Running Your Way

The Cliff Shuffle, The Unconventional Can Lead to Victory

There is a classic joke, which I love, that goes like this, “How do you know if someone has run a marathon? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.” And indeed, can you blame them? It’s like sipping sour milk and asking a friend, “Taste this. Is it off to you?” My advice, similar to writing a book, is to consider another hobby. There are an infinite number of alternatives: taking your kid to a movie, embarking on a cross-country hike, becoming a barista, writing a novel, building an analytics platform for long-form fiction, trying out for a semi-professional baseball team, launching a media company, opening a bookstore, or listening to venture firm pitches. Choose Your Own Adventure, in books as in life.

Endurance races are somewhat deceptively marketed. This weekend, enter a 5K/10K/Half Marathon/Full Marathon. Whoa, that’s a menu, isn’t it? Warren Buffet touts long-term interest as life’s greatest invention. Although beneficial in monetary policy, the compounding effect in fitness may not be as favorable. Yes, 26.2 miles is daunting—the extreme outlier inside the weekend breadbasket of racing. Still, if one has the fever, no matter what anyone says, the race will be entered even if the distance is compounded yet again.

For the undeterred, there are many ways to run the race. The same goes in life, both personally and professionally.

The Cliff Shuffle, A Story.

A friend recently reminded me that this year marks the 40th anniversary of a legendary race. Ultramarathon running undoubtedly stands as a pinnacle in endurance sports, challenging even the most seasoned athletes and adventurers.