When people ask why I run ultramarathons sometimes it is difficult to provide them with a succinct answer. I know it's not because I love getting up at 4:30am almost every day, it's not because I particularly love getting so cold on a run I can't feel my hands anymore, it's not because I miss out on time that could be spent with family, friends or my partner. There are a lot of things that I don't particularly love about my pastime.
BUT (and you knew there had to be a but) my simplest answer I can give I will quote Dean Karnazes (famous ultrarunner and one of my inspirations) "I don't run to live longer, I run to live fuller". When I run I feel the richness of life. I feel true emotions, wonderful joy and sometimes despair. I run to battle my demons (maybe someday I'll get more into that, but for now just trust there are a lot of them!). I run because it makes me a better person, a better partner, a better sister, a better friend and a better employee. I run long (some might say crazy) distances because I learn about myself. I learn that I can go SO MUCH further than I over that I was capable of going. I run long distances because it teaches me that quitting is a choice, it's not mandatory. I run ultras, primarily trail running, because I get to be out in nature for hours at a time, usually by myself, soaking up the earths healing powers. I run ultras because I really could care less what place I end up in at the end of the "race", what I care about is who I am becoming as a person.
And let's be real, I run long distances because, as most of my friends, family and collogues would tell you, I'm real great at moderation!
Taking a quick coke break during a 50k training run last weekend :)