The mental game: Why?!

Its 2 weeks to Addo... my second 100 miler, and first in the bush.

The bush is beautiful, the mountains are "home". I know what it takes for me to have done 100 miles before... #Washie100.

Its mental... crazy, yes; more in the head than in the body. Its tough, fulfilling, crazy... all of that. Some dude that lived a long time ago said that its important to know yourself. And on a long road, you have no choice: oh yeah, you can ignore yourself, too. But its important to pay attention.

Ubuntu... I am because we are ~ African philosophy

Animals, plants, rocks (yip, even them), and humans... we are because we all are. And so I also run for others... after all, I wouldn't be me if it weren't for you reading this!

BUT! What happens when it gets tough? And in 100 miles there are going to be a tough moment or two. There are tricks that a lot of people have shared with me over the years. The best advice is to "stay in the moment"; not to think about the other stuff.

At the Washie 100 it was "easy" to stay in the moment. There were a group of Unicorns (pictured right) who kept me chatting and my mind in the game when my body broke down. At Addo, that's not going to happen (hopefully I won't break... and there definitely won't be a support team).

Africa's Wildest Ultra takes place in a remote part of the Addo Elephant National Park. Its a logistical masterpiece that we can run there at all... and an impossibility for support teams.

So what AM I going to do to keep myself in the moment... well, that's where YOU come in! I'm going to #RazeABar ;) You're going to donate. I'm going to have divided the run into 4 marathons and 10km sections in each of those marathons. When it gets tough, I'm going to remember: PERSPECTIVE. There are 4 charities that would be less because we don't care... The first 10km I'll think of Rainbows and Smiles, the 2nd 10km One Land Love It, the 3rd Community Veterinary Clinics, and 4th The Herald Christmas Cheer Fund!

SO DONATE... preferably now, please :)

Even then, I may occasionally tend toward thinking 50km more is "too far"... but I know that I can go another hill... or another parkrun. I know I can. I know, more importantly, I WILL.

Expectations are made to be broken, limitations to be removed... fun to be had.

So get in my mental game. Please. And TYIA.

DONATE HERE: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/razeabar2019-upiufd