As a side, this is what it takes to run any long&far distance, 
[whatever long&far may mean to you]

When you tell anyone that you are about to run 70 miles they immediately respond with, “How?’ and then follow it up with, “You are crazy!”

I won’t deny the crazy part, long distance running, is absolutely crazy, in a good crazy kind of way of course. And, I will also try to answer the how.

At least this is how I train, how I run, and how I run really far. Maybe you will agree.

WHAT YOU NEED TO RUN _______ MILES
[Let’s just call it 70 miles, as this will be our next big adventure.]

A WHY. If you can push through without reason, you must be from the lineage of super[wo]man. Know why you are out there doing what you do, or what you are about to do. Know why every footstep counts. Know why you can keep going, even when you REALLY, I mean really, don’t want to.

UNSHAKABLE CONFIDENCE. Make up your mind and do it. Plain and simple. [Ok, it’s not even close to plain and simple, but let’s tell your mind that it is].

Something is bound to come up, set up it’s obstacle and test you before race day even starts.

[Ask Jesse about flu like symptoms, one week out…or me about the amount of hand washing, Lysol spraying, or newly acquired phobia of germs that commenced during this weekend.]

Your feet will hurt, ache, swell and may come close to falling apart [I won’t go there]

Your body HURTS.

You’ll be angry to the point of tears.

WHEN this happens, put up the shield, don’t waiver – unshakable confidence is built on your why.

BRING SUPPORT, LOVE & ALWAYS SMILE. Accept it, ultra running is selfish. So pick people who genuinely support and love you. At 30 miles, 12+ hours, you start to be something comparable to the bad witch, the overly dramatic friend, a crying [b] itch [and, I never swear – but, in ultra running, anything goes]. Your bad traits are suddenly and sometimes without warning, exacerbated by 10. My point, genuine love. Because Miss/Mr Jeckyll & Hyde “I said fill my pack FASTER…”, “NOT 1, 2 scoops!” “I don’t want to do THIS!” [as you continue to walk away] — it will take genuine love to put up with you.

And, always thank the volunteers. With a smile and a little bit of enthusiasm.

STUPIDITY OR GRIT. Do not be stupid. I do not care how many hours you trained, who is watching or about your hurt ego. Don’t be stupid. Have grit. It hurts like you never felt hurt before. That’s okay. Embrace it. [You signed up for this]

FEEL THE FEAR, DO IT ANYWAY. 70 [insert number of miles here] miles is scary. The dark woods can be scary. The thoughts that go through your head are definitely scary, Embrace the fear, like you embrace the hurt. It’s the only way to the finish. Because the place [first or last], slow or fast, injured or pain plagued, whatever it is, no longer matters.

You made it to the long awaited line. You ran _____ miles. That’s really far. So take that, fear.

THE OTHER STUFF. We will save further discussion of this stuff for another day. But, for now…

Fuel. You need it. Stay on top of it.

Set your reminders. Write your lists, check them twice [DO NOT PACK YOUR PACK, WITHOUT A BLADDER].

Sleep. Get sleep the week before the event, you are going to need it.

Go with it. It doesn’t always go as planned and that’s okay. It has to be okay.

Put ALL of this together. The hard part is just starting. You just ran ___ miles. NOW WHAT????