Episode #23
Ash Pant | The Road to 100 Miles | Berlin 100miles | Season 3, Episode 23
This one is personal. In just a few days, I'll attempt to run 100 miles for the first time at the Berlin Wall Race. But this episode isn't really about the race. It's about how I somehow ended up here. I never grew up dreaming of becoming a runner. I struggled with my weight for much of my life, never particularly enjoyed running, and originally found the sport after an injury in 2016. Running became a way to lose weight, then something I loved, then something that eventually took a back seat as life and family became the priority. In November 2022, I started again with one goal: run a marathon. Then I moved to Berlin. I met ultrarunners whose persistence fascinated me. I started having conversations with people doing things I couldn't imagine doing myself. Those conversations eventually became Pushing Horizons. And somewhere between interviewing ultrarunners, hearing their reasons for doing this, talking about DNFs and resilience, and learning what keeps people moving when things get really difficult, their stories started changing mine. One podcast conversation led me to register for my first 56K the very next morning. Another eventually led me to register for the Berlin 100 Miles. Now, after seven months of training, the race is here. I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm unsettled. My mind is all over the place. After months of having another training week ahead of me, there's nothing left to prepare for. All that's left is to start. And if you're listening to this on Saturday morning, I'm probably somewhere around Berlin trying to run my first 100 miles. This is the story of how I got here. Keywords: Berlin 100 Miles, Berlin Wall Race, 100 mile ultramarathon, first 100 miler, ultrarunning, ultramarathon training, 100 mile training, endurance running, running journey, marathon to ultramarathon, DNF, ultra running mindset, mental resilience, endurance mindset, Pushing Horizons podcast
