I had the privilege of being a guest on episode 8 of The Ostrich Running Podcast, hosted by Nick Meraz, where we explored together the complex relationship between ultra-running and emotional well-being. This conversation shed light on ultra-endurance as a multifaceted experience that can serve both as a path to resilience and a potential form of emotional avoidance. We both found ourselves reflecting further–“What happens when the thing that saved you doesn’t serve you anymore?”
Ultra-Endurance: A Path to Resilience
We know the “runner’s high” is real–a result of the release of natural opioids in the body (Boecker, et al. 2008). Evidence continues to mount that exercise supports mental health, helping to reduce anxiety and depression (Sharma, et al., 2006). But what about ultra-endurance? Some early evidence suggests that the effects are more nuanced and complicated. The ultra-endurance bike packing events I have had the privilege of participating in, including Odyssey of the VOG, The Big Lonely, Stagecoach 400, and the Oregon Timber Trail, have been more than physical endeavors; they were deeply psychological journeys.
Each event pushed me well beyond my comfort zone. Sleep deprivation and exhaustion inhibited my prefrontal cortex, and allowed for an altered state of consciousness. Biking alone for hundreds of miles, day and night, offered a unique space for introspection, a sanctuary to ask difficult questions and explore my emotional world. I gained perspective, and found new limits. I will never forget riding through the coastal mountains experiencing a sense of profound safety in the wild, riding through the Anza-Borrego Desert during a night packed with stars, improvising and problem-solving over thousands of downed trees on the Oregon Timber trail. I am more resilient and grateful as a result of these experiences.
When Ultra-Endurance Becomes Avoidance
As Nick and I explored, ultra-endurance’s relationship with mental health is not solely beneficial. Our training regimen and race calendar can start to take a toll on the relationships we hold the most dear, our bodies, and our other important work. When we find ourselves ignoring these costs and “doubling down,” this is evidence that ultra-endurance endeavors might be serving as a form of avoidance, a means to escape confronting the deeper, often more painful aspects of our lives. Perhaps we can’t bear the perception we are “stagnating,” or “losing our edge” (otherwise known as aging, haha).
Maybe we are chasing the high of peak experiences, or a podium spot. Maybe being “ultra” feels important, and scaling back seems so “ordinary,” “boring,” or “unimportant.” Recognizing when ultra-endurance shifts from being a therapeutic practice to a way we are avoiding is crucial. This awareness allows us to maintain a healthy relationship with ultra-endurance endeavors, ensuring that our participation in these events remain a source of strength rather than a means of suppression.
A Journey of Self-Discovery
My discussion with Nick emphasized the importance of introspection in understanding our motivations for engaging in ultra-endurance. Are we lacing up our shoes in search of joy, connection, and self-discovery, or are we running away from the discomfort of our internal world? This reflection is vital in ensuring that ultra-endurance enriches our lives, enhancing our relationship with ourselves and the world around us.
Reflection Questions:
- What drives you to engage in ultra-endurance?
- How does ultra-endurance impact your mental and emotional well-being?
- Can you identify moments when ultra-endurance serves as a healing practice versus a form of avoidance?
Challenge
My good friend says, “If you want to find out why you do something, stop doing it.” What would happen if you stopped your ultra-endurance training for week? What would this mean about you? What happens in your body? What other behaviors do you engage in? Try it! Or engage in this imaginally (after all, for some of us, wearing out the “rat inside” keeps us behaving kindly to those we love). If you ever find yourself injured and unable to engage in training, use this time to explore this question (that way you can still train mentally even with your injury).
Running with Awe Exercise
During your next ultra-endurance activity, commit to running without headphones or distractions, noticing all that you see with childlike wonder. Notice anything that is novel. See if your experience lines up with the research. Did you stay present and connected in a new way? What emotions did you feel? How does this differ from baseline? How did you relate to your environment?
The Community Aspect: Ultra-Endurance as a Shared Experience
The ultra-endurance community plays a pivotal role in the psychological benefits of the sport. Events don’t happen without volunteers and support crews. Have you tried both sides of the experience? Perhaps the give and take of this would deepen a sense of belonging, support, and shared understanding. Reflect on how interactions with fellow athletes amplify the positive impacts of ultra-endurance on mental health, offering a collective space for growth, encouragement, and healing. How have you offered your gifts to others in your community? Could you do more for others in the sport? How might this increase purpose and belonging in the community?
Navigating the Challenges: When Ultra-Endurance No Longer Serves
There comes a point for some athletes when the activity that once brought joy and fulfillment starts to feel like a burden or a source of stress. Or worse–injuries have sidelined them. Recognizing and navigating this shift is essential. It’s an opportunity to reevaluate our relationship with ultra-endurance, exploring new sources of meaning and purpose. What’s next? I am really enjoying What’s the Rusch podcasts, where world-famous endurance athlete Rebecca Rusch shares the pivot in her own life following a traumatic brain injury, where she has turned her adventuring spirit to exploration of the inner world.
Conclusion
Ultra-endurance holds the potential to be a powerful ally in our journey toward mental health and emotional well-being. By engaging with it mindfully, we can harness its transformative power to foster resilience, growth, and healing. As we lace up our shoes and hit the trail, let us remember that the most significant strides we make are not measured in miles or podium spots but in the wisdom to work, play, and love in ways that are most meaningful to us.