The Run of my Life

As a kid, I decided that I wanted to run a marathon one day. At that time, I had no clue what a marathon was (besides it involved running) but I did not know what the distance was or that you actually had to train for it. In 2015, I was able to make good on the lofty goal in running a full marathon. Not only did I do it but I did it twice that year (have not gone back to the distance since then). My journey of running started about five and a half years ago with the idea of running a 5k race. Never would I have thought that it would extend to beyond the 5k and every distance in between up to the ultimate 42.5k. On top of the individual race, I competed in a team relay twice that consisted of 100k (62 miles for my Americans. Shout out to my Ex Pitter Patter teammates!). In this time,

As a runner, you are often inspired by other runners that you come to interact with at the start line, training runs or the many we encounter and befriend online. The running community is the biggest and most inclusive fraternity or sorority you can be a part of. These inspiring stories of overcoming challenges to push limits or the very thought to just give something a shot has rubbed off on me. This school year I have been able to befriend someone who had the crazy notion to run a crazy distance across a country. To use running to do something epic. There are many people who have run across the US, the Appalachian Trail (which record is falling by the day), through the United Kingdom with the list going on.

My man Ben threw out the idea of running through some places in Europe. My eyes lit up and I got super excited, and by the time I came down from that 10 second high, he had already given me five options to run lol. His logistical brain had every biking/running trail, climate, elevation, and distance built into a table that made my job very easy. All I had to do was say 'yes'. We went back and forth on some ideas, truly with our eyes set on the easiest and most controlled situation that would allow us to get our feet wet in this staged race business. At the end of the day, we settled on running the Canal Du Midi in the south of France (little did I know that these would be a research trip for him as I was told by his wife that this is a place she had eyed for a bit. Well done mate!). Originally we considered covering the distance in a 10-day span in which we could take our time and complete reasonable distances each day. But due to schedules, we will be covering the 250km journey in six days, which will equate to at least a marathon a day for six consecutive days.

Neither of us has the slightest idea of what we are getting ourselves into. But I do know this experience will be life changing and one that will lead to other possibilities of taking on the unthinkable. What's life if you aren't willing to take some chances on epic shit? Mediocrity is oversaturated, why not be great? Thanks to you Ben Yeo (pronounced Yo) and your willingness to let this guy tag along on your journey. June 18th the run from Toulouse to Sete will begin.

#blackenduranceathlete


Pyramids Half Marathon February 2019