Ferate’s 5: Cascade 100 Ultra-Marathon & Our Life’s Scrapbook. (014)

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Have you ever thought about how many people have run a 100-mile race in 2023? Well, I looked it up and it was 5,903 people who have completed a North American 100-mile ultra marathon race.

What do you think of when you hear 100-mile ultra marathon?

For me, it is David Goggins, Dirk Van der Velde, 4 marathons, crazy insane massive challenge.

But a few weeks ago, that all changed. On August 26^th I ran the Cascade 100 which was a 100-mile race in Bend, Oregon to Sisters, Oregon. Covering 100 miles, 12,000 feet gain, 12,500 feet loss in elevation, and with 14 aid stations. I completed it.

Now I think of 31 hours and 49 minutes and sometimes it doesn’t seem real.

Have you ever made the choice to do something really challenging? Something that you weren’t sure if you would actually finish?  

As the race got closer and close I slowly put more focus, attention, and any extra energy I had into my preparation. In doing so the podcast and my consistency in my newsletter took a little pause. In the grand scheme of things when I am 45 years old I will look back at my 100 miler and not remember the 3 weeks my newsletter didn’t drop or the 3-5 subscribers I might have lost.

I am hyped to be back dropping newsletters, the Ferate 5 and connecting with you directly. Over these past few weeks, I have experienced a lot that I am looking forward to sharing with you.

With a lot to unpack I am going to keep it simple with a few things that I can’t stop thinking about in 5 minutes or less.

1. Newsletter is back (it never left)

2. The Race

3. Misogi

4. Not talking about your goals

In the upcoming weeks I can continue to share lessons learned and any questions you have directly (email me your questions!) The biggest two things today are MISOGI and running the race.

Misogi is a Japanese ritual that I have written about previously. Basically, the old folk story and lesson adapted to the present day, is to do one year defining challenge or experiment that when you look back and think about 2023 you attach that experience to the year.

Misogi is a critical moment that is then etched and tattooed on to the scrap book of your life. The one day Misogi is so out there that the impact of that one (or 2 days for me) is so big that it impacts the other 364 days of that year. Michael Easter, author of Comfort Crisis has shared additional framework that it should be a 50/50 challenge, 50% chance of completing, you can’t die, and it isn’t for social media clout.

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Think I will dive into this in a later newsletter, but the social media thing for me was an interesting experience. I noticed the closer I got the less people I told and the less I talked about the CHALLENGE. In some ways I was getting focus, not spending energy talking about the thing when I should be doing the thing (preparing). The 2^nd part was I noticed more and more the dopamine hit of telling me. It was the excitement about it before doing it.

Lesson, I learned from Ben Wilson (Host of How To Take Over The World Podcast) and recently heard Huberman talk about. I wanted to save the dopamine hits for the day of not experience the feeling of “I did it” solely by telling people I signed up.

Tough to explain. I still told people, just the closer and closer I got to race day the less it was brought up.

Overview of the Cascade 100. (Think I may do a podcast recap of the experience)

• Bend, Oregon to Sisters, Oregon

• 32 Hour limit for the race

• The race has 12,000ft of gain and 12,500ft of loss

• 14 full aid stations & 3 or so stations for Crew

SHOUT OUT TO my parents, Rory, Dirk, & Connor for pacing and crew during this experience. Crazy to think that no matter how many stories I tell, pictures I share, and videos I may show the only people who will REALLY know what this experience was like are these 5 people. Gives me chills writing that one. Our mantra was something I will also never forget.

By far the hardest thing I have ever done and some of the darkest places I have ever been mentally/physically. Especially, pushing my limits to make the 5:30 am, 9:30 am, 1 pm, and 2 pm cut-offs for time. The 10.3 mile push from roughly 73 to 84 aid station was the most down bad I have experienced in my life and at the same time in one of the most beautiful places in Oregon.

Reflecting a few weeks after has made me realize more and more that I have done Misogi’s before without realizing it..

After watching two specific Jesse Itzler videos about 100 times and his classic Joe Rogan episode it made me realize 2022 was the podcast & 2021 was writing. They have taken their own shape and evolved but the start was a Misogi. A year defining experience lead by my curiosity that I will remember for the rest of my life.

So I am 3 deep into year-defining moments by accidentally starting my misogi’s a few months before I turned 30. So sweet how life works out that way.

When you hear “year-defining moment” what is the first thing you think of

What is the best way for you to discover more clarity for yourself?

Wishing you all love and consistency this week! Let me know what you love or think with a reply or sharing the newsletter on social media. It means a lot and love connecting with you.

Best day of the year, until tomorrow.

Ferate