In 2012 I felt like my race calendar was getting a little stagnant. I still loved what I was doing but some of the races I was doing were starting to feel like just another day at the office. I have raced 11 ironman triathlons and 20 marathons and God knows how many shorter course events – and I love those distances and races. But I was searching for something different, or bigger, or just “more”.
It’s not that my races are getting any easier, or that I’m getting faster. They still hurt like hell and are tough as hell. But combining hurt with boredom can be very draining. I knew I needed something more but I had no idea what “more” meant. Out of the blue, I received a text message from my buddy Ethan Zohn who simply said “has anyone talked to you about the ultra marathon in South Africa yet”?
Ethan and I have become good friends over the years. Kindred spirits so to speak who share a passion for endurance sports and were also both formerly soccer goalkeepers. (There is something about that goalkeeper camaraderie and fraternity that is much bigger than I will post here). Ethan and I are also both blood cancer survivors ( 2 time survivors if you are keeping score at home) and share a warrior attitude that we are very proud of and advocate. A mutual friend introduced Ethan and I just after he was diagnosed thinking the connection would be good for both of us. And this friend was right.
Since then Ethan and I have partnered on a number of initiatives and I have raced the NYC Marathon a few times with his charity Grassroot Soccer. So obviously, his text message caught my eye and piqued my curiosity. Might this text massage be the key to whatever I was looking for? Ethan immediately brought me up to speed on the trip and the race and within a day or two, I was fully onboard.
I wasn’t fully sure what I was getting myself into, but I knew the very mystery of that was also a strong attraction to do this race. I was going to Cape Town to race a 56KM ultra marathon in support of Ethan’s charity Grassroot Soccer. I would need to raise $3,000 to race, but that was not a concern. And thanks to an amazing support system, I met my fundraising goal pretty early.
So here I am 23 days away from the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in Cape Town South Africa, and yes, this race and trip are starting to get in my head a little. Physically, I feel great. Training has been going well and I expect to do one more long run effort this weekend before cutting back and tapering down. I have also added 6 AM spin classes to my schedule for a number of reasons. I wanted to add the high intensity cross training aspect to my overall plan. I also need to drag my butt onto the saddle as the triathlon season is almost upon us. And equally as important, I wanted to maintain the good mental discipline aspect of being up and in motion early in the AM. Logistically, I think things have all fallen into place in terms of the trip itself. Or at least everything is on track and should fall into place. I’m just a little nervous about the enormity of this race…
But in all reality, I think the fact that I am racing a little “scared” is a very good sign. Being too comfortable and relaxed going into a race makes it too easy to become complacent and potentially cheat your performance. I like the idea that this race has me feeling a little edgy. It shows that I am respecting this distance and the race itself.
I have heard nothing but amazing things about Cape Town and this race. While I am nervous, I am totally embracing this opportunity.
Stay tuned. Lots more to come.
The Thing About ST
OK, let me level set for a minute. I wouldn’t be doing Scott any justice if I didn’t at least briefly mention a few of his triathlon accomplishments and accolades. After all, Scott is a two-time Ironman world champion who also has a few 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the big dance. His racing resume could wallpaper that spare bedroom in your house. You know, the room with the old exercise equipment that doubles as a clothes rack. Scott is in the Ironman Hall of Fame and along with his peers Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and Scott Molina collectively known as “The Big Four”, he has helped pour the foundation of this iconic multisport sub-culture that has been the epicenter of existence for so many people. For many of us, it was The Big Four who were the catalysts for us even getting involved in this sport to begin with. We watched those early races in awe, in disbelief, and with a magnetic attraction that others either understand, or will never comprehend.
That was then.
But Scott also understands that in the grand scheme of things, does any of that really matter?
Today, the California kid is a little wiser (note – I am intentionally NOT saying he is all grown up) and quite content with his life which includes teaching sports literature at San Diego State University, life guarding, and spending quality time with family and good friends – the things that really count. He is proud of where he has been but even more happy about where he is. And he expresses great appreciation of the support system that has been with him throughout his journey. He still trains, but that training may consist of a picturesque barefoot scamper at sunset on the beach. Scott and I have been email buddies for several years. I have always had so much respect for his writing and insight, and his ability to turn raw emotion into that perfectly chosen word or crafted phrase. Over the years, I have shared many points to ponder and assorted thoughts and feelings on life and on sport with ST and always valued and appreciated his feedback and engagement.
My respect for him extends far beyond the elements of swim, bike, and run. What I appreciate is his ability to recognize, then both interweave and differentiate the life and sport connection.
His influence on me is even more evident in my fourth book entitled “In Search of Center”. That title came from an email Scott sent where we discussed the notion, how can one ever find their center if they don’t occasionally brush up against the edges? Scott went on to provide the following review of the same book.
So Mr. Tinley, thanks for a great and unexpected adventure this weekend and as I reiterated during our cool down run, “life really is pretty damn great”. Until the next time. Keep the faith.
“Stephen Brown writes with equal parts thoughtful muse and devil-may-care prose. Perhaps born of his own life challenges, he doesn’t swoon his readers as much as he shakes their own foundations of belief about what sport is and what it isn’t. In a world of slick, market-driven writers, Brown writes for the best of all reasons—because it helps him to understand a confusing time and place. If you’re looking for careful, exacting narratives, you won’t find them here. But if you want a view of one man’s successful struggle to elevate his life through physical culture, you’ve come to the right place” – Scott Tinley, Author of “Racing the Sunset: An Athlete’s Quest for Life after Sport”
Post Script – Click HERE for a previous post and a little ST perspective from this past summer.