I Run Because...Forrest Gump.

Last night I dreamt I was competing in a Half Ironman - again.  A couple of weeks ago I dreamt I competed in an Ironman and got second place overall for women.  Last night, I forgot my bike at home.

You kind of need a bike for a Half Ironman.  I wandered through the town the race was in asking residents if I could borrow their bike for a few hours.  I woke up before someone let me borrow one.  Robert and my cousin Milton were in my dream, and they refused to help me find a bike.  I'm kind of bitter about that in real life today.

Dara was also in my dream.  She was swimming in the lake, not because she was in the race, but because she just wanted to go for a swim.

On a scale of 1-10, my desire to do any kind of triathlon is 3.7.  We all know I thoroughly enjoy going to races and supporting those who I love and care about partaking in these races, but I don't want to do one.  Too many factors.  You have to swim, bike, and run...

I Digress.

Over the past few days, I've been telling myself and discussing taking running to a new level.  Running has been very trendy lately.  Everyone is doing it.  You can run from "zombies."  Run and get colored cornstarch thrown on you.  Run through and over obstacles.  There is a race for every kind of Facebook picture you'd like to have.

I don't want to spend money on a 5k, 10k, or a half marathon.  I'm cheap.  I also don't want to run a great distance in a place I'm familiar with.  I want to take time off of work and run through and around the Grand Canyon or something.

I love to run, but I get bored too easily.  I've run here many times before.  Most of the time I want to run.  Sometimes I run out of "I haven't run in a few days...sigh."  I can solve all of life's problems that have or have not happened in a week's time in one run.  I'll run this evening to plan out the rest of my week.  Six miles = One week.

Imagine the things I could think about if I became an ultra runner?  I bet you I could find the solution for world peace and pageants would be abysmal.  Forrest Gump grew a beard.  I'll save the world.  Or conjure up some excellent recipe ideas.  Either way, we're all winning.

But why would anyone want to do an ultra marathon?

1. Bragging rights.  It seems like everyone can do a half marathon or a marathon these days.  The shortest ultra marathon is 50k.  Bonus: Some people might mistake 50K for 50 miles when you're only actually running about 31 miles.  Roll with it.
2. They are more cost effective per mile, per minute than 10ks and marathons and whatnot.
3. You get to accumulate belt buckles to keep your pants from falling down.
4. You get your ratio of travel time to race time well below one.
5. You get your ratio of toenails to toes below one.
6. You can consider an 8-minute mile a "sprint."
7. Walking a tad is not entirely frowned upon.
8. No one cares about your pace.
9. You get to experience God's creation in a unique way - Pre-dawn starts, mountain tops, point-to-point trails.
10. The number of, types, and thickness of beards.
11. Shirtless men everywhere! (Depending on location and time of year.)
12. Can I go shirtless?  No?
13. It is a sport that will never be glamorous.
14. Learn that if you're patient and willing to work hard, there isn't much you can't do.
15. Coffee and donuts at the start line!

But really, why run it?  Because it's massive.  Because it's something I fear.  Because it's something that might break me mentally.  Because it would be something that I could look back on and say "Hell yeah, I did that."

I just felt like running.