100K and Comfort Zones

My wife’s niece ran the Javelina Jundred this past Saturday. It is a 100k run in very nice park outside of Phoenix. 100k is 62 miles. She and her husband have run multiple marathons which is insane by itself. It estimated that somewhere between 1.5 million to almost 3 million in the US have completed a marathon. Its a very elite group of athletes. So if running a marathon is insane, what does that make running a 100k?

For perspective, running a 100k is the equivalent of running a marathon getting to the end and saying, “oh what the hell, I think I will keep going and run another marathon“. Then at the end of the second marathon thinking, “I got some left in the tank, I think I will continue on for another half-marathon“. The group who have run a 100k are even more amazing than marathon runners who are already an elite group.

Anyone who completes a 100k is a winner. Runners have 29 hours to complete the run. There were 325 finishers along with a large number who were not able to finish. My wife’s niece had a time of 12 hours and 22 minutes. She was 39th to the finishing line, the 21st female and only 18 males finished before her.

I was following in her online and sent a mental cheer as she chugged along and passed various mileposts. Frankly when she crossed the finish line I was exhausted. I am sure she was tired too.

I found myself wondering durning the day why some people, seemingly ordinary, do extraordinary things. People who put themselves through extreme discomfort to accomplish a personal goal. A goal most would not even consider. Essentially, they push themselves out of their comfort zone. Way out of the comfort zone for that matter.

One reason is there is evidence that individuals who push themselves way past their comfort zone, often live healthier happier lives.

One the most interesting books I have ever read is about getting out of your comfort zone. It is called “The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self” and is written by Michael Easter. The book is about our evolutionary need to push ourselves to get out of our comfort zone. The author reviews conversations and research he has had with various extremely talented individuals against the background of doing a 33 day backpacking hunting trip in the Alaskan wilds. If you have not read the book, I would highly recommend so doing.

I am both impressed and happy that my wife’s niece pushed herself out of her comfort zone by meeting and going past the very limits of a physical and mental challenge.

Though I never did any thing close to what she did, I did have lots of bike adventures that pushed me past what I thought was my maximum endurance. Those extremely difficult moments are the times I now cherish the most. For anyone out there who is wondering if they have the personal drive to do something out of their comfort zone, my advice is to do it. While doing it, your body may hurt like hell, your mind may ask you questions like why I am doing this, but when you are done, you will have earned a lifetime internal smile.

Congratulations to her and all the runners. Running a 100k is an amazing accomplishment. You pushed yourself way past your comfort zone and reached a goal that very very few can achieve.