"Things Learned Along The Way"

So less than 10 days left for my Ultra Adventure to begin. So far the weatherman says it will be around 58 degrees and yes, rain showers.. I will not try to think about that part right now.. After IronMan Wisconsin last year I know I have to be prepared for it and I can't control it, so what the "HEY".

I also learned the last 15 weeks that Ultra Running for most of us is all about finishing under the cutoff times.. You against nature and also yourself.

"You Finish, you Win"

That is what that day will bring for me.

I learned what "gaitors" are. They are covers that go over just above your shoes to keep debris out while doing outdoor activities such as trial running, hiking, and other crazy things.. I always thought living in Florida it was a pet some people had in their fish tank and flushed down the toilet when they got to big.

I learned what getting "screwed" can mean. I always wondered how during my -20 snow covered 50k, I was only one of two people who wore YakTrax's that day. I could never
figure how these people were running so fast on ordinary running shoes in the snow packed trail..Maybe they did this to their shoes.. screwshoe

So maybe by next weekend I will learn quite a few more things, I looked at a list of 100+ things that say,

"You know your an UltraRunner when..." and can laugh and relate to all of the comments.

For now, the list is only a few:

You Know Your an Ultra Runner If...
By: Various Authors

1) You have more dirt on your shoes than in your garden.

2) You don't recognize your friends with their clothes on.

3) You have more buckles than belts. (Not yet anyway)

4) 6am is sleeping in.

5) Your feet look better without toenails.

6) You're tempted to look for a bush when there's a long line for the public restroom.

7) You don't think twice about eating food you've picked up off the floor.

8) You develop an unnatural fear of mountain lions. (Okay, actually any creature who can run faster than me)

9) When you wake up without the alarm at 4AM, pop out of bed and think "lets hit the trails". (this does drive my wife crazy)

10) Your ideal way to celebrate your birthday is to run at least your age in miles with some fellow crazies. ~ I'll be 41 this year, anybody want to join me :)

11) You know the location of every 7-11, public restroom, and water fountain within a 25-mile radius of your house.

12) Someone asks you how long your training run is going to be and you answer "seven or eight ... hours". ~ That will about right when one day I register for a 100 miler.

13) Your weekend runs are limited by how much time you have, not by how far you can run.

14) You think of pavement as a necessary evil that connects trails.

15) You rotate your running shoes more often than you rotate your tires.

16) You really envied Tom Hanks' long run as Forest Gump. (That is actually how I came up with RunBubbaRun, now my TRI teammates call me "Gump".)

17) You carry money around in a zip lock bag because store clerks complained that your money's usually too sweaty.

18) You start planning the family vacation around races, and vice-versa.

19) Vaseline isn't just for fun anymore.

20) You know you're an UltraRunner when the races you enter end in a different area code. -and pass through several different Zip codes enroute.

21) You're embarrassed that you've only done 50K's...

22) The only time major household projects get done is in a taper or race recovery.

23) On a long drive you see the road signs listing various mileages to different places and think of how long it would take to get there on foot rather than by the car your driving.

Maybe when I cross that finish line next week maybe I'll write a list why I wanted to be an

"UltraRunner."

Maybe I think my first item will be:

1) I think we were all born to run!!