A New Running Season

 “We must become so alone, so utterly alone, that we withdraw into our innermost self. It is a way of bitter suffering. But then our solitude is overcome, we are no longer alone, for we find that our innermost self is the spirit, that it is God, the indivisible. And suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of the world, yet undisturbed by its multiplicity, for our innermost soul we know ourselves to be one with all being.”
― Herman Hesse

 “There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more”

― George Gordon Byron

Tomorrow is the start of a new running season and I am in a very different mood compared with last year. Last year this time, I was filled with lots of excitement. I was training with the same group of three friends aiming at the first ultra in my life - The Raleigh Wilson Challenge. By now, one teammate has found a new venture in Kenya, another teammate is no longer interested or has no time for ultras. Only Sam who has inspired me about ultras and has taken me on this journey is still my training buddy. But she often has to travel for work and so I have been training by myself or with a group of new friends this summer. I certainly enjoy the company of friends, but being alone gives me the time and space to communicate with my inner self, and gives me a great sense of inner peace.

I am much less aggressive compared with last year. I would just take my training gently, slowly and at a slow speed. I enjoy just to be out there in the nature by myself, under whatever weather. I stop whenever I feel like stopping, feel the breeze brushing my face, feel grateful that I have gone through so many interesting races, journeys and have met so many people along the way.

I still have exciting plans in my bucket though. The 2014 highlights would hopefully be finishing Vibram HK100, RacingThePlanet Jordan and UTMF STY. Later in the year, hopefully I can have a first taste of Oxfam Trailwalker. 2015 would be the Mustang Trail Race in Spring and late summer would be UTMB TDS. Or maybe most of these efforts are intended to prepare myself for UTMB TDS. I haven't seen my great friend Dolores for years and it would be wonderful if we can have a reunion at the Chamonix.