Top Ten Things I Love About Trail and Ultra Running

So the folks at TrailAndUltraRunning.Com have issued an invitation: post about what you love most about trail and/or ultra running, and you might win an Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek Ultra Vest. Now I would have no problems writing that kind of post for free. So I will. That's how much I love trail running. But if I ended up winning an Ultimate Direction Scott Jurek Ultra Vest, I would probably enjoy trail running even more! So here goes, in the form of a Top Ten List:

Top Ten Things I Love About Trail and Ultra Running

10. I love finding a new path on an old trail and seeing where it goes.
9. I love attempting a familar route in an unconventional way.
8. I love entering thick jungle and being embraced by silence.
7. I love running through thick grass early in the morning and being refreshed by the dew.
6. I love bombing down trails that are slightly beyond my ability. Half out of control is half the fun.
5. I love the comradery that exists in the ultra community, whether online or in person.
4. I love water crossings!
3. I love how an ultramarathon can give you access to local village trails typically unseen by the general public.
2. I love how extreme adversity in an ultramarathon (such as the one I just ran) makes the local ultra community stronger and closer.
1. I love knowing that yes, I can.