Last time, I wrote about my newest hero, a woman who finished the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run before the 30-hour cutoff time with six seconds to spare. Gunhild Swanson is the first woman over 70 to finish that event. Her achievement marked the beginning of a series of inspiring events featuring others of my running heroes in recent weeks.
Olympian, coach, author, motivational speaker, (and my personal mentor) Jeff Galloway celebrated his 70th birthday by running his 200th marathon here in Missoula on July 12. We turned out in force to recognize his twin milestones and to recognize his lifetime contributions to the sport as a whole and to our local running community.
Basque mountain running phenom Kilian Jornet set a second course record in two consecutive years for Colorado's Hardrock 100-mile endurance run, finishing in less than one-half the allowable 48-hour time limit for the event. His time of 23½ hours included time lost off-course, and breaking through unstable snow above his knees. Jornet remained at the finish line more than five hours to congratulate those who followed him closely, then returned to cheer for those who arrived in the final hour the following day.
Local Missoula favorite, Mike Foote, finished a strong second at Hardrock with a smile on his face. Mike focused his comments on the two fellow runners who served as his pacers for segments of the event. A pacer is asked to provide the competitor with an optimal combination of encouragement, practical support, and tough love. I can see that we all value those people in our lives who pace us to do our best under trying circumstances.
Across the continent, the same weekend as Hardrock and the Missoula Marathon, 41-year-old Scott Jurek set a new record for the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail. With a finishing time measured on an entirely different scale, he finished in 46 days, 5 hours (3 hours faster than the prior record). Jurek has a long list of achievements, not the least of which is his commitment to a vegan diet and living proof that it can fuel exceptional athletic performance.
I am impressed by the physical, emotional, and mental endurance exemplified by these remarkable runners. They inspire me to maintain my own long-term commitment to fitness and to return from setbacks rather than using them as an opportunity to quit. I am, however, even more impressed by the combination of spirit, humility, and connection to others displayed in various ways by each individual on this list.
Who are your heroes? What about them do you find to admire? How are you different because of their influence in your life?
