I'm Gonna do What...?

Well, for us runners, the opportunities to set goals for races etc., are pretty limited. Most major spring marathons were postponed, our annual spring and summer 5k's were also sacrificed, in short, now we run, well because we like it, and it breaks the monotony of lockdown.

That said, I had no real goals to set, as most of the times these days, I start getting in to shape, start training for a goal, and then, well I need surgery. Not exactly a positive set up. Then I discovered the guys who run the Barkley's Marathon, or, The Race that Eats its Young, had set up a 1000k challenge to run across TN. I was all in.

 These guys are known for operating the hardest most insane ultra marathon in the world, more on that later, but I had to get in on it. As quickly as I was excited, my excitement was also quickly tempered:

 -I learned about the race May 17th, it began May 1.
-It finishes August 31st, meaning about a 5 mile average a day, and well, I take one day a week off.
 -Also, and less important, I was probably too late to get a T-Shirt, sad face.

 Even still, I registered, and as I write this, am now 30.5 miles into this bad boy.

 So here is the question, why should you care or read this...?

 Yes, I am going to talk about running, that is kind of the point, but more fun, is to take a pseudo Bill Bryson approach to this thing. Think, A Walk in the Woods/ A Sunburned Country, but from home.

 I plan to research the areas I am working through on the virtual map, and provide insights and interesting, well probably boring, but insights none the less. As I am going to have to log some legit miles for me, especially since its been so long since I was really running, there will be lots of existential rambling as I discuss whatever floats through my head as I try to average around 8 miles a day through the humid Nashville summer months.

 That said, read if you wish, and be thankful these long posts won't be filling the FB feed.

 In case you were wondering...4 days in, 30 miles logged, about 20 of those absolutely water logged, and my right hip is killing me. I promise more enlightening and encouraging content on the next post which will cover the run through Memphis and across Shelby County, and answer the question I am sure you have now, how on earth has he run 30 miles and not crossed Memphis, and Shelby County yet...