Northwest Ultrarunning

As a runner, I’m always amazed at the different “sizes and shapes” of things that end up motivating me.  My good friend, Adam Lint, has been bugging me for a while to move beyond the 50K distance and run a 50 miler (or, ideally, a 100 miler).   I’ve always just shrugged it off, thinking that 50K is far enough for me.  

That all changed on June 27-28th…the day of the 36th running of the Western States 100.    Those close to ultra-running (and even many who aren’t that close), know that Western States is the grand-daddy of the ultras.  So, it’s not that unusual for somebody such as myself to come along and say “wow, I want to run that race.”    Just read about Gordy and the history of the race, and it’s near impossible to resist wanting to toe the starting line.  Look at the pictures from the race, and the internal call is too much to resist. 

However, despite these attractions, I’ve never wanted to get serious enough about traininig to really tackle a hundred miler, let alone the hundred miler.   That all changed this late June/early July…when I read Brian series of blog posts regarding the 2009 Western States race and — in particular — the one from his wife, Andrea titled, “Oh Pretty Please.”    In that post, Andrea Morrison writes:

I’ll be honest with you – I hate this race. More than anything, (oh pretty please) I just want him to finish it this year and come home with a buckle that we can add to our very unorganized collection of ultra running memorabilia. Then maybe, just maybe, he won’t have to go back next year.

For those of you who don’t know Brian, his wife, or the “history” of Brian and the Western States race, you might get the wrong impression.  The short-story is as follows — Brian led this race in 2006 as he entered the stadium to complete his final lap on the track.  Unfortunately, he collapsed and got DQ’d for getting “assisted” to the finish line (blog post here).   Since 2006, he’s struggled with forrest fires, illness, etc. since, in his attempts to just finish the race and earn a buckle. 

So, what does this have to do with me and my motivation? 

I don’t really know, but for some reason, I’ve planted 2011 in the back of my mind as the year I’ll run Western States.  That’s when I think Brian will be back to run it again.  He’ll be back…I know he can’t bear to leave this one undone (note:  he’s making a smart decision to give it a rest for a while, to go tackle other things and bring some “normalcy” back to his life).   For some reason, I’m incredibly motivated to get in shape — great shape — and build up from 50K’s to 50/100 milers so that come 2011, I’m there on the line (the start & the finish)…when Brian finished Western States. 

We’ll see…2011 is a long way off (wow, I’ll be nearing 40 by that time).   But one thing is certain…running is (and always will be) a team sport…