Twenty years ago this week, I ran my first 100-mile race, the Angeles Crest 100 Mile in Southern California. After eight years of running shorter-distance ultramarathons, I finally took the plunge and jumped into a 100-mile race. From that point on, I felt like I had found my ideal running distance. The races were short enough that they could be completed over the course of a day or two and yet long enough to require skills beyond just running talent. I quickly learned on that September day (and night) all those years ago that successfully completing a 100-mile race is as much between the ears as it is in the legs.
Over the course of the next decade and a half, I ran another thirty-five 100 milers on many of North America’s classic courses. On my list of finishes from those years are the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, Wasatch Front 100 Mile, Vermont 100 Mile, Leadville Trail 100 Mile, Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile, Javelina Jundred, Grand Teton 100 Mile, Bighorn Trail 100 Mile, and Grindstone 100 Mile. As age began to catch up to me and injuries plagued me more frequently, my participation in 100-mile runs wanes. In fact, the last time I ran a 100-mile run was a do-it-yourself 100 miler as a celebration of my 50th birthday back in 2017.
AJW running his do-it-yourself 100 miler in 2017. All photos: iRunFar
For that birthday run across the Appalachian Trail section of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Bryon Powell joined me as a pacer for the second 50 miles and my entire family came out to crew me. It was a fantastic way to celebrate a landmark life event. I have not run 100 miles since then. There are several reasons for this including injuries, work/life stress, and aging, but that is about to change this weekend as I will once again be celebrating my birthday, this time my 53rd birthday, by running 100 miles.
The legendary Ann Trason often says, “I’ve always just looked at running 100 miles as life in a day. You have all the trials and tribulations of a life in one day.” I have always agreed with her. One of the most compelling things about running 100 miles is how much it tests us physically, psychologically, and emotionally. And it is that multi-layered challenge that I have missed the most in the three years since I last ran a 100 miler. While I have no intention of winning anything or even really competing this weekend, I do know that I will be tested in ways that only these kinds of experiences give me and it is facing up to those tests and grappling with the consequences that keeps me coming back for more.
And so it is that I am jumping back into the 100-mile fray for another birthday. My training has gone reasonably well and I am feeling the familiar tinge of nervous excitement that always accompanies these moments for me. With any luck over the course of my journey, my body will be forced to forge on in the midst of wanting to stop, my mind will have to adapt to the conflicting signals it receives from my body, and my heart will need to find some semblance of stability and regulation such that my emotions don’t get the best of me. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate turning 53!
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Jackalope Brewing Company in Nashville, Tennessee. Jackalope’s Bearwalker Maple Brown Ale is rich, full bodied, and perfectly balanced. With just a touch of syrupy sweetness, I would be tempted to pour this beer right onto my pancakes if it wasn’t so darn good to drink!
Call for Comments
- Does the 100-mile distance have a unique significance to you as compared to other distances?
- Can you put into words what traveling for 100 miles on foot means to you?
