ultramarathon...what?

I finished read the book Ultramarathon Man just about a week ago. I must admit, I was inspired. Dean Karnazes is pretty bloody spectacular and does things that I honestly didn't know were possibly for the human body. He runs 100 mile races like they're nothing. He runs 150 miles overnight for fun - runs while holding an entire large pizza and a cheesecake, runs through the desert, runs 1200 miles home from running 50 marathons in 50 states... Okay...he's amazing.

What was hard for me, was noting that Dean is wealthy. Very, in fact. I noted with dismay some of the race entry fees, the support needed, his family's RV, and more.

To put it lightly, my family is pretty...well...poor right now. Sure, we have a nice house and cars, but with me not working, things are tight. We don't buy great food. We buy cheap food. I'm reading Dean's diet and thinking - yeah right, we could never afford to eat like this. He has this paragraph where he talks about how it's a sacrifice he's willing to make to eat healthier and to feed his family better things.

The problem for me is, that sacrifice isn't exactly an option.

Now, I COULD try to sell this house, probably lose money on it, and move to a small apartment, but I'm not sure that's the right answer.

I'm training as a runner. It seems to be the feminist thing to do right now. Not that I'm on that bandwagon, but I shaved my head, right?

I have found that though people look at my funny when I pick up my son from preschool and at the pediatrician's office, people are more respectful of me as a serious athlete. It's kind of funny how things work that way.

"Wow, she shaved her head, she must be really fast!"

Gotta love it.

Either way, I'm not sure if this blog today is even making sense, but I'm motivated by Dean, and saddened at the same time.

I think it's awesome the he has the extra cash to do what he's doing, and he admits that it's an advantage in his book. I think that his book is really very well written and I would recommend it to anyone... but I must say, I think I can do the same sorts of things on a smaller budget. There's gotta be a way. Running is supposed to be a cheap sport, right?