Why? by fred dummar

Why? OK, here goes.

We can tilt at this question. Good stuff for a "taper" week. (-;

Remember you asked...

1 - I've been a Soldier my entire adult life, it defines my character in a way nothing else does.

2- I started out as an enlisted dude (86) then became an officer (90) and ran into a desk about 1997. Coincidentally that would be the first year that I ran an ultra.

3- Suddenly I had been promoted out of being with the lads... no more of lots of things...wearing my rucksack, shooting, jumping out of planes with a purpose, laying in the dirt, being cold, hungry, wet, tired, satisfied with good physical labor in preparation to defend my nation. I could occasionally do those things, and still can...but there is a difference between pretending to be a Combat Soldier and being one. My Heroin was gone...
Leadership by example now had an entirely different spin, and I had no fix to feed the Soldier that still wanted to be taking on new challenges. Who wants to be on the road to becoming the FAT, OLD Colonel that can't hang with the boys? Not Doom that is for sure.

4- I got a call from a friend 6 weeks before the JFK 50 (1997). I would death march it without knowing a thing about ultras. I had found the methadone clinic...

5- I puttered around with ultras for the next few years, mostly as "gut check" exercises to keep me sane, and prove to myself (if no one else) that I could still be on an A-team.

6- Then I ran my first 100 in 2001, one month after 9/11. Now it was even more real. When the chips are down, people are tired, and bullets are flying who wants to be the guy that is gassed out and worthless? When you go to your internal well for more...will there be more? How do you expand your personnel capacity to endure pain, deprivation, cold, self doubt, etc...? I knew ultras were my way. About this time the ever lovely Mrs Doom started running, and ultras also became less selfish. I could do more of them, and enjoy them more...

7- I was off to Iraq and Afghanistan in 03 and 04. I missed Western States in 03 and was grandfathered in for 04. When I ran WS in 04 I did so in memory of a fallen friend. The WS RD even wanted me to talk about my friend the day before the race during the flag raising. It was very cathartic. You can work out some demons on the trails. Ultras were there for me again.

8- A series of staff jobs followed and ultras were always part training, and Soldier ego maintenance, part therapy, and often a way to spend time with my better 3/4. Pacing Susan and other runners became increasingly more important then what I was personally doing.

9- Then came the Ivan factor. My good friend Captain Castro that many of you have met. Suddenly I was presented with a Soldier and a runner who could not do it by himself. He was faster then his guides, eager for a challenge and in need of a mentor. I never claimed to be ready for the job, but I took it. Running with Ivan has done more for me then it does for him. Service to a fellow Soldier in such a tangible way allows both of us to demonstrate our commitment to the Warrior Ethos. While Ivan ensures people understand the meaning of "I will never quit", he provide me the opportunity to "never leave a fallen comrade."

I enjoy a physical challenge, and enjoy the company of like minded folks...But if you'll forgive me this indulgence it is because ultrarunners are more like Soldiers then anybody else.
Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 3:23 PM

I Love Soldiers. I Love being around them, talking to them, enduring hardship with them...seeing them struggle, improve, win... nothing like it.

Ultrarunners are different kinds of Soldiers, fighting different battles, but you're Soldiers just the same.

I Love ultrarunners.

The DNF at the Tahoe 100 gutted me in a way few things have. It was much more then failing to run 100 miles. I let the team down, even if only in my own mind.

Run on friends, though you be the last.

Cheers,
Doom