going to take you to the start and
going to take you to the start and
going to take you to the start and ideally to the finish line that you are
ideally to the finish line that you are
ideally to the finish line that you are preparing for so I find it similar with
preparing for so I find it similar with
preparing for so I find it similar with grief that there is a good sort of pain
grief that there is a good sort of pain
grief that there is a good sort of pain that is inevitable because there is a
that is inevitable because there is a
that is inevitable because there is a love that is lost but I think there is
love that is lost but I think there is
love that is lost but I think there is similarly a bad sort of pain where bad
similarly a bad sort of pain where bad
similarly a bad sort of pain where bad decisions are made or a dark cloud can
decisions are made or a dark cloud can
decisions are made or a dark cloud can hover over you
hover over you
hover over you that you cannot remove without the
that you cannot remove without the
that you cannot remove without the assistance of friends or family or a
assistance of friends or family or a
assistance of friends or family or a support group or therapy and the real
support group or therapy and the real
support group or therapy and the real challenge of course is distinguishing
challenge of course is distinguishing
challenge of course is distinguishing between those two types of pain because
between those two types of pain because
between those two types of pain because if it was obvious you would simply learn
if it was obvious you would simply learn
if it was obvious you would simply learn to embrace the former and work to
to embrace the former and work to
to embrace the former and work to prevent the latter now if you’re really
prevent the latter now if you’re really
prevent the latter now if you’re really paying attention my running metaphor is
paying attention my running metaphor is
paying attention my running metaphor is starting to break down because there is
starting to break down because there is
starting to break down because there is no race and there is no finish line but
no race and there is no finish line but
no race and there is no finish line but that’s okay because this metaphor was
that’s okay because this metaphor was
that’s okay because this metaphor was never really meant for you the metaphor
never really meant for you the metaphor
never really meant for you the metaphor was for me because I find it
was for me because I find it
was for me because I find it extraordinarily difficult to talk about
extraordinarily difficult to talk about
extraordinarily difficult to talk about the loss of my wife it is much easier to
the loss of my wife it is much easier to
the loss of my wife it is much easier to talk about running but I’ve asked myself
talk about running but I’ve asked myself
talk about running but I’ve asked myself at times how it is that I go on despite
at times how it is that I go on despite
at times how it is that I go on despite the tragedy that occurred on October
the tragedy that occurred on October
the tragedy that occurred on October 16th and then I remind myself that I go
16th and then I remind myself that I go
16th and then I remind myself that I go because of what took place the sixteen
because of what took place the sixteen
because of what took place the sixteen years prior and the lessons that I’ve
years prior and the lessons that I’ve
years prior and the lessons that I’ve offered had to do with ultrarunning
offered had to do with ultrarunning
offered had to do with ultrarunning these things like perseverance planning
these things like perseverance planning
these things like perseverance planning kindness and caring for others and even
kindness and caring for others and even
kindness and caring for others and even just being alpha where these are
just being alpha where these are
just being alpha where these are characteristics that describe my wife
characteristics that describe my wife
characteristics that describe my wife and so there is no finish line I’ve told
and so there is no finish line I’ve told
and so there is no finish line I’ve told you already but I remind myself that I
you already but I remind myself that I
you already but I remind myself that I do not need to be defined by what took
do not need to be defined by what took
do not need to be defined by what took place on October 16th that instead I can
place on October 16th that instead I can
place on October 16th that instead I can be allowed I can be defined by what took
be allowed I can be defined by what took
be allowed I can be defined by what took place the 16 years that we shared
place the 16 years that we shared
place the 16 years that we shared together and even if there is no finish
together and even if there is no finish
together and even if there is no finish line I think that is still important to
line I think that is still important to
line I think that is still important to celebrate milestones and I’m very proud
celebrate milestones and I’m very proud
celebrate milestones and I’m very proud and pleased to tell you that I was able
and pleased to tell you that I was able
and pleased to tell you that I was able to celebrate one of those milestones a
to celebrate one of those milestones a
to celebrate one of those milestones a few weeks ago when I again crossed the
few weeks ago when I again crossed the
few weeks ago when I again crossed the finish line of the hallucination 100
finish line of the hallucination 100
finish line of the hallucination 100 mile trail ultra marathon this time in
mile trail ultra marathon this time in
mile trail ultra marathon this time in honor of my wife thank you
”
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