Endurance Athletes: Are we mentally ill? :P

I would have to say that normally that questions is a slam dunk, no problemo question for me to answer but after being out at the "Running with The Devil" race today.......I sorta wanna scratch my head and say HUH??? Remind me again!!!??

I have been and assume I will continue to be accused of being insane, out of my mind, batty, daft and mental for participating in endurance sports -Specifically for me - triathlons. Now as we all know....doing tri's is just one of many endurance sports. The discipline that I got to watch today up close and in living color was Ultra Running. Now this isn't my first time at the rodeo...I ATTEMPTED ultra running once upon a time. Notice I used the word ATTEMPTED....because 1. I SUCKED AT IT. 2. I really didn't enjoy it as much as I think I should have. So because of my failed attempts and the fact that I know quite a few ultra runners, I have had the opportunity to watch some great athletes run...run.....run.......AND RUN some more and seriously I just have to say.............NOPE not for me. I like a little more variety than that!

To this day I will happily blame my friend Dean Karnazes ( with a big smile ) for inspiring me to get up and get out....and for trying to make a change. Who knew that change would be losing the equivalent of half my body and then finally becoming a triathlete. Even a triathlete on her way to her first official 140.6 mile race. When I started reading Dean's first book 'UltraMarathonMan: Confessions of an All Night Runner" I had no idea what an ultra runner was or even what the endurance athlete mind set was about....but I sure learned quickly.
I have observed that being an ultra runner and really any successful endurance athlete ( I'm not necessarily classifing success by time either) you need to have a few things under your belt. (I learned and am still learning this BTW by attempting/trying, failing, watching and learning)

1. Patience 2. Knowledge 3. Humility - Lack of Fear of Failing 4. Perseverance
5. Common Sense 6. Sense of Humor 7. Ability to see the BIGGER picture 8. Curiosity
9. Boldness 10. Have an addiction to challenges.

Some magazine articles have even said that ultra runners and endurance athletes are Type T personalities. T of course standing for thrill seeking. BUT....are we all thrill seeking? Or do we just like the adventure? Maybe we just like the training? Maybe we're all just a bunch of OCD/ADDHD types trying to get along in the world without getting arrested. :P OR MAYBE.....just maybe we love doing something that gives us an opportunity to grow and improve....meet new people.....be outdoors, and pretty much just feel better about ourselves. (and not look to bad in a bikini or tri shorts) Personally, I'll go with the "Hi, my name is Samantha and I'm a triathlete.....I've been addicted for 3 yrs now....and hope to be addicted till I'm 6 feet under" or "Uuuhhhhhh I'm NUTS yeah whats your point" :)) HOWEVER.....

With that said.....I will add that I have no desire to ever ever ever ever RUN 50 miles in 110 degree weather with goodness only know what in radiating heat off the pavement. ( my guess would be minimum 150 degrees as I have seen ppl fry eggs on the sidewalk and also get 3rd degree burns from falling on the ground in Las Vegas in the summer ) So what is it that draws different people to the different disciplines. Specifically...why do you ON PURPOSE sign up and run in the worst possible weather possible. (Geezzzz Boise seems like a cake walk after today) EMT rides, Medi Air Lift Helicopters, Ice, and Electrolyte depletion were just a few of the affects/results of today race out at Lake Mead. WHY??? WHY ??? WHY??? I listened to quite a few of the people out running today, and not just the 50 milers but also the 5 and 10 k peeps. And you know what I heard most often?? ( and now I'm paraphrasing, but..) "OMG, OMG, OMG that is the worst thing/hardest thing I have ever done." You know what I also heard....."I can't believe I just did that, that sucked but that was awesome, etc etc" Gee that sounds vaguely familiar..thinking back to Boise when I couldn't feel my legs they were so cold.

So I do get it.....I GET IT I GET IT I GET IT. Is there a club badge I get to carry now, maybe a cool decoder ring that I get to wear or is it the inner feeling of pride that I get to have FOREVER! Hopefully its all three but I'll be happy with just the latter. :) I also love turning people to the "dark side" of being an endurance athlete. Between my hubby and I would guesstimate that we are responsible for at least 10 - 15 ppl becoming either cyclists, triathletes or runners......HELLO HELLO....weekly meeting start immediately I will be your sponsor. hee hee
Yeah!! I figure the more people out moving is less people that are sitting on their arses listening to their arteries clog.......WTG!!!

