Why I Am A Runner:
I was in cross country in high school for two years, but didn’t “love” running at the time. I signed up for it because my mom told me I had to! I got away from running and didn’t run a step for a long time after high school. I got back into it for the same reason anyone does. When I was 29 I was in not so good shape. I was not exercising and had all the wrong eating habits. On labor day weekend of that year I threw my back out and was in horrible pain for weeks after. It was that wake up call that got me exercising again, which eventually led me back to running. After much prodding and cajoling from a friend, I did my first marathon at age 38. Shortly after that the same friend sent me an article on a 50-mile race in Nevada and jokingly said “I found you your next challenge!”. I was dumbfounded to find out that people actually ran distances longer than 26 miles. I started reading more and more about ultras and was hooked on the idea. I started training and ran my first ultra, the Mt. Hood PCT 50-mile, in 2009. I then went on to volunteer at the Cascade Crest 100-mile race later that summer, and I haven’t looked back since!
I’m Pretty Awesome At:
Race directing. Although I love running, I’ve never put 100% of my effort into it. I had some early successes and did ok. Like most runners, when I started it was all about “me”. I finished on the podium a couple times, and in the top third of the pack at several more races, but I never found the urge to work harder. I enjoyed the training process, and I enjoyed races, but I didn’t fall in love with competing. I finally figured out I was happy just running at my own pace and having fun along the way. Race directing fell into my lap in 2015 and I immediately knew I’d found something that I could put 100% effort into. Just like running, the harder you work at something the more success you get. But with race directing the success belonged not only to me, but everyone that raced, and to everyone that volunteered. As a runner I only made myself happy, but as a director I made a whole group of people happy, and along the way I found more joy. I also discovered that the finish line of a race was even sweeter when you were the one that made that finish line possible. Every runner that finishes gives me the same rush as finishing a race myself. But the up-side is that I get to experience that finish line feeling over and over. [Jason directs the Badger Mountain Challenge, Sole Survivor (a backyard ultra), Run With The Goats, and Jump Off Joe – and if that isn’t enough, he also co-directs other races and hosts aid stations. I got tired just typing this.]
Future Goals:
Longevity. One nice upside to not pushing yourself to the max is that you don’t burn out. By taking a chunk of time off from training every year, and by not pushing to 100%, I’ve been able to run ultras for over 12 years now. I’ve had plenty of injuries and had to take time off, but each time it happened I came back smarter and better prepared than I was before the injury. I have finished one 100-miler every year since 2011 for a total of 9 buckles (and hopefully a tenth buckle will be earned this year). I like to call it my “stupid streak”. I’d like to be able to continue this streak as long as possible.
Random Fun Fact:
I got into Western States in 2015 on ONE ticket! It was the first time I’d tried to get in and I couldn’t believe it when I found out my name had been drawn. In 2015 entrants with only one ticket had less than a 5% chance of getting picked (since then the odds of getting in on one ticket have obviously gotten WAY steeper). Finishing that race on the track in Auburn was one of the highlights of my running career. I’ve tried to go back every year since then but not had the same luck yet. Next year will be my 6th attempt to get back to Squaw Valley. Wish me luck!
Instagram: jasonreathaford (I don’t tweet, sorry)
Facebook:Jason Reathaford
