Chris Rios
You guys and gals have some great replies on this longevity post. I sure don't know why I'm still running Ultra's. I started running in 1977 or 1978, I think. Soon started running lots of Marathons.
Ran my first Ultra in 1981, I think ,the Skyline 50k, proceeded to DNF'd. Went back in 1982, finished, felt pretty good and decided I would run AR. Well I started in AR in 1983 and DNF'd again. Ran an Ultra in Ridgecrest (moved there) in 1985 and finished. Went back to AR in 1986, finished and haven't look back since. I have started Angles Crest 100, 3 times, DNF'd, Vermont once, DNF'd and Western States last year and DNF'd. That's not going me because I will be at the start line of Leadville this year. I have ran over 100 Marathons and have at least 50 Ultras under my belt. I will continue to run Ultra's until the good lord says it time to stop.
I love running . I love the outdoors . I love the Ultra runners I have come in contact with and have life long friends from meeting them in Ultras.
There's a lot of things to love about running. As for me, I'm a Race Director, I've RD'd 5k's/10k's. a 1/2 Marathon, full Marathon and 50K's. I'm the President of our Running Club, Over The Hill Track Club, for 4 years. I still run 5k's, 10k's, 1/2's, Marathon's and Ultra's. What can I say, I'm glad that running has brought me to the Ultra running scene.
Dana Roueche
Many great responses so far regarding longevity. I've been running for 27 years, ultras for the past 7. Like Rob, the biggest thing that keeps me going is the fact that I like to train. I have found that over the years, my interest in racing is somewhat cyclical. There are years that I'm really into improving so I push hard and race hard. After several seasons of that, I grow physically and mentally tired of pushing so I back off and enjoy the ride. Soon I'll get restless and start pushing again. I look at it as very long term periodization where a cycle may last 4 or 5 yrs.
Because this type of cycle is so long, some may not want to hang with a down cycle so they end