Not everyone will become a superstar, elite but I do believe that everyone will find SOMETHING....something that gives them what NO ONE else can give them, what NO MONEY can buy them, and what generally some people have NO INTEREST in understanding but HEY that's OK! Its a big world...I might not agree or like everyone else's choices but I sure the hell should at least respect that they are trying to think or do on their own . All the other stuff we can deal with afterward....

So my ? to you is.....WHY? Why do you do your particular endurance event. AND no you can't all copy me and say "Because I'm Insane"....think out of the box ppl or at the very least break out the Roget's! :PP

9 Years..and so very lucky!

Tomorrow is my anniversary, and who can believe its already been 9 years. (technically 11 yrs, but only 9 married) My hubby and I have seen a lot thru those 9 years and the one thing that stands out as the basic theme to our marriage is that we love each other unconditionally.

Thick or thin.....literally ( LOL ), better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness or health, pms or no pms.....crazy coworkers, annoying parents, moody and not so moody. Pretty much I think we've hit the gamut of life options and you know what.....no matter how bad anything ever gets it was (and still is) better because I have J in my life. Now don't get me wrong there are plenty of times when I wanna strangle him when he's always right(and dammit he generally is ) or when he's way too logical for my 12 yr old ADDHD brain to comprehend but I know how lucky I am! :P

And I mean LUCKY in the way that you just don't find guys like this LUCKY! For example, he(and my brother in law John - thanks John) stood out in the pouring rain for 7 hrs @ Boise just to cheer me on and to take pictures,( ok well he went in for a short time but that was to pick up my transition bags and my bike and take them in the room for me while I was on my second lap of run), he thinks about me first in every situation.......if there was a new Ferrari sitting next to a brand new Tri bike, he would pick the tri bike every time because he knows how much I would like it, and he has on so many occasions put up with my 'rents but more specifically my mother....SERIOUSLY MORE THAN ANY WIFE SHOULD ASK OF THEIR HUSBAND. (my Mom is a piece of work) Hands down I know that he would do anything for me, and I for him.

Now I also consider myself lucky because I have some AWESOME FRIENDS and would move the moon and stars for each one of them......some of them I even feel like I have known all my life or maybe even in another life however out of those friends J is my heart friend. As much as friends can be such an important part of our lives our spouse is (or should be) that one person who is truly the other part of our heart! He loves me no matter what, where, how or why. He lets me have my life and supports me in everything I do, and I do the same thing back. At Boise we even discussed this topic as a few ppl asked if he participated in tri's to which he replied "No", I'm strictly a runner. Uhh yeah you're a nutty I'll go run 50 mile runner sweetie! CCRRAAAZZZYYYYYYYYYY!! :P

Anywhhoooo, these inquires got us to talking....I asked if he would be interested in doing tri's and he responded " No sweetie, tri's are your thing....I like the fact that you can have your time alone training or hanging out with tri peeps or meeting new tri peeps." In fact, many people have said he should start a Facebook page or post over in RW but he won't because I'm over there. Personally, I wouldn't care if he did but he wants me to have "my own space in the world" where its just me and my friends, my accomplishments, my frustrations and my "whatever". Just like I let him do his own thing without hanging over his shoulder....which is great for both of us!

Don't misunderstand and think that I don't like spending time with him or him with me....we actually can be around each other 24/7 without killing each other BUT we both enjoy having the time to recharge, experience new things, etc and then come back to each other better people for it. I am a better person because of my friends and I am the best person because of my husband. Could life get any better?.....NO WAY!!!

So I guess what this blog topic is...well its a HUGE THANK YOU SWEETIE and I LOVE YOU and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I was lucky when I met you and I'm even luckier to have you in my life 11 years later. I can't wait to grow old with you......no matter how annoying you get.....JOKE.....no matter WHAT! :P

Look sweetie, our wedding song - - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8qj2MzIlJw