I was lent a 'motivational' book on running to help with my mental preparation for the race.
It was by a man called Dean Karnazes. He is an ultra-marathon man.
Anything longer than the traditional marathon is known as an ultra-marathon, apparently.
Dean runs a lot of these races. He has run across deserts and has run to the South Pole. He has run 200 miles continuously without sleep. I think you start to get the general idea of what sort of individual he may be.
And he is from California. Woop woop.
If you get a bit of time in what is left of your lives, it may be worth a read. If not I shall summarise.
Dean runs a lot.
He puts his body through unimaginable pain and in all likelihood terrible permanent damage which will reveal itself when reaches his older years.
And man oh man - he LOVES that pain. Woop woop.
The more pain the better the gain.
I think the message is that if a regular everyday (ever so slightly mad) dude like him can run and run, well, just about anyone anyone can. The pain is just pain and can be mentally over-ridden. A marathon is for breakfast (and yes he does sometimes run a marathon before breakfast).
There is something in here I'm sure, but I am not sure how motivational I found it to know that, as far as he is concerned, a marathon on it's own is a bit wimpy.
Real running starts where 26.2 miles finishes, he says.
Perhaps I should do a lap of honour when I finish then ?
Maybe better if I just run for another 100 yards or so once I hit the finishing line. That must then qualify me as an Ultra Marathon Man under their rules ? Cool, man.
Alternatively, if you are inspired to run 100 miles instead, and become a proper runner, have a look here http://ws100.com/.
Dean's run this one a lot. You get a free belt if you don't die.
Woop woop.
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