Feeding the Mass's Curiosity and Perplexion of Ultras

This post is part of Trail Runner's Blog Symposium which questions if there is too much of a media emphasis on Ultra trail running.

So, I've had some time to think about what it really means to have too much media emphasis on ultra distances.  Part of my mind was against it, the other part was for it.  This battle of the perceived good vs. evil has been continually raging in mind, even in times when I really didn't want to be thinking about running, which wasn't too often.  

After several weeks of mind wrestling, here's the side that 'won':

This is freakin GREAT!  I mean here I am a runner who loves to run trails.  In the past I would be out running in the foothills of the Northern Wasatch Mountains and view the looming mountain tops above me and wonder if there was a way for me to run peak to peak?  I would wounder if there were people who did this, and how could I become a part of that? 

Twenty years ago, I had a co-worker who talked about running a 5o miler and running the Grand Canyon's rim-to-rim trail.  I was mesmerized, interested, and someday thought I'd like to do something crazy like that.  

Then ten years ago, I started really getting into long distance running.  Of course the media shined on road races, so that was the shining star I chased.  According to the media, the marathon was the 'ultimate' high one could possibly ever reach in running.  So I followed that mecca of road running, and completed a couple of marathons.  Yes it was great, but I wanted more.  I wanted to see what my body was capable of and I wanted off the roads and in the mountains, however I didn't know what was available out there.

Slowly, ever so slowly the media started to tap into trail running life and the individuals who challenge themselves beyond human understanding.  That mass amusement, perplexion, and confusion as to why someone would run 100 miles in the heat, across the mountain peaks, alone, and at night started to catch on.  People wanted to know more, see more, find out more.  As the masses began to get their whistles wet with various small interviews, roadless terrain, and pictures of 100 mile winners - they wanted to more.  

Soon ultra icons started to receive sponsors, races started to receive an increase in cash prizes, therefore increasing the amount of advertisement.  This advertisement helped soothe the increasing interest among the growing masses on the life of an ultra runner, their performance, and races they run.  This increase in advertising was just like the perfect run, always leaving you wanting more, and luckily for me those sponsors spoon fed the masses like me with more information.

Through this increase in media awareness, I have been able to connect into the ultra distance world of trail running.  I found that there were races just above me that have been going on for years!  These weren't figments of imaginations, they were real, and they were being ran on the peaks above me.  

This increase in ultra distances helped me realize that I needed to learn to be a more proficient runner.  For example, last year I realized that, I needed to fix my gait and learn to run like a native.  My first gait change I worked on for 6 months!  I took 6 months changing from the road running 'heel strike' to the native 'mid-foot' strike.  After 'perfecting' this mid-foot strike, I decided that I needed to follow through with this gait change.  I went to a professional and had them analyze my gait.  They found I had some hip and ankle weaknesses that over long distances would increase my possibility of injury.  I received exercises to strengthen these weaknesses and also found the optimal  foot turn over tempo for my body.  

So, no I don't think that there is too much emphasis on ultra distances, because through this increase  I have been able to locate the Wasatch 100, fix my gait with the help of Mountain Land Rehab, and become a better runner. Go ahead and keep on sponsoring the ultra gods, because I have peaks I want to run up and over.

What Does This Mean?

Take a look at some behavior that I've had lately, how I've started to view the world, then myself and tell me what you think this all might mean?

Example 1) A few months ago, I saw hundreds of crows sitting atop the trees right next to the Home Depot parking lot.  I find myself drawn to their crow caws, lured in by their acrobatic loop flying.  I pull into the parking lot, park in a prime location to view the ruckus created by these black winged birds.  I grab my handy binoculars (yes, this too has some type of meaning) from their storage compartment in my car, that I keep in my car, and watch these social creatures, making mental notes of their behavior, location, beak length, body size, and tail, spending nearly an hour mentally logging this along with their social roosting behavior.


Example 2) I have my daily 'date' with a Northern Harrier.  At about 1:00 each day I find myself long fully looking out the window of my office, searching for her side to side swoop as she hunts for field mice. On the days that she fails to show, I'm seriously bummed.

Starling on a wire 
http://www.flickr.com/photos
/mauricewoodworth/2835395156/

Example 3)  During the early fall of last year, I saw hundreds of little birds (I think they were starlings) sitting in a row on a telephone wire.  I'm driving by myself when I exclaim out loud, "look at how cool that looks. They are all spaced exactly the same distance from each other, I wonder what kind of internal mechanism makes these birds sync so well with each other."  Now mind you, I'm alone in the car.  Who do I think is going to answer me?  The birds??

Example 4)  While on my trail runs, I will quite often search the tree tops, top of poles, or cliffs rather then looking at the twisting, turning, root and rock bound ground (yes, this is how my recent foot stress fracture happened - stepping on a rock wrong).  When I find a bird, I quickly try to identify it before it flies away.  At times when I am graced by a hawk soaring overhead, I will stop dead in my tracks, and watch the magnificent winged beauty soar until it's out of sight.  In the mean time, my dog is yards ahead of me looking back in wonder as to when I'm going to start moving - I look at my dog and say, 'Only when this magnificent creature above is out of view'.

