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Running for Recovery: Training for my first 100 mile ultra marathon.

I run for a lot of reasons. One of the chief reasons is that it augments my mental health. When I run my body feels good and my brain feels better. Plus it lets me eat a little more...pizza which is one of my favorite things. That and running a local 50 miler is a far easier task today than just getting through a day was 15 years ago. So I run.

Something else related to me and my various addictions: I'll have the temptation to grasp on to my 100 miler just like I grasp onto that entire pint of Ben and Jerry's. Whether it's the IMTUF 100 or Stagecoach 100 or Leadville I'll grasp onto a far off goal like a distraction I cave and lose sight of the clear and ever present moment.

What's fun about running is being on the trail and how I feel while I'm doing it and immediately after. So may I stop grasping and just start doing. May I be in the moment more with eyes on the horizon less. The last time I got fixated on a good horizon view in the WR50 my foot caught root and I fell headfirst ** broke my steel water bottle with my shoulder ** came up with pine needles in my teeth and dirt in my ears.

Now it would be far too easy to get stuck on getting me one of these (the belt and belt buckle...not the man): Adam Wilcox, race winner, with his IMTUF belt.


While I do want that belt buckle I just want to be here...really be here and have fun.

Great write up on the IMTUF here: IMTUF 100 Another one here: Adventures in New England

Want to join me in my 'fun'? Here is a schedule of running I'm trying for this summer: Google Sheet 100 Ultra. On the sheet are a few possible races and runs I'll aim to do this summer. Here is a short list of some of the highlights:

*Rainshadow Running: Yakima Skyline Rim 25k
*NW Trail Runs: Grand Ridge 50k and Soaring Eagle 50k
*Seattle Running Club and Scott: White River 50mi
*Northwest Trail Mountain Series: Volcanic 50k

100s I have my eye on for this year or next year:

*IMTUF 100
*Bighorn 100
*Zion 100
*Stagecoach 100

Off to train. But first I'm going to read this on how to be more zen in my running.

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