The Art of Slowing It Down: Ultra-Marathoner to Long Distance Backpacker
One foot in front of the other, no matter the pace, it is fascinating where our feet can take us when we open our minds to the possibilities. My Mom would say that once my feet hit the floor I never stopped. As I have aged, my curiosity has only grown as to the places I can go at all paces.
I started out as a road runner to lose weight and to help with my mental health in a troubling time of my life. I needed a way to process the pain and clear my head. It succeeded in helping me in both, therefore became a very important part of my life. Road turned to trails, then a whole new world opened to me. The trails took me among the trees where I felt safe and protected from the things off the trail. It was home.
I was never a speedster, but I had mastered the art of suffering. So, the slippery slope to the dark side, aka ultra-marathons, started. Mountain trails were my sanctuary. The taller the mountain, the gnarlier the trail, the better. Ultra-marathons became an efficient way to cover a big distance in a shorter period to see more places.
I started out with the 50 km races but it did not take me long to make the jump to 100 milers. The cool thing about doing these races is they open you up to new places you would usually not venture on your own. They have a mapped-out course, flagged for you, support in the way of food and hydration are provided and SAR is standing by for any medical needs. I discovered hidden gems within our beautiful Western Canadian mountains then took it across the country to Quebec to check out the gnarly Canadian Shield. I got brave and started doing solo trips to the US to explore races in California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington. The possibilities were and are ENDLESS!! The community is like nothing I had been a part of before. I started to do work for a few of the different racing organizations in different capacities to give back to the community that saved me at a time when I needed to feel love and support.
Backpacking came into my life after I started ultra-marathons. I had done a lot of car camping throughout my life, but now learning what was necessary to carry to survive in the backcountry for days on end was new to me. The investment of the right gear in order to make these backcountry adventures a reality was an education. Also, as a woman, learning what you NEED to carry and SHOULD not be carrying is the other thing. We do not need to bring an outfit for every day? Make up, for whom? Hair styling equipment, this was my struggle. I had to learn that vanity takes a back seat in the backcountry. My first couple trips were one or two nights. Nothing too far from the car or civilization. I had the bug, and I wanted to venture further.
The desire to go further with the big pack on my back started while I was doing a multi-day stage race in Colorado with parts on the Colorado Trail. The vast open spaces with fields of wildflowers were enticing to me. I truly wanted to slow it down and take it in, but this was not an option during a race. The fire REALLY got ignited in me when I ran an ultra-marathon in the Tahoe Lake area. I was on the Tahoe Rim Trail seeing this rugged, beautiful trail flash before me without truly getting to enjoy it. Sunrise on one side of the lake, sunset on the other, and with only a couple pictures to remind me of its beauty. The ultra-marathons inspired me to want to come back to these places to slow down and appreciate them.
I started my long-distance backpacking on the Vermont Long Trail. My mistake was I went in thinking like an ultra-marathoner and was humbled almost immediately. I was not going to cover the distance I do in a day at a race with a big pack on my back over that terrain. I was missing the whole point of why I wanted to backpack in the first place. Once I checked my ego, reduced my expectations, then I began to enjoy the trail more.
What have ultra-marathons brought to my life?
The ability to travel far and light
Community
Pushing new limits
Introduction to new places
Confidence `
Tenacity
What has long distance backpacking brought to my life?
#disconnecttoreconnect
Time to enjoy the sunrises and sunsets.
Seeing new places
Carrying your life on your back shows you what you can live without
Slowing down my brain
Sense of freedom
One might think these 2 activities are complete opposites, but are they? The key difference I see is that when I participate in ultra-marathons, I am very internalized, focussing on what gets me from point A to B. Backpacking I find I can externalize my focus to enjoying the trail with all 5 senses.
It is very common these days to hear many of the elites crossing over from ultra-marathons into chasing FKTs on some of the more popular long distance and thru hiking trails. Vice versa as you hear long distance/thru hikers turning to ultra-marathons. The crossover is becoming more and more popular.
I would not identify myself more than the other as they both bring out the best parts of me.
Ultra-marathoner + Long distance backpacker = The Endless Adventurer
