Why I Run Ultras

A brief treatise on putting one foot in front of the other for a very long time

This follows my previous post Why I Run.

Running is one thing, but why run these absurd distances? I get asked this a lot.

Ultramarathons cause so much muscular damage, inflammation and endocrine disruption that they can take days, weeks or even months to recover from. If running provides a foundation of health upon which one can build virtue, then ultrarunning is a pneumatic drill attacking that very foundation. So why do it?

When adventurers are asked why they climb Everest, the most common response is “because it’s there”. That is no explanation. The white cliffs of Dover are there, but that’s no reason to jump off them.

Epic challenges are extreme examples of managed risk-taking. At their worst, they can be used as vehicles for self-promotion. But at their best, they’re one of the most effective tools for practicing self-development.

Specifically, they develop endurance and resilience. Together, these qualities breed courage: the ability to face down danger with confidence, in pursuit of one’s values.

To lead a meaningful life, one needs courage.

You certainly don’t need to run 100 miles over mountaintops to be courageous. Some of the most courageous actions I’ve seen have come from people who almost certainly didn’t have a 100 mile buckle, Ironman tattoo, Everest ascent or bungee certificate to their name. Actually, we all have it within us to rise to a challenge.

What ultrarunning does is demonstrate our innate capacity to endure, and to recover. It proves to us what we already have inside. In so doing, it builds confidence, which prepares us for challenges we may face ahead.

So while running builds a foundation upon which we could practice virtue, ultrarunning strengthens our confidence to actually do it.

Also - it’s massive type 2 fun, and interspersed with more type 1 fun than most people assume!