I've been reading a book called Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes. It's basically an autobiography about a guy that runs insane mileage, why he does it, how he does it and how it fits into the story of his life. Personally, I think the guy is a nut. I don't think I run the way he runs. He runs for pain and I run for pleasure. However, as I read the book, I find some undeniable similarities in the way we think.
Dean runs a lot at night, or at least he does in the part of the book I am currently reading. It sounds like a fantastic time to run. There is no sun beating on you and that makes a big difference in the middle of summer. So, on Saturday evening, I was in the mood for a run and decided to give it a try. I headed out at around 11:30 and ran for about an hour.
It was cooler than running at mid-day, but I still got quite warm. I have avoided the heat just as well by running early in the morning on shady trails. But it was still pretty fun. I ran across a couple that was smooching as they said goodbye. I think they were a bit surprised by some dude running by and interrupting their moment.
Two of my favorite runs ever have been during the Wasatch Back Relay in the middle of the night along Rockport reservoir. I would shut my headlight off for a mile now and then and run in complete peace. The temperatures were in the 50's and my heart rate was under control as I was ripping through the miles. The leg was five miles but they changed it to something like eight last year. I was stoked.
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