In a world obsessed with quick fixes and instant results, the idea of endurance might sound old-fashioned. But for me, it's not some abstract concept; it’s the very bedrock of how I live, how I grow, and how I find purpose. It's about showing up, day after day, even when every fiber of your being screams to quit. My journey, detailed in The Long Run, is a testament to this, and I hope it shows that you don't have to be elite to do something truly extraordinary.
This isn't about bragging rights or chasing external validation. It’s about uncovering what lies within when you push past perceived limits, in running and in life.
The True Essence of Endurance: More Than Just Miles
Endurance, for me, is far more than just physical stamina. It’s a holistic quality forged in the quiet, difficult moments. It’s about facing down the whispers of doubt, about choosing to keep moving forward even when the plan falls apart or your body protests. As I detail in the book, it’s about recognizing that the obstacle is the way, and that true growth lives in those uncomfortable spaces.
My life before running ultras was a constant long run of its own: battling childhood limitations, overcoming addiction, and finding my footing as a man, husband, and father. These early silent battles were, in hindsight, preparing me for the physical endurance tests to come.
Building Physical Endurance: My Unlikely Path
I was the boy in the braces who wasn’t allowed to run , told for over forty years that running after hip surgery was bad. So, when my doctor calmly asked, Well, why don’t you? , after my piriformis surgery finally brought pain-free walking, it was a revolutionary moment.
My tips for building physical endurance come from learning the hard way:
Start Small, Expect the Suck: My first mile of running, after years off, left me gasping for air and thinking I was dying. The first few miles of any run, especially mile one, almost always suck. It's a pure mental training to push past that initial discomfort.
Consistency Trumps All: I started with a 1.56-mile loop around my house, showing up day after day, logging mile after mile in the frigid air, sometimes feeling utterly ridiculous. That consistent, unglamorous effort is everything.
Listen to Your Body (Wisely): This is a nuanced lesson. Soreness is part of the process, but sharp, persistent, or escalating pain is a warning. Nothing, and I mean
nothing, is worth a long-term, career-ending injury that would take away the gift of movement.
Embrace the Boring: Winter training means beyond-boring treadmill runs, staring at a wall. But it’s a test of discipline in itself.
Mental Endurance: The Internal Battlefield
The mental game is, for me, perhaps the most crucial aspect of endurance. On the trail, it’s just you and your thoughts, exposed and vulnerable. This is where Stoicism truly comes alive, not as theory, but as a practical, moment-by-moment tool for survival.
My strategies for mental endurance are deeply personal:
Control the Controllables: I can't control the weather or the terrain, but I can control my breath, my effort, my attitude, my response to discomfort, my internal state. This mantra, Control the controllables. The rest doesn’t matter, is a powerful anchor.
Embrace Discomfort as Growth: Past mile 30 of an ultra, when new pains arise, I tell myself: This isn’t suffering. This is growth. This is what you trained for. This is the crucible. Pain is just information, a signal from my body.
Radical Presence in the Pain Cave: When things get really hard, like past mile 40 of a 50-miler, my focus narrows to nothing but this step, this breath, this precise moment. You are here now. That’s all you need to be. Just here. Just this. This is where the trivial stressors of daily life vanish, utterly irrelevant.
Journaling and Reflection: I journal every morning, often reflecting on Stoic principles like controlling the controllables or embracing discomfort. I love to run and contemplate my problems ; solutions often arrive in the quiet rhythm of my stride.
Emotional Endurance: The Bedrock of Life
Emotional endurance is about navigating life’s ups and downs with quiet strength. For me, this is where Sarah, my wife, shines. Her support isn’t loud or flashy ; it’s steady, quiet, unwavering, a constant, solid presence that is always there, exactly when and where I need it. She's my comforting anchor , my pit crew.
Some ways I've built emotional endurance:
Acknowledge and Process: Running helps me process arguments or disagreements, allowing me to see the other person's perspective so much better. Some of my most 'mushy' or heartfelt texts to friends and family come mid-long run.
Value Your Core Connections: When training alone, there's no immediate external validation. This makes Sarah’s steadfast commitment, Matt's consistent cheerleading, and the bond forged with Darrin cherished in a different way. These people truly carry me through life.
Learn from Setbacks: My first major running injury – a twisted foot – was a real scare. It taught me the crucial lesson of
truly listening to my body, not just pushing through pain.
Redefining Hard: After pushing through 50 miles on two artificial hips, or a 50K that became 36 miles because I got lost, everyday challenges don’t intimidate me in the same way. A stressful email or a rude comment is truly nothing compared to mile 42 of an ultra.
The Ripple Effect: Inspiring the Ordinary
The benefits of endurance extend beyond me. Witnessing my co-worker, who once genuinely hated the idea of running, embrace the gym and complete 5Ks, was incredibly rewarding. This, for me, is just as monumental as any ultra-marathon.
My core message is simple: you don't have to be elite to do something extraordinary. I'm an ordinary guy, almost 50, married, have a son, and will soon be a grandparent. But I’ve learned that anything is possible if you just get out there and try. You always fail if you never even try.
Practical Steps for Your Own Long Run
Want to start your own endurance journey, whatever that looks like?
Just Start: Take a small walk, 15-20 minutes, a few days a week.
Ditch the Excuses: Remember Memento Mori – we have no idea if we will be here tomorrow. So stop putting things off.
Embrace Your Obstacles: Every challenge, on the trail or in life—is an opportunity to learn, to grow, to forge something stronger within yourself.
The Transformative Power: A Rewired Brain
Embracing endurance has rewired my brain. It’s become an ingrained part of my operating system. I approach difficulties now with a quiet strength rather than reactive stress. This journey has led to:
Increased Confidence: Overcoming challenges builds self-esteem.
Greater Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks is continually honed.
Enhanced Relationships: The deep connections I have are cherished, and the lessons of empathy from the trail extend to my family and friends.
A Sense of Purpose: Every step is moving with purpose, with intention , constantly seeking self-mastery.
Final Thoughts on Your Road Ahead
My training continues for a 75-mile ultra, and eventually, a 100-miler before I turn 50. This journey never really does end. That’s the beauty of endurance in life: It’s not about a finish line or a medal. It’s about showing up, embracing discomfort, and constantly moving forward.
The obstacles aren't there to block you; they
are the way, leading you to discover what lies beyond what you thought possible.
So, I'll keep running. I'll keep pushing. And I hope, in your own way, you'll do the same. Because the road ahead is where we find out who we really are.