Picking up from last time –
I just wanted to write some final thoughts… ‘Cause what in the world? How did I become an ultramarathoner?
It is so funny how capable we all are. I entertained the idea that probably one day I’d want to do an ultra. But I figured that was something that would happen deep into the future. An ultramarathon just sounded far – oh so far!
But then I just kind of fell into this trifecta-in-a-day (that I thought would be a little less than a marathon) and boom. I got there, and I learned it was technically an ultramarathon. So, I did it. What was I gonna do, just not do it? (That’s obviously crazy talk.)
As a somewhat recent Grey’s Anatomy episode said, “When the world gives you more than you bargained for,you usually end up glad you got it.”
I realize a 50k is the baby ultramarathon. It’s basically the smallest one you can do. Usually, when people talk about ultras, they’re talking about 50 or 100 milers. So, I realize I may not officially be one of the cool kids yet. But it’s still pretty cool to say, “I’m an ultramarathoner!”
Part of the reason I’ve been more likely to talk about this as my ultramarathon instead of a Spartan race is because we could still debate if I was Spartan enough with all my burpees and helpful boosts and such. I mean, I did it. But I didn’t do it as hard as some.
But the one thing I definitely did was get all those miles in, baby! So, that much we can say with certainty.
…Or at least as much certainty as we can. Everyone, all day, at the Spartan race had slightly different answers for race distances. But based on mile markers and what official Spartan people said, I believe the day was a bit over a 50k (31 miles).
There were a number of racers who asked on social media how many people finished the trifecta. I’d love to know! Spartan has results sections for each individual race, but nothing for the trifecta.
I don’t know why Spartan won’t release them, but curiosity has died down as I guess we’re all just figuring, “Well, I finished. Does it reeeeeally matter how many other people did?” (But it sort of does, right?) However, I guess that’s not the Spartan way – to concern yourself too much with comparing yourself to others, when you could compare yourself to you.
I did see people quit. At the gear tent between my Beast and Super, as it was wildly cold and people were tired, I saw people say, “Forget it. Give me my bag. I’m going home,” which shocked me. But some people were just done. Thankfully, I was not one of them.
I made it through. (And I would absolutely love to try a trifecta-in-a-day again!)
I’ve now done a Spartan in 104 degree heat and one in temps in the 40s with rain and hail. What’s next? Bring it on! AROO