Ultrarunning
Jun. 3rd, 2004 01:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
azziriaThe challenge is to run 135 miles. Through Death Valley. In July. These people must be totally nuts.
I've just been reading about the Badwater Ultramarathon, almost certainly the most demanding and extreme ultra held anywhere in the world.
Totally nuts, yes, but I’m also totally in awe of them. I’m fascinated by what drives them. By what makes them both willing and able to face such a huge mental and physical challenge. What they do makes a conventional marathon (26 miles) seem like a stroll in the park.
Very interesting to note, though, that the winner for the last two years has been a woman, a 40-something mother of three, Pam Reed. And that last year 4 of the top 10 finishers were women. And that the contestants are nearly all in their 40s and 50s. So extreme ultrarunning seems to be a leveller of the sexes, and definitely not a young persons game.
So maybe I’m in my prime after all!
I've just been reading about the Badwater Ultramarathon, almost certainly the most demanding and extreme ultra held anywhere in the world.
Totally nuts, yes, but I’m also totally in awe of them. I’m fascinated by what drives them. By what makes them both willing and able to face such a huge mental and physical challenge. What they do makes a conventional marathon (26 miles) seem like a stroll in the park.
Very interesting to note, though, that the winner for the last two years has been a woman, a 40-something mother of three, Pam Reed. And that last year 4 of the top 10 finishers were women. And that the contestants are nearly all in their 40s and 50s. So extreme ultrarunning seems to be a leveller of the sexes, and definitely not a young persons game.
So maybe I’m in my prime after all!
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no subject
Date: 2004-06-03 09:59 am (UTC)Well, not quite just like that in my definition.
Cuchulainn was a hero. The pastor from the tiny village my mum comes from was a hero when he stood in front of his congregation and let himself be shot to save them. Many named and unnamed people were heroes in my definition, I don't believe that heroism can exist without being outward - without acts for others, without compassion.
However, it's fine, why shouldn't there be slightly different definitions and I couldn't agree more with you, many are called heroes, who certainly are not.