It’s an Ultramarathon, Not a Sprint

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS, my high school history teacher declared, “AP classes are marathons, not sprints.” I grinned, knowing I had a secret. That teacher, a young man with a beard and cranky attitude that aged him even more, was the coach of our cross-country team. However, I still felt I knew more about running than he did, especially when it came to marathons.

I can’t count the marathon finish lines I’ve attended – 15? Maybe 20? The races have taken me all across my home state of Colorado – from Divide to Fairplay and Golden to the top of Pikes Peak (also known as “America’s Mountain”). The places I’ve been for these runs, especially if I include ultramarathons, are innumerable. My family