New nemeses keep racing fresh, but I also find challenge in going longer, with only the distance as foe. I run my first 50-mile race, journey across the Grand Canyon and back, circumnavigate Mount St. Helens.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I've found that my athletes run their best races after about 10 weeks of intense training.
I ran the Iditarod twice. I finished once. I came in 42nd or 43rd place out of 70 plus teams the first time, and I scratched 80 miles from Nome the second time. You can read about my experience in the race in my books 'Woodsong' and 'Winterdance.'
There is always the excitement of running races.
I'm a competitor. I really enjoyed the race more than just going out and running to run.
I've been racing for my whole life, and I know what I need to do to be able to win.
Running on different types of racetracks is challenging - not only for the drivers, but even more for the team members who have to make adjustments to the cars before each race.
I have run with the bulls in Pamplona. I have raced with Mario Andretti in Indianapolis. I have climbed the Great Wall of China. I have jumped out of airplanes over Kansas.
I race in two or three classic races a year and I may carry on for 10 more years or I may stop tomorrow.
I've had a lot of success over the years racing in New York, but the main point is that I feel the marathon is a different event, a lot more my event.
I found longer races boring. I found the mile just perfect.