For manyrunners, finishing a marathon is a once-in-a-lifetime feat.
For a smaller percentage, its a multiple-times-in-a-lifetime accomplishment.
And for an even tinier group, its a multiple-times-in-a-day achievement.
Jax Mariash
Make no mistake, its tough, warns a tagline onthe race website.
Participants run through narrow canyons and atop sand dunes, and climb up rock walls.
Pro ultrarunnerJax Mariashis up for the challenge.
Mariash’s gear for G2G
I feel in love with running from that day forward.
She competed on the pro circuit for both triathlons and duathlons for nearly a decade.
But then, about 10 years ago, Mariash realized that she missed running by itself.
So she pressed pause on her multi-sport lifestyle to focus exclusively on road running.
She ended up having a really good time, and got second place overall.
This past summer has been an especially busy racing season for Mariash.
Lately, Ive sacrificed my social life a little bit, she says.
In a self-supported stage race, you cant get away with just running, says Mariash.
You have to be strategic about the detailsparticularly what you put in your pack.
The pack will get lighter as you go and use up your food supply.
If you get chafing out there, you are screwed, she says.
You are trying to prevent it in any way possible.
In an ultra race, particularly an ultra stage race, there will always be adversity, says Mariash.
But how you deal with it is what will make you come out on top.
I pick a different affirmation and visualize success and winning, she says of these sessions.
Mind training is as important as physical training.
Her overall strategy is to eliminate self-doubt.
The second you doubt yourself, you give them [your competitors] the race.
Music can be another powerful motivator, says Mariash.
With running, you feel really free, says Mariash.
The human body taking you to beautiful places is so cool.
Its like going to play outside.
