Hi Devon, your latest post gave me the Comrades goosebumps! 😇 So I have a few comments to share… Most importantly, here’s a huge H5 for your courage & openness to share your running journey with the world, and much less powerful runners (like me). Your reflections are incredibly insightful - and motivating… Secondly, I am super-excited for you to return to Comrades! I am a back-of-the-pack vet and it was so cool to see you at the front of the pack during your last run to Maritzburg. I live in Jo’burg, and you are motivating me to make it to the start line in Maritzburg this year. So please let me know if I can do anything to help you make the most of your run this year… Finally, we crossed paths a bit - in high school ;-0 I was a lil Rider bro for your sis, Sarah, who was always fun to hang with in yearbook class. I hope she is doing well all these years later 🙏🏿 Take care, and please don’t hesitate to reach out - I’ll be rooting for you until June 8th and for the final 88km!
"You can’t half-ass ultras anymore. You have to full and total ass them."
"I look at a mountain of work to do and usually, just take a deep breath and get to work. So let’s get to work."
"My running is completely mine. And I want to do the things that light me up."
These are my favorite lines in this post.
I am with you on the specificity or trail vs road. Dare we add track to that? Of course. Events like Dawn to dusk to Dawn, the Raven, and others are popping up. What about last runner standing, backyard ultras? What about all the loopy courses that are used for USATF events like the 100 mile, 50 mile, 100K, and 24 hour qualifiers?
Yeah, yeah, Barkley and WS and UTMB, and by extension, Hardrock and Leadville, get all (or a lot) of the press. I get it if you are trying to get sponsorship, or make a living out of it. You need the big press, the sponsors. Technical Trail ultra is the new "Marathon". Very popular.
But there is the rest of us. Those of us who see the benefit of alternatives. The HARDNESS of maintaining a 6:50 pace for 100 miles (Recently at Jackpot, the DQ not withstanding).
And I agree with you, there is some light in the sport as to the choices, awareness, and celebrating those. I followed Meg (and ran a bit with her) at 6 days in the dome last year, I followed Camille at FURTHER. Zach Bitter is my coach. He excels at running in circles, very very fast.
For those of us who can't (ahem) handle technical, there are a plethora of choices. And you know, maybe it's good we don't get that much press, or accolades from the general public. (most people I work with, had no idea ANY of this existed).
We still have our niche. And "our running is completely ours, to do the things that light us up". I love that, its such a poetic way to say it.
PS: I ran 79 laps at the Pettit Ice Arena today, the site of the 6 days in the dome (22 miles), and it lit me up.
You are 100% correct, we need a more encompassing word! "Road" to me means everything from a JFK or Tunnel Hill or Umstead (which all are not really road at all) to actual road to track to loops to anything not traditional trail. And I love that there are so many options available for everyone. Every skill set, every taste. I love your reflections!
Great writing Devon . I will be going to Comrades too. I will look out for you 😊 I have never done it before...
Yes Devon, as a South African and doing my second Comrades I’m excited to see you on the start line again! 😁
Hi Devon, your latest post gave me the Comrades goosebumps! 😇 So I have a few comments to share… Most importantly, here’s a huge H5 for your courage & openness to share your running journey with the world, and much less powerful runners (like me). Your reflections are incredibly insightful - and motivating… Secondly, I am super-excited for you to return to Comrades! I am a back-of-the-pack vet and it was so cool to see you at the front of the pack during your last run to Maritzburg. I live in Jo’burg, and you are motivating me to make it to the start line in Maritzburg this year. So please let me know if I can do anything to help you make the most of your run this year… Finally, we crossed paths a bit - in high school ;-0 I was a lil Rider bro for your sis, Sarah, who was always fun to hang with in yearbook class. I hope she is doing well all these years later 🙏🏿 Take care, and please don’t hesitate to reach out - I’ll be rooting for you until June 8th and for the final 88km!
—Adam Sorensen (adamjsorensen@gmail.com)
Yay, Comrades!!! 🙌
I'm excited for you!
"You can’t half-ass ultras anymore. You have to full and total ass them."
"I look at a mountain of work to do and usually, just take a deep breath and get to work. So let’s get to work."
"My running is completely mine. And I want to do the things that light me up."
These are my favorite lines in this post.
I am with you on the specificity or trail vs road. Dare we add track to that? Of course. Events like Dawn to dusk to Dawn, the Raven, and others are popping up. What about last runner standing, backyard ultras? What about all the loopy courses that are used for USATF events like the 100 mile, 50 mile, 100K, and 24 hour qualifiers?
Yeah, yeah, Barkley and WS and UTMB, and by extension, Hardrock and Leadville, get all (or a lot) of the press. I get it if you are trying to get sponsorship, or make a living out of it. You need the big press, the sponsors. Technical Trail ultra is the new "Marathon". Very popular.
But there is the rest of us. Those of us who see the benefit of alternatives. The HARDNESS of maintaining a 6:50 pace for 100 miles (Recently at Jackpot, the DQ not withstanding).
And I agree with you, there is some light in the sport as to the choices, awareness, and celebrating those. I followed Meg (and ran a bit with her) at 6 days in the dome last year, I followed Camille at FURTHER. Zach Bitter is my coach. He excels at running in circles, very very fast.
For those of us who can't (ahem) handle technical, there are a plethora of choices. And you know, maybe it's good we don't get that much press, or accolades from the general public. (most people I work with, had no idea ANY of this existed).
We still have our niche. And "our running is completely ours, to do the things that light us up". I love that, its such a poetic way to say it.
PS: I ran 79 laps at the Pettit Ice Arena today, the site of the 6 days in the dome (22 miles), and it lit me up.
You are 100% correct, we need a more encompassing word! "Road" to me means everything from a JFK or Tunnel Hill or Umstead (which all are not really road at all) to actual road to track to loops to anything not traditional trail. And I love that there are so many options available for everyone. Every skill set, every taste. I love your reflections!