"I always start these events with very lofty goals, like I'm going to do something special, and after a point of body deterioration and the goals get evaluated down, the best I can hope for is to avoid throwing up on my shoes." - Ephrain Romesberg (65 miles into the Badwater Ultramarathon)
So why am I doing this? Have I gone insane or am I masochistic? Honestly, it’s probably a little of both. Running 100 miles through Leadville, CO, a town that sits at an altitude twice as high as most planes pressurize their cabins, is not something that can be attempted on a whim. Ken Chlouber, founder of the Leadville Trail 100, knows this. “It’s the only weekend when all the beds in the hotels and emergency rooms are full at the same time”. However, with rigorous training and proper nutrition, about 40% of the 800 people who line up at the start will finish the race in less than 30 hours. That means moving at an average pace of 18 minutes/mile. This may not seem difficult at first, but maintaining that pace after 50 miles while you are hiking up the treacherous Hope’s Pass at 12,600 feet is another story.
The pure magnitude of the challenge is what originally attracted me towards it. They say the first 50 miles are run with your legs and the second 50 are run with your brain. Everybody is sore and hurting after 50 miles, so mental focus and willpower to endure must override signals from the body to quit simply because it is uncomfortable. In this respect, I admire the power our mind has to overcome the seemingly most impossible tasks. Although the runners can quit any time they want, all push on with blisters on their feet, pain down their legs, and hallucinations on the trail. This arduous fight, I believe, can transcend to every facet of life, regardless of if you’ve ever laced up a pair of running shoes.
This fighting attitude was also found in a close friend to me who recently passed away. Kenny Menz was a very important influence in my life along with the many others who got to know him over the years. I got to know him well from racing BMX as the guy who would announce the line up for a race of 11 year olds like it was the final stretch of the Kentucky Derby. His enthusiasm for life radiated through the loudspeaker every race he went to and brought out the competitive spirit in everyone, regardless of how tired they were. Last year, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and began treatment immediately. Throughout the entire process, he fought like hell and kept everyone’s spirits up by making wiseass cracks to make everyone laugh at his bedside. Unfortunately, the best treatments weren’t enough to eliminate the tumor and he passed away not long ago. I have decided to run the Leadville 100 in Kenny’s memory and to fundraise for the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA). The ABTA has many great resources for those affected by brain tumors and helps fund research to develop better treatments. My hope is that our contribution will advance what we know about brain tumors and spread awareness and provide support for those who have been or are currently affected by a brain tumor.
I started this blog for those who are interested in what it is like to train for a 100-mile race and to rally support for the ABTA. I am excited for the challenges and opportunities that are ahead of me and I will try to add posts at least once a week about my training, food intake, and races I have coming up before the big event. If you have any questions or comments, you can write them in the comment box or email me at justinhellwinkel@gmail.com. If you would like to support my fundraising goal to the ABTA, there is a link on the upper right hand side of the blog. If you know anybody who may be interested in following my journey and supporting this goal, please pass this link along. Thank you all for the support!!
Justin
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