Every endurance athlete knows the effect well: You start your run or ride with worries, but by the end — you’ve got peace.
Distance runners like Kaytlyn Gerbin toe a fine line between escape and catharsis. In such a simplified sport, there’s not much to concentrate on. Literally all you can do is put one foot in front of the other.
But anyone who’s logged miles on the trail knows discipline can also amount to meditation.
Watch Gerbin tell her story and explore her pensive — but palpable — psych in this short edit. From her home in Issaquah, Wash., to the crucible of the Western States 100 Run and Fastest Known Time (FKT) bids, Kaytlyn proves she’s up to the challenge.
Runtime: 6 minutes