Day 4,339—a Week from today, I will still be running—

 

        I thought the extra sleep might make me feel refreshed this morning, but instead I felt sluggish and congested. I feel like I have been sick for like 5 months. Ever since I ran the Ozark Trail 100. However, yesterday I felt amazing, so that’s just another reminder about how everything is temporary. Although my leg isn’t 100 percent, I think I have a good plan in place to manage it during this run. I bought the poles, and I will have to go slow as opposed to risking injury. This run looks like it could be fairly tough. There are 12,500 feet in elevation, which isn’t as much as the Shippey at 18,000+. It is still not necessarily an easy 100-mile run, which I know seems like it doesn’t make sense, but there is a significant difference between some 100-mile runs.

        After I said that, I tried to look up a good example. I keep thinking it is called the Hurt 100, but that is a tough one and not the one I am thinking of. A classic difficult one would be the Hard Rock 100, which has 66,000 feet in elevation. This kind of race requires more specific effort and usually more money, which makes them less accessible. While part of me thinks I should try some of the toughest 100-mile runs in the area, another part of me thinks doing as many different states as possible is more important. I understand runners who focus on tough or well-known races. I wouldn’t say no if money weren’t a factor, but I am doing this differently. Most of the races I choose require me to operate independently. I could try to get a pacer or people to crew for me, but I like being a solo runner. I also like doing these smaller, unknown races because they don’t have the publicity others have. I don’t know what it’s like to run a race such as Western State, but for me, the sport is about running 100 miles. How the race is put on is a factor, but running is the constant, and I want to do it as long as possible. 

I have been thinking about this because I have mostly decided to sign up for the Crown of Crest 100. I was debating it because there are a few unknowns that bother me, but that’s part of the adventure. I am seeking different experiences, knowing I will be running at least 100 miles, no matter how prestigious the race is. I like completing races that anyone could sign up for in their state because there are great races everywhere. You should not have to pay a thousand dollars to compete. I am running 100-mile races across America on a budget, and for whatever reason, I am starting to embrace the idea. Today’s run was slow, and I spent most of the running thinking about how I was going to loop around to hit 10 miles, and I did a good job of figuring how to add a little when I got back to Webster and not repeat any of the sections. Also, I successfully changed the oil in my car today! Now, only 6 more runs until the Thunder Kiss 100!