Writing Lessons from the World of Ultrarunning
/They say writing is a marathon, not a sprint.
I’ve had that phrase bumping around my brain this week—not because of the “writing” part, but because of the “marathon” part. That’s because my brother and I are about to drive to Canada so I can support him as he races: not a marathon, but 120 miles. On trails. In the mountains. Without sleeping. For fun.
My brother is an ultrarunner, which means he competes in distances longer than the traditional 26.2-mile marathon. Ultramarathons are usually held in rugged, remote locations, where wilderness smarts are critical, anything can go wrong, and runners are pushed to their limits.
Believe it or not, ultramarathons have taught me a lot about writing.
Odds are good you do not do 100-mile races for fun. But if you’re reading this, it’s likely you have some significant writing goals. The discipline, self-care, and mental tactics ultrarunners employ can be used by anyone facing a gargantuan task. So, this week, I’m sharing three ultrarunning rules you can apply to your writing life.
Break before you need to. Treating an ultramarathon like a sprint by not eating, drinking, or pausing enough is a classic rookie mistake. The most common reason ultrarunners drop out of races isn’t injury or fatigue, but undernourishment. It can be hard to remember to eat and drink normally during big races, but it’s the key to success. Runners who take care of themselves before they feel the need to ensures they’ll stay strong.
Likewise, take care of yourself during big writing projects! You are not in a sprint; you are in an ultramarathon. Prevent burnout by taking regular breaks, being gentle with yourself, eating well, and staying hydrated. We all know the feeling of being hungry but afraid to lose our focus, or of our backsides going numb from sitting in the same position, or of trying fruitlessly to muscle through writer’s block. Take care of yourself before you reach that point, and you’ll be more productive in the … well … long run.
Embrace the pain cave. There’s a phenomenon that occurs in every ultramarathon I’ve ever seen, participated in, or read about. Randomly, in an instant, a runner loses the will to continue, even if their bodies are still strong. Their feet grow heavy, their anxiety balloons, they feel a sense of hopelessness. This dark place is what we call “the pain cave.” It’s so commonly experienced in the ultrarunning world, it’s something regularly joked about. But the funniest thing about the pain cave is that it doesn’t last. If you run through the pain cave, you’ll eventually get a fresh burst of energy, a flash of encouragement, the will to continue.
If writing were fun and easy, everyone would be publishing books—but writers often experience the pain cave themselves. Self-doubt, writer’s block, publishing roadblocks, unresponsive audiences … sometimes, writing is extra tough, and throwing in the towel is an attractive prospect. When this happens to you, give a little wave of acknowledgment to the pain cave. It’s no fun, and you’ll have to navigate it. But it’s not a dead end: stay the course.
Time on feet. Successful ultrarunners don’t just run races and go on training jogs. They also live by the mantra, “time on feet.” Time on feet means going for a run, but it also means standing at the desk instead of sitting. And walking to the store instead of driving. And hopping on one foot during commercial breaks. And taking the stairs instead of the elevator. And walking around barefoot. By orienting their lives around movement beyond running, they get sturdy, adaptable legs that can handle the curveballs races (and life) will throw at them.
This concept of “time on feet” (though it may be “time in chair”) is absolutely critical for people who want to be great writers. Maybe you want to write a book—that’s fantastic. But it’s not enough to sit down and write a book. You must also fill your life with practices that make your brain strong and flexible. Read great literature. Keep a journal. Get a pen pal. Try NaNoWriMo. Solve and create crosswords. Compose good emails. Listen to audiobooks. Attend poetry slams. Browse bookstores. Fill your life with words, so that when you write your book, you’ll be a well-rounded, sturdy, confident literary force to be reckoned with.
In many ways, writing a book is as crazy an endeavor as running 100 miles. Embrace the bigness of your writing goals, word by word, knowing that you are achieving something rare, remarkable, and worthwhile.
Written by Chelsea Green, Inspira Editor and author of Leave It All: The Journal of a Maybe Missionary
