Why an Ultra?

Upstate New York, Dead of Winter, 100 miles.


What are they - CRAZY???!!!!

Apparently, 26.2 miles isn't enough of a challenge to some people (nutjob runners). 50 or 100 miles in the dead of winter is more their style. Yes, people have already signed up for the Beast of Burden Winter 100.

There is always the element of uncertainty when you begin any kind of a race. But there are at least 2 things you can count on with this one. It WILL be cold out and you WILL be running with crazy people.

So if you're "hard enough, rough enough, rich enough, and not too blind to see" (Rolling Stones, Beast of Burden") then hop onto the Lockport Towpath, February 27, 2010 and see if you're Beast Worthy. But be sure to pre-register.

Depositing My Miles

When the miles get hard I think of the running expression, putting the miles in the bank. If I keep making these weekly deposits, come Marathon Day, I get to spend it all.

I love to spend.

I've found that the best way to accumulate miles is to do it with friends. If your friends are nutjobs, even better. Nutjobs are ready anytime, anywhere, for any mileage.

To get your miles in, you just keep plugging along and eventually - sometimes miraculously - you get the job done.

Some days go better than others.

When the big day comes, all that will matter at the starting line is A) Are you healthy? and B) Did you get your training miles in?

If you can say yes to both of those questions, you've got it made.

So right now we're just depositing our miles - fast miles, slow miles, hill miles, road miles, strong miles, weird miles, ugly miles, wild miles.

Miles, miles, miles. Just get me to the finish line on time.