November 18, 2009

next up: learn to fly!

one of the girls in my pole class mentioned this week that while she'll technically be in class next monday, she expects to just sort of toddle in and not do too much, since she'll have just run a 50 mile race over the weekend.

uh, i'm sorry, did everyone catch that? FIFTY! FIVE-ZERO! MILES!

after my eyes bugged out of my head for about 30 seconds and i picked my jaw up from the floor, i believe my first words were "that's, like, TWO MARATHONS! AT ONCE!" she quickly waved it off with a self-deprecating "no, no! it's totally less than that!"

dude. by TWO MILES. it's TWO MILES LESS than running two marathons, back to back.

after i picked my jaw up from the floor again, i asked how long it takes to run 50 miles. (FIFTY! MILES!) and she said she's hoping for like 10 hours, and no more than 12. my mind is blown on so many levels here, but the concept of freaking RUNNING FOR 10 HOURS is high among the reasons. i am so impressed. and sort of in disbelief that this is not only possible, but something that someone would do on purpose. i mean, i guess if it was REMOTELY a possibility for me, it would be a cool goal? but as someone who counts running a! whole! mile! without stopping to walk as an accomplishment, you may as well ask me to train for jumping out of a plane without a parachute.

28 comments:

  1. I'm picturing when Forrest Gump went for that long run...

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  2. I have always thought that ultra-marathoners are just weird, another breed of human (ultra-humans?)

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  3. I used to think that people were crazy to run marathons in general. And now I'm signed up for one. I fear the day that I think the logical next step is to do 50 miles. I think my body would revolt.

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  4. I can't even run for more than 30 seconds without stopping. THAT'S how out of shape I am.

    And that's pushing it.

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  5. that is insane! I can't even SLEEP for 10 hours straight.

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  6. Good lord. I broke a sweat just from reading about that race. Kudos to her!

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  7. Twenty years ago, only elite athletes ran marathons. Now, if you haven't run one yourself, I'm pretty sure you can name at least a few people who have. It's become much more mainstream for normal, everyday runners to push themselves to run 26.2 miles.

    Which means ... the elite athletes are also pushing themselves to run ... 50 miles ... and more! I know, it's crazy!

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  8. LOL. I love your reaction. I know a few bloggers who have done ultras. It sounds like a lot of work. But a lot of fun.

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  9. I'm winded just thinking about it. Ridic.

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  10. is that even possible? that's a thing people do?

    i'm going to take this opportunity to quit my running career before it ever began.

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  11. Yeah. It took me 8 hours to do my one, regular marathon. Granted, that was due to being extremely stubborn and deciding to walk when my IT band gave out (I really should've taken the med van back to the finish), but still.

    Then again, I'm crazy enough to considering doing another marathon... like next year doing the NYC one before I turn 30.

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  12. OMG. OMG. I can only imagine the intestinal issues she'll have after that.

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  13. Geez. 10-12 hours of running? Sheesh. That really doesn't sound fun.

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  14. I expect the butterfly catchers to come collect that girl anytime now.

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  15. Yeah. I'm not really sure what to even say about that. Running for 10 hours. Not even IF I'm being chased. They can catch me.

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  16. This just does not make sense to me. At all. Why? Why? WHY???

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  17. I'm pretty sure i'd be puking blood LOOOONG before the 10 hours is up....

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  18. like all at once?

    Dude and I think I am badass training for 12 miles.

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  19. Agree with Hillary... I can't even sleep for 10 hours straight. Running for 10 minutes could be a good goal for me... but boobs definitely get in the way. I think I'll just shoot for sleeping for 10 hours instead.

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  20. What race is it? In this area? Is it on the road or a trail race?

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  21. Yeah, that's too much time to be running. Even a marathon is crazy once you start going over the 5 hour mark. I once head a marathon winner interviewed and he said something like "If I couldn't run it in under 3 hours I wouldn't run it at all, that's too much time to just be running. Those people are the ones who deserve the credit."

    The problem is that as painful as it is the feeling when you're done can't be explained - my first marathon I went from "Somebody please put a bullet in my head, this hurts so much", to immediately after I crossed the finish line "What? I can do better than that." I've moved up my goal to do an ultra, but not if it takes me 10 hours...

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  22. That...that is absolutely insane. Is this woman part superhero, or some kind of robot, maybe?

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  23. I've skydived and that is way easier than running a marathon.

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  24. I have a friend who is an ultramarathoner and can say that it just takes a certain kind of person to be able to do it. I just recently began running though and can already relate to the "runner's high" - I dread what's in store for me.

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  25. Why would anyone want to do that to themselves?

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  26. Does that make her a pole-dancing ultra marathoner or an ultra pole dancing marathoner, or ??

    I bow to all superior beings who can do more than drag their sorry sore bodies around day by day. (standing on my feet on hard flooring for several hours on Wednesday wiped me out)

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  27. Holy crap. I'm guessing this particular girl doesn't think the upside-down, thighs-clamped moves you're doing in pole class are any big deal either? She is a robot, right? I am operating under the assumption that she's a robot. Oh my.

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