🏃‍♂️ An Ultramarathoner’s Advice On Loneliness

It might be the single loneliest sporting activity. So we asked one of the best ultramarathoners for his advice on social distancing and isolation. [View in browser]( In today’s FOX Sports Insider: One of the world’s best ultramarathoners shares his perspective on being alone and the difference between loneliness and peace in an age of social distancing ... Jameis Winston finally finds his next NFL home ... and with the 2020 NFL Draft in the rear-view, we’re already looking ahead to 2021. Dylan Bowman knows what it is like to be by himself, hour after hour after hour at a time. He’s a runner, and not just any kind of runner; Bowman is one of that rare band of men and women capable of and willing to churn out the type of mileage that would typically call for a rest stop even if it was being undertaken by car. Ultramarathoners are used to a lot of alone time, those endless stretches on the roads and trails without spotting another human, much less having any kind of social interaction. [STORY IMAGE 1] Engaging in a profession that has solitude at the core of it didn’t necessarily make Bowman, a 34-year-old based in Portland, Oregon, any readier to handle the enforced adjustments of the coronavirus and the way it shifted our normal in a way that is both temporary and lasting. Yet at a time when loneliness is a real, present and growing hurdle for many, his thoughts and experiences have some relevant wisdom, which is why I sought him out. “When it comes to solitude, either in running or life, you can either feel really lonely or really peaceful,” Bowman told me, via telephone. “When I am out on a massive day in the mountains, I never feel lonely. I am appreciating the peacefulness around me. “When you are in a tough situation, you can try to turn it on its head. Yes, it is a lonely time when you have to self-isolate, but it is also an amazing time you shouldn’t squander. “I am a big believer in enjoying the peace and the opportunity to press pause. Do internal work on yourself, figure out what you want, what makes you happy and fulfilled.” [STORY IMAGE 2] Bowman, a former high school and Colorado State lacrosse standout, is one of the best ultramarathoners in the world. Now sponsored by Red Bull, he stunned the field by placing third in his first ultra, the prestigious and daunting Leadville 100 in 2010. Since then, he has won major races as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and placed second in the elite Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in France in 2018. Just like every other sport, the world of ultra racing has been disrupted by COVID-19, leaving runners in an awkward limbo. Virtually all competitions have been cancelled. Bowman’s big race of focus for this year is the Hard Rock 100-miler in Colorado in July, a run which is still, for now, due to go ahead, but organizers are closely monitoring safety and social distancing guidelines. Bowman is something of an outlier in that he is not necessarily a reserved character like so many in the ultra community. If you polled the ultra running population, most would identify firmly as an introvert – how else could they get used to the realities of all those lonely miles? [STORY IMAGE 3] “I am a bit different.” Bowman said. “I can be both introvert and an extrovert. I love to go out and be social. The time I spend out running is such a solitary pursuit, that’s what actually gives me the energy to go out and do social things.” There have been times when Bowman has headed off at first light for a run in the mountains of 50 miles and more, out there for eight hours, then come back and met friends for dinner with wife Harmony, or gone for drinks. Like for so many others, that’s not an option now. One of the hardest aspects of the current situation for many has been the shift in the amount of personal interaction. For those living alone especially, a lack of human contact has been a fierce mental challenge to battle through. [STORY IMAGE 4] Bowman’s perspective during the current situation has been helped by his various experiences of dealing with injury throughout 2019, a campaign disrupted by a broken ankle, a dislocated shoulder and Achilles problems. “Acceptance is the first key step, understanding what you can and can’t control,” Bowman added. “Once you accept that there are things you can’t affect, it can be a little easier to let go of them as a source of frustration. It worked for me then and it can work for us now. “Things are going to change, they have already changed. But there are still a lot of things we can do to get the most out of our lives.” Indeed, there are. It's advice from an ultramarathoner that we could all stand to apply in these uncertain times. [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... Jordan Shakeshaft, Daily Burn: “Ask Dylan Bowman if it takes a certain type of crazy to run an ultramarathon and he’ll insist he’s just an average guy. One who thrives off asking ‘what if,’ running 125 training miles per week, and spending the occasional 18-hour stretch of alone time with a bib pinned to his thigh. ‘I think it does attract people who like spending time alone,’ Bowman said. ‘I’m a very social person, and I do really enjoy going out and having a good time with friends and family. But I also really like having alone time. And running for me is just that in a lot of cases. It’s my time to be on my own and think about things that are happening in my life, work through problems I might be experiencing. And generally, just be alone.’” Mark Agnew, SCMP: “Bowman has struggled with self-doubt for over a year, but is now emerging from his low by focusing on ‘emotional fitness.’ ‘I've lived such a charmed life, in my entire life this is the first time I've ever dealt with a prolonged low point,’ Bowman said. ‘I began trying to decouple my identity as an athlete from the core of who I was as a person,’ he said. Bowman reflected and realized that joy came in the act of running, and in the relationships and powerful experiences it gave him.” Rick Pearson, The Guardian: “Unlike a road marathon, an ultra can afford you time to strike up conversation with friends and strangers. After a quick game of Marooned 5 — a twist on Desert Island Discs, in which you name the five tracks you’d like to maroon on a desert island, never to hear again — we began talking with two Israeli runners, one of whom had accidentally left his usual running shoes in his hotel. ‘That’s the thing about ultras,’ he said, cheerfully. ‘They rarely go to plan.’” [IN OTHER WORDS] - For a time, it seemed like the Detroit Pistons were the only team with a formula to stop Michael Jordan. [CBS Sports’ Justin Herbert ponders]( what “The Last Dance” did and didn’t say about “The Jordan Rules”. - [At The New York Times, Sopan Deb explains]( how sports helped him bridge the gap with his immigrant father at the age of 30 — and how they grew to love sports together. - Jameis Winston is set to become Drew Brees’ insurance policy in New Orleans. [But The Ringer’s Riley McAtee wonders]( if his playing style can mesh with Sean Payton’s offensive philosophy. 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[WHAT THEY SAID] “After my first marathon, I remember being totally destroyed at the finish and then completely obsessed the next day. As long as you have an intense, deep-rooted desire to finish, you’re golden. You will surprise and impress yourself.” — Dylan Bowman [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download the FOX Sports app for live scores and streaming [App Store]( [Google Play]( Available on: [tvOS] [Roku] [fireTV] [androidtv] [XBOX] [Google chromecast] [tvOS] [fireTV] [androidtv] [XBOX] [Google chromecast] Forwarded this message? [Sign up](. Amazon, Fire, and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2020 FOX Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. 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