I am in search of adventures.
I finally have a bit of breathing room from all the races I have been doing.
Since the end of last year, I have been on edge because of the race of Western States 100. It was a big race. I did not know if I was up to the challenge to do it. Days and nights, and every waking moment I was consumed with the race. I watched countless videos, formulated many plans, listened to other people who had run it, and waited for more than six months to run it. It was finally over.
No more training. No more worrying. No more thinking if I have done enough or having the dreaded feeling that I could do more or feeling regretful that I might have taken too many off days.
It is like a balloon deflating. Finally everything is over. Almost… But we can call it done.
Now I am thinking about next year. What do I want to do? I could do the same thing. It is a question I asked myself each new year. What are you planning to do! The answer always have been “To take over the world” (reference to Pinky and the Brain in Animaniacs, one of my favorite cartoons). To me it has always been to run more races!
Somehow, I don’t want to run any more races. Yes, I would run races, but they are no longer part of the must-do things for me. It would still be nice to run some more races, but they are no longer my sole goal.
Several years ago, I wanted to run in all 50 states, primarily marathons, and only marathons but now I wanted to do the same for 100 miles. However, both of these goals now seem pretty boring once I realize there are no longer “risky”. I could now run 100s, or at least I feel like, with my eyes close. They are still hard and there are plenty hard 100s out there, but I felt I figured it out at least for the average 100 races. At least, I can have a completion rate of above 50%. The key to 100 miler, is as long as you run like the first half, you can walk the second half and finish.
Something in me wanted to try new things. It is not just because of seeking new riskier or dangerous things to do. Partly yes, I wanted more thrill but risk of physically harm is not part of the calculus. I just want a new type of adventure, at least that what got me into running the first place. The Adventure and travel.
Sorry, this feels a lot like ranting.
Maybe next year should be rim to rim to rim year I always wanted to do. I don’t know. I would like something like that, something off the beaten path, something more organic. Rim to Rim is a run (self supported) to cross the grand canyon (big G), in a day and back. It is about 40 miles. It has some element of danger (people do die doing it, usually from the heat). It is something that involves a bit of planning. Somehow, it requires months of booking in advance. Plus dealing with the uncertainty of the weather and such and to have a plan B in place.
Anyway, I hope to do more of this kind of thing instead of signing up for races, I should make my own kind of races.
I have been bored out of my mind the last week. I know, do something. (Yes, I did, a lot boring stuff: I totalled up the cost of this year race and it was a lot of $$. I figured out next year race schedule, like 50% of it, there are a few races I haven’t committed to yet. The schedule will be released later in the year once I signed up. I signed up to a marathon in the fall! Which one? The one I have been jinxed since the pandamic. I’ll reveal once the date is closer. I believe this is only one marathon left I have not done in my area. It is quite famous. OK. I will leave it at that. It is already added on my calendar for those who want to know 😉
Yes, I love running marathon a lot still, more than any other distances.
In awe 