2008 - April

[Ed B.]

It was Ed who set at rest a few months ago when he recorded his realisation that his racing days were numbered, reflecting his increasing certainty that it wasn't races which kept him going, but the simple pleasure of running for the sake of running.

That's deep, I thought. And it made sense.

A few months on, Ed is cheerfully (and very sensibly) back preparing to race. Whilst I - well I ... am simply trotting contentendly along the towpath and scampering over the Downs with nary a race in plan.

Ed's words clearly didn't convince him, but they seem to have convinced me for now. But I'm happy with this new running space I now inhabit - and that's the truth.

At least for now.

The truth changes for each of us, doesn't it? But you get to run in some unique and lovely places very close to you, Nigel. Me, I have to travel quite far to do the same, and only 2-3 times a year at most right now. A bit frustrating at times.

Enthusiasm for races tends to go in cycles for many of us, I think -- mine was rekindled by ultramarathoning and trail running, once the urban marathoning circuit got a little stale for me. But I seem a bit like a heroin addict -- it takes longer and longer distances, over rougher and rougher terrain, for me to get my fix.

I like attempting ultramarathon distances due to the special meditative opportunities they offer, but the only incentive I have to run 50-60 miles is a race ... if it wasn't for racing, would I bother to run 50 miles? I seriously doubt it.

Oh, and hello everyone -- I haven't visited here in quite awhile; I keep forgetting my password and having to reset it.