MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
17 June 2005
Shamelessly self-centered post I'm leaving for California tomorrow, where I'm due to run the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run next weekend.→[More:]
Unfortunately, I've been injured for the past several weeks, and I have no idea how far I'll get. I figure the more people who know, the more likely I am to keep going. There's some kind of primitive webcast, not that anyone here is ever around their computers, and you can look for my name: Andrew Pollock, if you want to follow along.
Very cool...I will egg you on from the comfort of my sofa here on the east coast! What kind of injury? Is it ok to run? I'll be tuning in to the webcast...good luck, omiewise.
The vast majority of ultra-marathoners are senior citizens, peacay. I've always thought of it as an old man's sport because of that.
Interestingly, you rarely see top marathon runners in their teens or even twenties. Marathons seems to be an adult's game, ultramarathon's an older person's game. What is it? Determination to train? Persistance to finish?
Yeah, I think you're right. I remember we had a really famous old dude here in Oz that did some outrageous runs...Sydney to Melbourne or whatever.
I didn't really look for them but I don't recall seeing hardly any 20-somethings in the list. Maybe they're scared they won't make it to the ripe old age.
I just see 69 years and 100 miles and think heart attack - but I suspect they have less risk factors than the majority of us.
Good on 'em. I'll watch from here. *rolls another cig*
Bah, 100 miles? That's nothing! How about running 8,316 miles around Australia to set a new record at the age of 75? Cliff Young is, I think, the guy peacay is referring to - he died in 2003.
Yeah dg....wow! Yeah, that's him. I was sure I saw him in an advert recently. Insane bastard! Heh. Actually, he was alright -- a good kind of inspiration I guess.
30 pairs of shoes for a run. The mind boggles.
Well, I tried: I failed. I was injured, as I said, and I had to pull out at 25 miles. It was good I posted this, though, because it kept me going through the earlier periods of pain to think of all the people I had told.
Anyway, I'd run 100 miles before, just not in such tough terrain. I'm gonna go back there, though, and I'm gonna finish.
photo by splunge
photo by TheophileEscargot
photo by Kronos_to_Earth
photo by ethylene
