Badwater

I saw a great article this morning in the Washington Post about the Badwater Ultramarathon. 135 miles through Death Valley.

Wow was the word that kept going through my head as I read it. I feel nothing but awe for the competitors. It sure put some of the hot runs I've done around here lately into perspective.
I remember when I bought the book Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an all-night runner by Dean Karnazes that the folks at my favorite used bookstore asked me if I was going to start running like him.
Nope, I said.
And while this article for me is definitely somewhat inspirational, I don't have any desire to do an ultramarathon ever. I am, however, hopeful of running more and faster marathons.

Here's my favorite passage from the article:

A few minutes before the race, running coach John Radich, 52, says, "This race doesn't care how hard you train, how far you can run, or who you are." He has run it five times. "It actually changes who you are. It challenges you physically, emotionally and . . . spiritually."
His mental game? "I like to think of the race as a lady. You want to respect her. You can't be overconfident. But you also cannot be a wimp."