All these posts in the running series are collectible! If you collect this post today, you will not only have a chance to win a free custom airdrop for this post (the image above), but you will be an official sponsor of my running where you can appear on my custom jersey in my upcoming November marathon!

Did you know that ultra swimming was a thing people do?

I’ve heard of ultra marathons where people race 50-200 miles. That’s already a pretty wild feat on its own! People race over mountain ranges or deserts for sometimes up to 3 days, living off of very little sleep.

But at least in an ultra marathon you can stop, walk, sit, take a break, stop at an aid station to eat, etc.

**Ultra swimming, however, is not quite like that. **

The one I heard about is a classic race through the Catalina channel off the coast of California. It’s about 20 miles in the open ocean and can take like 12 or 15 hours!

But no breaks. You just have to summon your inner-Dory and…🎶 *just keep swimming *🎶 *just keep swimming *🎶…

I recently heard an interesting podcast about a guy who has completed this particular race, along with numerous other ultra swims.

The biggest thing that struck me from his conversation was the feeling he described once he reached the shore at the end. He said, like many of us, we’ve all been on the seashore, we’ve stood in the sand, or maybe even come in from the ocean to the shore. But for most of us, we went in the ocean to cool off, play in the waves, or maybe even just go to the bathroom.

That feeling of stepping back on the sand isn’t something that impacts us in a deep way.

However, if you just swam for 20 miles in the open ocean, then the feeling of stepping on shore is incomparable.

What once was a simple comfort you may not even notice, now becomes an ultra comfort, creating such an emotional high you might talk about it for weeks to come. That first step on shore.

That story made me realize running does the same thing.

Every time I go on a really hard run or a long run, every “norm” after is heightened.

The shower I take is so much more enjoyable than if I’d just woken up and jumped in the shower.

The food I eat is more enjoyable and leaves me energized instead of sluggish.

Running even gives me an energy boost in my writing, working, and the more monotonous chores in life.

But what really made this all click for me was walking.

My wife loves to go on walks after dinner, it runs in her family. I have grown to love it as well, but I can definitely tell you it takes me a few steps to get into it. Every fiber of my body is telling me to just keep sitting and relax, not get up to walk.

However, rewind to a few hours prior when I’m in the middle of a really hard quality session, running intervals as fast as I can. *If you told me to start walking then? *

I’d switch to a walk like I was floating on a cloud.

To go from an extreme discomfort to anything less makes that thing more comfortable.

And that made me think of life itself. Isn’t this true of anything? When we step out of our comfort zone, then it makes the comfortable things that much more comfortable.

I have a much easier time stepping out of my comfort zones for physical tasks, running, climbing, high endurance things, whatever. Social interactions out of my comfort zone are much harder, but I have still discovered the same truth. When I step out, it makes the “normal” so much sweeter.

Furthermore, over time, the uncomfortable can even become the new “normal.” I believe that’s what they call “growth.”

It is true for running, for sure. I used to think it would be impossible to run 100 miles in a month, but now I’m running 50+ miles every week. It didn’t happen overnight. It was small uncomfortable decisions that added up to this new “normal.”

Maybe the truth is that we all desire growth and the only way to grow is to get uncomfortable.

And when our bodies can feel the growth, it makes everything else in our lives more exciting, comfortable, and enjoyable.

Remember if you collect this article you will have a chance of getting a one of a kind airdrop NFT of this article!

All Previous Collectable Running Posts :)