This Saturday is the Prickly Pear 50K in San Antonio, Texas.  It will actually be the 3rd race in my personal “Ultramarathon Series” on my way to the big one: my first 100-miler. The series started back in November with the Stinson Beach 50K followed by the Running From An Angel 50-miler in Boulder City, Nevada.

Although there’s nothing easy about running marathons…or ultramarathons, I find that as I run the longer distances both in training and races, the longer mileage gets a little less intimidating. Am I nervous about this race? Not nervous so much as excited. I love my long runs (and I ran a 30-miler in training a few weeks ago), so I feel confident that I can do it. But my running has been a little “off” in the past couple of weeks because of my hand surgery, and I’m not going into it as prepared as I usually am for a race of this length. However, I know from experience that a forced rest is sometimes a good thing.

So, my “race strategy” is to relax, have fun, and enjoy the morning running on new trails.

People often ask me why I run…and not just why I run but why I run such long distances. And, like many other distance runners, I’m usually thinking, “If you have to ask, then you wouldn’t really understand.”  However, sometimes, even I don’t understand. I don’t always analyze “why.”

For me, running is a lifestyle. It’s something I love to do – whether it’s a fast 5-mile run or an comfortable 30-mile run. And, running long miles tests me – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

Does it hurt? Yes, sometimes. But it’s good pain.

Somebody said, “Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.” You spend 10 hours on your feet pounding the pavement, and you’re going to experience some painful moments. But the overall experience outweighs the pain. When I’m out there running on trails, through mountains, past rivers, lakes and oceans, or even on roads…seeing sunrises and sunsets, wild animals, storm clouds rolling in…deep down, it really feels good.

So, back to the question: “Why do I run?” Maybe I run because running stretches me, challenges me, teaches me.

But probably the best answer to that question is simply this: Running makes me happy.