Ultra_Tales_Issue_13

ARTICLESUPPORT CREWphysios, masseuses, coaches, managers, you nameit. He knew he needed them, their support. Not onlythem but his mother and girlfriend are vitalcomponents of the team, encouraging, motivatingand there behind him the whole way. They live it allwith him, highs and lows. The good and the bad.You could pretty much take an example of any greatathlete or sportsperson and behind them would bea team of people both professional and personal,dedicated, selfless supporting their athlete thewhole way.To understand why we need support as athletes isto look at the sport itself. Ultra running can at timesbe hard. Yeah we all know it's 'hard' in races withthe pain, the fatigue and agony of the it all but I'mtalking about the difficulties that can lie before therace, behind the scenes. Injury, doubt, pre racenerves, the misery of a DNF or a disappointing keyrace not to mention the general day to day fatigueand stress of heavy training loads. Who hasn't comehome after a day of work and just not felt liketraining? Sometimes all it takes is a motivatingword from a loved one or fellow runner to pick usback off the floor and remember why we arepunishing ourselves, why we want it. Without them,it would be a thousand times more difficult.Worse yet is when an injury strikes and god forbidwe can't run. This is when our 'supporters' earntheir gold stars. Patience, ever positive mentalattitude listening to us rabble on day after dayabout how difficult it is, how 'I don't feel myselfwhen I'm not able to run' and how 'I am soooooodepressed' all the time considering making up animaginary 'business trip' just to escape their selfcentred torture!In a recent article published a few months back inUltraTales, James Adams delved into what the livesof runners significant others (WAGS/ HABS) werelike. One question answered by my HAB was:'What is your runner like when she can't run due toinjury?To which he replied 'Not that I have personalexperience but the name lucifer springs to mind'.Yup. Runners are difficult people to live with. We areeither on top of cloud nine after a good block oftraining, full to the brim with endorphins or curledup in a ball somewhere trying to figure out why wecouldn't hit that 6:30 minute mile pace. 'But I couldonly reach 6:45! I'm soooooooo unfit!'“The role of a supportercan be one ofencouragement,motivation and generalpositivity but it is also togive us perspective”The role of a supporter can be one ofencouragement, motivation and general positivitybut it is also to give us perspective. Remember,running ISN'T everything (shock horror). The type A46 ULTRA TALES | OCTOBER 2014Sponsored by thehttp://