If you know where to look, inspiration can be found all around. I most often find running inspiration from the athletes I coach; watching them challenge themselves and strive for big goals. While their successes are great and inspiring themselves, they are often secondary to all the little moments on the journey, the challenges overcome, and the accomplishments achieved. I’ve also been known to go down an inspirational rabbit hole through social media, YouTube, and even race reports. But let’s face it, the algorithm doesn’t always work very well, and the rabbit holes can quickly turn into…whatever the opposite of a rabbit hole is.
This weekend was completely different. One of my good friends has been an aid station captain at High Lonesome for several years. He’s been asking me to come volunteer with him for most, if not all of those years, but for one reason or another, I’ve never been able to make it work. And while it again wasn’t ideal logistically for me this year, I committed to a 12-hour shift on Saturday (the race starts on Friday at 6:00 AM) at one of the most critical locations, Raspberry 2, the final aid station before the finish line. This station is 93 miles into the race, a mere 7.3 miles is all that’s lies between the runners and a shiny new belt buckle.
Regardless of which feelings were felt, there was something I saw in every sweaty, salt-crusted, tired face…determination. Determination to keep pushing, to continue to stretch the band and push the envelope of what they thought was possible. Determination to not let anything get in their way, to take each deliberate step of the next 7 miles with the anticipation of crossing that finish line. Determination to close out a long and arduous journey which not only got them to the start line, but allowed them to cross that same line again in the opposite direction more than a day later, to cheers, cowbells, screams, and maybe a few tears.
At Raspberry 2, we didn’t get to see the flood of emotions at the finish line, the hugs, the screams, the tears of joy, at least not in person. But we knew…yeah, we knew when each runner left that final aid station, they would soon be taking that step across the line. One step out of many tens of thousands of steps. One final step, made possible through their unwavering determination.
Having the opportunity to volunteer at any race is definitely rewarding. Volunteering at an ultra can give one a whole new perspective about what’s possible, what people are capable of, and how amazing this community is. To those of you who inspired me this weekend, maybe none of which will actually ever read this, thank you!