A short visit to a place can capture your desire for a return trip. Such was the case with Hungary and the area of Lake Balaton in its southwest. It beckoned me, as if to say there was unfinished business to attend.

My first visit was brief; the purpose was to evaluate the course of Ultrabalaton, a 212-kilometer race around Lake Balaton, central Europe’s largest lake. I only had enough time to see most of one side of it, and from that side to look across at the hills and mountains on the opposite shore.

One thing I knew for sure, it was a lovely setting for a race. More importantly, seeing the other side gave me some insight into the challenge I would face sometime during the race. A challenge I was willing to accept, just to see the other side of the lake.

My initial trip followed a stint as the USA Track & Field Team Leader for the 24-hour Run National Team, which participated in Brive, France in mid-May of 2010. Following a successful effort by the team and a bronze medal finish for the men, I would stay in Europe and then head for another race in France a week later, the 48-hours of Surgeres.

The Boston Marathon medal I hung around my friend’s neck and brought a bit of joy to her life, can no longer be worn by her. As I was traveling in Europe, I missed the obituary stating she had passed away following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Lana Kind was 60 years old when she died, but her attitude about life and living made her seem years younger. She accepted her fate, but she did not stop fighting it. She lived more than 20 months after being diagnosed and told she would only live 3 or 4 months.

While running the other day, I reflected on the races I had done in May and how I had struggled through some of them and how easy others had been. I guess every day is different and we have to accept those days that do not feel right to us, just as Lana did. It goes back to a saying Wigwam had on one of their promotional t-shirts back in the ‘90s. It said: “Some run to compete, others because it’s so darn comfortable.”

Some people never know when to quit. Have you ever heard that saying, wondered what was meant by it or ever given any thought about it?

Well, I have heard the phrase many times and it usually is in reference to something I have done that seems like way too much for most people. For me, it is just something I do, will continue to do as long as I am able and not worry about what others think is enough and what is “normal”.

Part of the reason people say things like that, is they do not understand what I am capable of because they, themselves, have not experienced the distances I have run. I know my capabilities and also know my goals, and yes, limits.

(read more)

I received a request via email from Aviv Laufer with the subject being “”An Interview”. I did not recognize the name, but recognized the word Laufer as German for running, and also the subject line piqued my interest, so I opened it.

Here is what I found: “Hello, We are a group of runners who operate the first and only web site in Israel dedicated to Ultra Running http://www.distance.co.il. It's a non-commercial site by runners and for runners. We are conducting a series of interviews with Ultra legends (we already spoke with Pam Reed and Scott Jurek). We were refereed to you by Karl King. We would like to have an interview with you either by phone or by mail.

Regards

Aviv”

(Read more)

At times, we all find ourselves out of our element. Those moments usually occur when we are not prepared. Things that happen at those times are not necessarily the things we want to happen. They are not under our control and that is where problems may become uncomfortable or unbearable.

Part of the reason some people are able to cope with things that are out of their element is they do not fear being out of their element. These individuals are not afraid of placing themselves in situations they are not comfortable with to see how they can actually deal with new experiences.

In January I chose to run a couple of warm weather marathons. Leaving the comfort zone of single digit temperatures for the heat of the Arizona dessert one weekend and the heat and humidity of Florida two weeks later. Not that I am implying the single digit temperatures are comfortable; meaning the higher temperatures would be out of my comfort zone related to training in a completely different climate. (Read more)

Runners are not the only creatures of habit, but I guess we have our share. It starts out innocently enough, holding on to every pair of shoes we have ever worn because we ran our best time in those shoes; holding on to every tee-shirt so that we can also hold onto the memory of a certain race or place we ran; hoarding finishers medals and other awards as if they were the national treasure.

We may also create and hold onto habits that affect our very being as a runner or athlete. Certain things that define our lifestyle might also be described as habits. For me, I discovered a simple phrase, thought to be a Kenyan philosophy, but I also can relate to one that is believed to be of Greek origin.

Looking back on the past year, there have been highlights and some tough times. I guess it goes with the saying, “These are the best of times; these are the worst of times.”

Yet, even the tough times teach us something, if we really look at all the components of what we felt were not to our liking. That is why they are called experiences. Taking something good out of what at the time may seem bad is what helps make up the fiber of who we are, and furthermore, who we are capable of becoming.

I am going to describe why the history behind an event I have done 4 times, run from Athens to Sparta, Greece has helped to make it one of my most memorable foot races. Because the history on which the race was founded; an epic battle and a messenger’s part in it, it will always remain that way.

“It’s just a number, or is it?” I said to myself. And after returning to the hotel my girlfriend said, “It’s just a number”, but even after hearing it in my head and from her, there seemed to be more to it than that. Was it really just a number?