...suffering is optional. The mantra of an ultrarunner. I had no idea that one day I would be running very long distances..

I started training for the 10K. One day I could run the 10K without getting tired. Started thinking. Could I run 20K? A half marathon. And it could be done. Now I have to try 42K. A marathon. Not that hard, surprisingly.

So I went for the first ultra distance, 50 miles. Not so bad, really. So then I tried my hand at the classic 100miles. The one that is so completely impossible.And I finished. After 24 hours and then some. And it was hard. Really hard.

Afterwards, I spent two days in the fetal position. And I'll do it again in the spring of 2018. This time it will go better. I can read myself better, I know what I have in front of me. I want to do this again. This is absolutely insane.

During a weekend with 20s of other ultrarunners, I realize that this experience cannot be shared with others. I was in a group where everyone understood each other, yet lacked ways to communicate it, but also there was no need to do so.

Ultrarunning leaves you raw, vulnerable, unbeatable and humble. Accept the pain and become part of it. Continue.