Test Article for Alpaca Content

As a self-proclaimed journalist searching for something to journal about, I knew it would be impossible not to find a story at the 2019 Western States Endurance Run. Hundreds of runners come to Squaw Valley, California and set off at 5:00 AM to cover one hundred miles on foot. In witnessing the raw human strength and resilience that accompanies such a colossal task, one couldn’t possibly do justice to the amount of extraordinary stories behind this day. The front of this year’s race, however, was something that I couldn’t help but notice stood out a bit more. A combination of teamwork, tremendous athleticism and pure love.

Ultrarunning takes a certain amount of internal fire that often separates those who do it from — well — those who don’t. This is not to say that ultrarunners can’t fit in with the rest of society, or vice versa, but the fire within a person that leads them to endure the beautiful and outrageous act of a one-hundred mile footrace is not easily understood by all. To consider such a feat, not to mention train for it, is often a solitary pursuit. Whether it’s waking up before sunrise to fit in a long run before work, or spending the entirety of your weekend covering as many miles as possible on foot, it’s not exactly easy to convince your peers to accompany you for these rituals. So, it’s no wonder that ultrarunners find solace in one another.