Some people dream of being a doctor, traveling the world, living a grand luxurious life surrounded by warm beaches and fresh coconuts. My dream? I want to run a 100-mile race.

Is that crazy? Is that even possible?? Now that I’ve immersed myself in the ultra world, it doesn’t seem all that insane. But if I take a step back… an average 100-mile race will take 28 hours. That’s running in the heat of the day, darkness of the night, and again through sunrise, without sleeping. If I really think through the details – blistered feet, aching muscles, monotonous running through barren nothingness – I can’t imagine how this came to me as a dream.