In 2005, when I finished my third Western States, I distinctly recall finding that place of flow relatively early on (I think around Red Star Ridge) and carrying it with me all through the day. Honestly, in that moment of clarity, there is no place I’d rather be. It is intensely exhausting to stay focused for so long, but to do so is to truly revel in what is, to many, the crowning achievement of their running lives and in the process of this revelation the event actually becomes secondary.Īs I sit here on the cusp of spring I find myself longing for that flow state. In my experience, those runners who enjoy the most success at Western States and other high profile races are those that can get themselves quickly into the flow state and remain there throughout the day. Add to that the component of competition on ultrarunning’s greatest stage and you have the makings of a downright flowfest. Call it the “runners high” or endorphins or whatever, regardless of the name, the feeling of being completely absorbed in the act of running is at once alluring, addicting, and empowering. In fact, I would argue that the achievement of the flow state is what draws many people to long-distance endurance running in the first place. Obviously, and not surprisingly, this notion of flow is important in athletics and, I would suggest, particularly important in endurance running. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.” Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Csíkszentmihályi is most famously known as the architect of the notion of flow in Csíkszentmihályi’s research he has discovered that humans enter into a flow state when fully absorbed in an activity during which they lose their sense of time, place and often experience overwhelming feelings of satisfaction. Csíkszentmihályi describes flow as “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. One of the most compelling thinkers Andy and I have discussed while pounding out the miles on the trail is Mihály Csíkszentmihályi (pronounced cheek-sent-me-high-ee). In particular, his notion of 100-mile races as “secular pilgrimages” has consistently fascinated me and continues to gain traction in my mind as I reflect on a 20-year career in ultrarunning. My long time friend and first pacer, Andy Roth, has always inspired me with his insights about running and life.
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