The rare athlete will remember that feeling and devote his/her life to sharing it with others. Rutland, Vt. resident Steve Lulek is an example of such an athlete.
Check out our gear picks for summer fun and travel like the Therm-a-Rest Comfort System to keep you cozy when you're camping.
How you can learn to control that adrenaline rush and use it to your advantage on race day.
Langton was a member of the UMass Boston swim team in 1985-1986 before transferring to Salem State College, where he joined the diving team. After a typical Saturday morning practice at UMass Boston in 1985, Langton met legendary marathon swimmer Pete Jurzinski at the Curley Recreation Center on L Street. Jurzinski, who now holds the American record for most English Channel swims completed, inspired Langton.
“I don’t want to say (Pete’s) stroke was ugly, but it was unique,” says Langton. “I said to myself, ‘Why can’t I do that?’”
Langton then tested his stamina in the UMass Boston pool and found he was able to swim for five hours straight. Still feeling the open-water itch post-graduation, Langton mapped out a three-year plan in 1996. The first year he completed the Boston Light 10-mile swim, the next he completed the Manhattan Marathon (8 hours, 6 minutes) and third he swam the English Channel (11 hours, 56 minutes).
“In the ocean, I’ve actually asked people for time and found that I lost three hours,” he says. “Time stands still. You’re aware of everything: keeping your liquids up, eating enough food, but those moments are some of the most peaceful times of my life.”
Ying Tao— Racing Against Injuries
Many of New England’s most passionate runners can relate to Ying Tao’s plight. The 21-year-old Medford, Mass. native is paying the price for running on the hard concrete of Boston’s surrounding areas. Tao, an ultra-marathoner, has suffered stress fractures in her shin, arch problems in both feet and hip fractures. Still not fully recovered, she is planning on running the 50-mile Pineland Farms Challenge in Maine on May 25.
“My injuries make it really difficult to train,” says Tao. “I’m supposed to take six to eight weeks off but that’s impossible. I can’t stand for long periods, but I’ll have all of June to rest.”
Tao began running her freshman year at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. She completed four marathons during college before seeking out first ultra-marathon last summer. “The regular marathons got boring and stale,” she says. “I wanted something more interesting. Now I want to keep going further.”
Tao completed the Pineland Farms Challenge 50K last spring. This year, the race will expand to 50 miles. The extra 19 miles helped make Tao’s decision to return.“I can’t even remember the last five miles last year,” she says. “You get so zoned out you’re not even thinking.”
For someone like Tao who runs with pain, finding that zone is the most difficult part.
“My shin definitely kills when I run, but I need to forget about it and keep going,” she says. “I’ve been told it’s going to bother me when I get older. But I feel like I’m young enough where I’ll be fine.”
Chris Yager—Racing with a Team
Chris Yager has no interest in maps or course markers during his competitions. Before the 31-year-old competes for 60 hours straight, he only wants to know a meeting point and starting time.
Yager, of Williston, Vt., is the president of Green Mountain Adventure Racing Association based out of his hometown of Williston. His association is organizing the largest (in participation numbers) adventure race in the United States this year—the MVP Health Care Bitter Pill Adventure Race on August 2.
Yager took an interest in the sport in 2005 when he saw the now-extinct Eco-Challenge on television. Soon after, he entered an eight-hour race in Canada, which his three-person team won. His next race will be the 60-hour Untamed New England Adventure Race from June 12 to 15.
“I love the adventure aspect,” says Yager. “I don’t want a marked course. I want to be exploring new things. I want to go places not too many people have been. It’s fun to fight through the woods and get away from the pavement, city and people.”
The unknown element of adventure racing separates the sport from other multi-day endeavors. Participants compete in teams and rarely separate during a race. The challenge is navigating through unknown territory by trekking, whitewater canoeing, horseback riding, sea kayaking, scuba diving, mountaineering and mountain biking. The entire team must finish together; if a participant cannot finish, the team is disqualified.
“It’s amazing the bond that forms between teammates,” says Yager. “We need to help each other. It’s not a relay.” The navigation aspect also separates the sport from endurance running, swimming or cycling.“If you navigate the course intelligently, you have a chance to beat better athletes,” he says. “That makes it more interesting. It’s as much a mental challenge as it is physical.”
Racers rarely know the total distance of the course until hours before the race, which cause divisiveness between teammates—another potential challenge other ultra-endurance activities do not offer. “I’ve been fortunate,” says Yager. “I’ve always raced on united teams. But I’ve passed teams that have been screaming at each other. It’s not a good scene.”
| Comments |
|
