Ultra Marathon Mindset

Fellow Crew Man Kevin Compayre post race on top of Palomar Mountain after the completion of Badwater Salton Sea

Running is such a complex, intriguing and frustrating sport.  There are so many factors at play with training and racing and learning how to balance the lifestyle of this sport that constantly demands balance and flexibility as the end goal is always standing bright in the distance.  The battle between the body that is prepared and the mind that is distracted and wavering between the forces of confidence and uncertainty is forever present.  The savoring pleasure of success and achievement in training or racing is constantly combated with the looming failure and short-comings of a sub-par performance.  These factors all encompass the reason why I love this sport and why I have sacrificed so much to be the absolute best runner I can be.

I always have a standard for myself and a goal and a yearning as a race approaches.  I have not raced in two months and had prepared diligently for the Payton Jordan Invitational 5k at Stanford this past weekend.  My race did not go as planned, and I did not meet my goal—an experience that has occurred for the first time this season.  The 5k is a step up in distance for me, but I have a great passion for it.  It is a race of strength and speed, much like the mile in my mind, and I know I can be successful at it. This race resulted in my 3^rd fastest 5k time to date (13:54), but my goal was to run under 13:40. My fitness in training had shown great promise to achieve my goal time. As all Type A runners can relate, falling short of a goal is extremely frustrating and elicits many negative emotions. It would be really easy for me to tell myself, “Maybe I am not a 5k runner,” as I have fallen short of my goal many times in the 5k.  I will be better next time! 

These concepts of the inner struggle of runners face become even more real as I learn more about the sport of ultra marathon running.  An ultra marathon is considered to be any race that is longer than the distance of the standard marathon—26.2 miles.  My friend Meredith Dolhare is an avid ultra athlete who is currently tackling the Badwater Ultra Cup Race Series. This series encompasses the following races in extreme condtions: the 51-mile Badwater Cape Fear where 39 miles are run in sand; the 81-mile Badwater Salton Sea that has over 9000ft. of elevation gains and is run from the southern California desert to the top of Palomar Mountain with huge temperature fluctuations; and the signature race which is the Badwater 135-mile Ultramarathon that is considered by National Geographic to be the “World’s Toughest Foot Race” as it starts at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California (the lowest point in the continental USA), and runs almost to the summit of  Mount Whitney (the highest point in the continental USA). Meredith also takes the Ultra Cup one step further by competing in the Silver State 508-mile Bicycle Race of the Adventure Corps series in the Nevada desert.  Each of these races not only takes a physical toll, but requires an exorbitant amount of mental fortitude and force of will. 

Myself, Meredith, Race Director Chris Kostman, Pam Rickard, Marshall Ulrich ("The Father of Ultra Running", 19-time Badwater Finisher), Norma Bastidas

This past weekend after my race in Palo Alto, I crewed for Meredith as she ran the 81-mile Badwater Salton Sea race with her two teammates Pam and Norma.  At this particular race, the three of them have to stay within 25 meters of each other and finish intact or their efforts are in vain. I made it to the race after 6 hours of travel and caught up with her team and fellow Crew Man Kevin at mile 35.  As I look back at my experience watching these women and many other teams navigating this treacherous course, I could not help but feel the ultimate inspiration that only running can bring.  It doesn’t matter how fast you run, how far you run, how hot it is, how hard the wind is blowing, who is on your team, what supplements you take—a race is a race.  Our sport is so simple.  Everyone has to put on their shoes and shorts, or hydration vests and headlamps in this case—and everyone has to grind to the finish.  The ultra marathon helped me see running again in its rawest and most vivid form.  The first athlete to the finish is the winner.  Whoever covered the 81-mile course and didn’t quit is a winner. 

Badwater Salton Sea course view with Palomar Mountain looming.

          I was a winner at Stanford, too.  I did not set a PR or place well in my heat (17^th).  I did run hard.  I did push to the finish.  I did prepare as best I could.  That was all I could do on May 2^nd this year, and I have no regrets as a result of the realization of these things.  I have the best coaches, family and support any athlete in the world could have.  Every race presents itself with the opportunity to win, lose or learn.  Just like in life, things will not always go my way.  It is my choice in how I deal with all the success and failure life may bring.  I can choose to lose and sulk and get down on myself when challenges arise, or I can chose to pick myself up and learn from the experience and be better equipped for success the next time. I am confident there will be many more opportunities to achieve great things if I maintain the right attitude.  Running has taught me so much, and I am so grateful for what I have learned through this sport.

To learn more about the Badwater and Adventure Corps Race series, please visit www.adventurecorps.com. I promise you will not be disappointed!  Race director Chris Kostman and his wife Laurie truly put on first-class race events that I may participate in myself….one day!