Poetic Ultra: Some Rhyme, No Reason

by Amanda Hyatt (12/7/2012)

You’ve got to be utterly nuts, you know,
You’ve got to be utterly nuts,
To choose to do an ultra-run,
And claim that it’ll be hard but fun?
You’ve got to be utterly nuts.

You’ve got to be out of your mind, you know
You’ve got to be out of your mind,
To train for months, through rain or hail,
And sun and snow, on road and trail,
You’ve got to be out of your mind.

There are those who’ve been locked up for less, you know,
There are those who’ve been locked up for less,
If you don’t stop conversing in code to your mates,
Talking fartlek and split-times, and LSD dates!
There are those who’ve been locked up for less.

The men in white coats will be round, you know,
The men in white coats will be round,
Fuelling for weeks upon flapjacks and porridge,
And trawling through websites for specialist knowledge?
The men in white coats will be round!

And you haven’t stopped grinning for weeks, you know,
You haven’t stopped grinning for weeks,
Come back from runs aching, dog-tired and in pain,
And beaming – can’t wait to get out there again!
You haven’t stopped grinning for weeks!

And you’ll never convince me it’s right, you know
You’ll never convince me it’s right,
Though you’ve never been happier, healthier, cheery,
And joyful of mind, though your body is weary?
You’ll never convince me it’s right

How hard can it actually be, besides?
How hard can it actually be?
To run a few hills, bit of tempo, a sprint?
Then lunch on a smoothie, a few squares of Lindt?
How hard can it actually be?

You’re leaving me no other choice, you know
You’re leaving me no other choice,
You, with your positive Yes-I-Can thoughts,
With your stresses compressed by your socks and your shorts,
You’re leaving me no other choice,

‘Cause I might just be tempted as well, you know …
I might just be tempted as well,
To feel just for once that adrenalin blast
After ultra miles run and a finish line passed,
I might just be tempted as well.

(Psst!)

I think I’m a little bit nuts, you know
I think I’m a little bit nuts
Stepped out of the zone, left the comfort behind,
And the magic appeared! Am I out of my mind?
The men in white coats may be bigger and stronger
But they won’t catch me up because I can run longer!
I did it, I tried it, crossed over the line
First ultra, one hundred k run and I’m fine!
So ditch the ‘too old’ or ‘unfit’ or ‘too slow’,
If ultra’s a dream, then just get up and go
‘Cause it’s never too late to be nuts, you know,
Get out there and give it a go!