Siskin
http://curiousanimals.net/
birds/siskins-singing-birds-profile-and-facts/

Example 5) The other morning I awoke to the chorus of hundreds of tiny song birds out my windows. I know they were singing to me, thanking me for the food I place out for them.  I layed in bed enjoying their tweets, and thinking that I couldn't think of a better way to wake up then to the sound of happy little birdies.  I wrapped my self in my comforter and allowed my self to be lulled back to sleep by the calming vocals of these locals.

Example 6) During this past winter, I was getting ready to turn down my road, when I notice this winged creature, start to stoop after it's prey from the top of a power line.  It's wings sleeked back, talons down and out, ready to grab the unknown prey.  I suddenly come to a stop on the side of the road and exclaim out loud, "I think I've just spotted my first Rough Legged Hawk on my home territory!"  I grab my binoculars (yeah, they are still in my car) and watch this hawk pull up from the ground, talons empty, and land on a farmer's sprinkler system.  I watch this hawk for several minutes, before continuing the quarter of a mile home.  As soon as reasonably possible I grab my bird books (yes, I own 4) and sit down to make sure I really saw a Roughie.

Rough Legged Hawk
http://birdsofessex.
blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html

I sit there with my bird books spread open before me, comparing the Red Tail to the Rough Legged Hawk.  Awe-struck at the sight of this breath-taking creature, wishing I would have taken a closer look at it's legs.  For if  I would have I would've noticed feathers that ran all the way down it's leg's creating downy like leg warmers. Instead I concentrated on it's wings, looking at the darker upper 'elbow' region (please forgive me my ornithologists for not remembering the scientific name of that location on a bird). After much looking, I've confirmed that I really did identify a Roughie.

After confirming my identification, I got so excited, wanting to shout out loud, in a wave of unrecognizable noises that would have gone something like; wahooo, whoop , whoopee.  I however, refrained since the inhabitants that also reside in this house (also known as my hubby and daughter), would have no freakin' idea what was going on and would consider having me locked up!

Here's where I start putting 2 and 2 together - admitting to myself that: If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, then it must be a duck.

So after reading the examples above from this past year, I agree and fully accept that I'm turning into a self proclaimed BIRD NERD and I love it!  Birds are everywhere, they grace those who look for beauty in the everyday, for those who appreciate their awe, and to those who take a moment to look around, to them they are numerous and yet not enough.

Masters of Wind and Air - Winged Birds - I love 'em.

Maggie My Muse

Let me tell you about Maggie - Maggie my muse.   

Romancing Maggie in the Garden

 She's a fickle sort of gal, and feels that giving her a name would hinder her artistic flow - thus making it hard to pin down the appropriate one, Maggie.  

Maggie has a wind blown style about her, the one that flows and billows in the wind creating wispy texture about.  She survives on romance and dreamy air - if you want her to swoon, sip wine in the garden at dusk.  The twilight of dusk is her magical time, fairy friends find time.


Maggie is lost in time and matters of cordial comfort.  She'll bestow her creations when they are ready - waking you as the story unfolds and propelling your forward all night long.  She'll exhaust your physical platform, pushing you past your known.   She flows through time like the eagles soar above, with astounding ease and grace.  


She lusts for loads of naps, rejuvenating her spirit in order to tap her trundle of inspiration.  


She vehemently hates stress, to-do-lists, alarm clocks, should haves, and could haves -  foreign to her soul.  Zen is a must, if you want her stay.   

Maggie a seat for you

Maggie my muse keeps me craving her company.

Having Some Kick-Ass Focus

My light bulb of life ideas

So I've been spending my 2 week siesta from work answering some life questions from Life Coach Andrea Owen of Your Kick-Ass Life.  Andrea sends me daily emails to help me discover the answers to my life passion, why I'm not aren't pursuing them, and what I can do to get over my fear and truly have a Kick-Ass Life. 

Part of what I needed to do was to really narrow and focus my life into smaller bite size meaningful bits.  As a general rule,  I'm full of grandiose save-the-world ideas.  How realistic and meaningful are they when they are so grand?  With such grand ideas, the carrying out of them  becomes such a chore, which is not so great at all. 

I've taken some time, narrowed down and focused my passions a bit.  Andrea teaches that if you want it, you also have to write it, picture it, be open to the forces of the universe, and be willing to make choices presented to you that will make people think you're crazy. 

To kick my Kick-Ass life into gear, I have listed my list of Big Ideas (also know as a bucket list - or items that I'd like to do before I die) here. 

If you want to kick start Your Kick-Ass life, you too can sign up for her free "21 Tips and Tools for a Kick-Ass Life: No bullshi*t Included" just like I did.  To sign up click here, and then register on the middle right side of her website.

Here's to having a Kick-Ass Life
Christel