It was very dark, I was lying hunched over on the ground, and the Forrest Gump type, monsoon rain was lashing me over. It had been hitting me sideways since 6 AM, at the start of GRR 100 mile. Georgia's Reactor Run, a Guts race, one hundred miles on foot, in Dawson State Forest. March 5th, 2011.
I was having a tough moment. I could not envision picking myself and making it a few feet, much less the 30 miles I had ahead of me, to complete the race. It was a 7 and then 13 mile loop, starting and finishing at the main aid station and was a combination of single track and fire roads. These trails are very muddy on even the driest of days and for all intents and purposes they were now rivers. Rivers of mud, along with rocks and brutal climbs.
I thoroughly enjoy running in the rain. There have been many times where I have finished a run, it started raining and I am right back out there again. It is so peaceful, calm and purifying. I am not against the elements - quite the contrary: I thrive on them. One of the best runs of my life was with my dad years ago on the beach in Florida. The waves were crashing, the rain felt like little bullets, and there was lightning crackling and thunder roaring above our heads.
We ran harder, barefoot in the sand, and completely free. Once, I wanted to turn the Peachtree Road Race (worlds largest 10k), into something different, more my style. A 50 mile run. I started at 4 in the morning, ran to the start of the race, finished and was at 26 miles. I then ran back home, being in July, I had my fair share of heat and humidity. That is truly what ultra-marathons are about, at their core - pushing your mind and body to such great heights, against the elements, the pain, the overwhelming desire to stop. And then transcending.
I began running before I could walk, my whole life, really. My dad instilled my love of running nice and young, around 5 years old. He, being a very accomplished marathoner, would push me in my stroller while he ran. I would bike beside him, and we would run. When I was 9, I completed BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia with my mom). Such fond memories. My dad also instilled in me a rightful way to celebrate birthdays. On my 13th birthday, he and I biked to Lake Lanier islands, over 40 miles!
At age 19, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It was such a complete shock. Suddenly my world as I knew it turned upside down and kicked me hard. I was confused, scared, and furious. “Diabetes, what is that?! There is no way. It must be a mistake.”
The symptoms gradually emerged over the course of a month. My always perfect vision started getting blurry. I would drink twenty cups of water in a row, yet still have a desert like thirst. Eating several meals at once, but I am severely losing weight… over 40 lbs. At one point, walking across the room was a great challenge and ordeal. At this point, I knew something was seriously wrong. The diagnosis became official.
I was signed up for and wanting to run the Atlanta Marathon in 2002. As soon as I was diagnosed, I looked towards that with a newfound vision. I could not wait for that day, my first marathon. This was a battle now. I wanted to fight back at that which attacked me.
Autoimmune disease. It is rather strange to think of my body effectively destroying itself, my pancreas. My dad and I ran it together. Due to my severely depleted condition and weight loss I hit the wall hard within the first few steps. Such a deep pain, but I pressed on, one foot in front of the other. I ran every step of that race and crossing that finish line was one of the best moments of my life. Running had become something much more to me now.
Stronger and more important by a tenfold. Diabetes causes countless deaths. Its complications include blindness, amputations, nerve damage and heart attacks. Now, I was running to save my life...
Back to GRR, 70 miles in, wet, bonking, muddy, hurting. I thought back to how I actually started the race itself... inspiring it. Years ago, I did my Birthday Challenge runs out there (26-27 hours) in January, sub 20 degrees. Tony, a friend who supported me on my b-day runs thought what an incredible place this would be to have a race one day. Well, start it he did, Tony is the RD of GRR. The 7 mile loop is the exact course that I used to run. I could have done so with my eyes closed.
It brought back many memories. I thought back to my good friend Reeve, whom ran with and supported me all night and into the next morning of my birthday, starting at one in the morning. I thought back to what Reeve said, “Their lies within me an invincible summer.” Those words then, on a bitter frozen January night stirred me. Remembering now, in March, they did just the same. I thought about my brother from a different mother, Drew. Drew, who supported me all day/night, is the one who showed me these trails in the first place and as such a fine location for a lovely birthday celebration.
I thought about how my body has adapted and grown so much stronger since being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. That which I cursed, I now call a blessing. It has given me such an inner drive. Since my diagnosis, I have run over 65 marathons and ultra marathons combined and 7 100-milers. I am on Team Type 1 Running Team and in October, we are going to run across the country.
I thought about all of my pacers and friends (past and present (Paula and Greg paced me thru so many epics), who were out there with me combating fatigue, the extreme elements, hunger, and sleep to name a few. For me. I had another advantage as well, it was my home course. The Guts volunteers, aid station workers and supporters were beyond Fantastic!!! Knowing all of them was such a benefit. Seeing their smiling faces and hearing their kind words, filled me with inspiration.
I was out, not possible… No. I did pick myself up, fell down hard again but gave myself some kicks and gutted it out. I had an out of this world experience, and finished my 7th 100 mile in 29:30. Twenty nine hours of bliss.
I cannot sum it up entirely, which is one of the millions of reasons I love ultras, for they surpass words. I will keep on reaching and pushing the limits of my heart, mind, body and spirit. There are none. The sky is not the limit. Impossible is nothing.
Jon Obst is 28, lives in Kennesaw GA, is married to Kate Brun, and has been type 1 diabetic & running ultras for nine years. He lives each day to the fullest.