IRL Trailheads: The weird and wonderful world of ultra trailrunning

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IRL Trailheads: The weird and wonderful world of ultra trailrunning by Mind Map: IRL Trailheads: The weird and wonderful world of ultra trailrunning

1. my story

1.1. In 2016, a programmer friend invited me to run the Chicago Marathon...

1.1.1. I was considering my mid-life crisis options

1.1.1.1. mistress: out of the question

1.1.1.2. Porsche: beyond my budget

1.1.1.3. running it was!

1.1.2. went from couch to 26.2 miles in about 8 months

1.1.2.1. from a base of being reasonably comfortable walking 5 to 7 miles

1.1.2.1.1. about the distance from home to gorgeous Siesta Key Beach in flat-old Florida

1.1.2.2. important to note that a mixture of running and walking is a great and sane way to make progress

1.1.2.2.1. nothing wrong with a humble pace

1.1.2.2.2. keeping it fun is the key to keeping it going

1.1.2.2.3. K-POP and disco in your earbuds are optional, but recommended!

1.1.3. obsessively

1.1.3.1. read about running

1.1.3.2. watched endless YouTube videos about running

1.1.3.3. embraced running software and hardware

1.1.3.3.1. Garmin GPS watch

1.1.3.3.2. smashrun.com

1.1.3.3.3. Hoka and Brooks shoes, wow!

1.1.3.3.4. fantastic running clothes and gear

1.1.3.4. oh, and also actually did some running

1.1.3.4.1. stats

1.1.4. success!

1.1.4.1. and raised $1K for RMHC!

1.2. along the way...

1.2.1. fell in love with trail running

1.2.1.1. grew up in semi-rural PA (Doylestown, Bucks County)

1.2.1.1.1. loved the hills and the woods

1.2.1.2. ancestors from the mountains of Germany

1.2.1.2.1. came over in the 1600's

1.2.1.2.2. so, literally in blood/DNA

1.2.1.2.3. like most humans, love the mountains

1.2.1.3. spent a few years in the Sonoran Desert

1.2.2. discovered the ultra trail-running community!

1.2.2.1. links to great content creators

1.2.2.1.1. The Ginger Runner

1.2.2.1.2. Jamil Coury / Run Steep TV

1.2.2.1.3. Bill Yang

1.2.2.2. what is so great about it

1.2.2.2.1. adventure!

1.2.2.2.2. fun!

1.2.2.2.3. beer!

1.2.2.2.4. great people!

1.2.2.3. my future plans

1.2.2.3.1. bucket list runs!

1.2.3. benefits

1.2.3.1. much more comfortable in my own skin

1.2.3.2. actively seek chances to go trail running

1.2.3.2.1. best-of 2017 pics

1.2.3.3. stronger and able to keep up with Eli, my 2-year-old grandson

1.2.3.4. big thumbs up from my docs as I strive to manage type 2 diabetes

1.2.3.5. looking at the world through the eyes of a runner

1.2.3.6. confidence!

1.2.4. future goals

1.2.4.1. back to resistance training

1.2.4.2. back to biking

1.2.4.3. maybe crossfit or something similar

1.3. view this map!

1.3.1. Mike Pence (@mikepence) | Twitter