Why do we sign up for endurance races?
Are we masochists? Nah. I think it comes down to two things: finding our limits - and quieting our demons. Not the same, but close enough to meet at mile 18.
I’ve done sports my whole life - team, solo, whatever put me in motion. I love the camaraderie of a squad, and I love the lonely grind of pushing my own edge. But most of those moments were 90-minute games and weekly practices. Fun, competitive… but not exactly the kind of thing that shows you who you are when things get dark and heavy.
I’ve always chased the next challenge, partly to see what I’m made of, partly because something inside me needs to know I can get to the next level. Funny thing though: in every sport I played, running was punishment. You ran when you messed up. You ran when the coach wanted to break you. And I didn’t really fall in love with running until a rugby knee injury (yes… surgery included) forced me to rebuild.
But I always had a dream: one day, I want to run a marathon.
It took almost a decade to make it happen. Sime of it was commitment, some of it was time, some of it was life happening on its own terms. But in 2021 - when CoVID was “ending” I run my first marathon. I trained hard. I wanted a sub-4 hour and I didn’t get it.
So down the rabbit hole I went.
Marathon #2… didn’t get it either (Thank you, Nashville hills and heat)
Marathon #3 in 2023… finally cracked it. Barely, but it counts.
That race wat on Daufuskie Island (NC) - asphalt and hard gravel, my first time on that course. I hit my goal, and suddenly I’d also burned through my entire 2023 target… in January. So the rest of the year became trail races, new challenges, and eventually triathlon. And holy hell, I got hooked.
Fast-forward: first Half Ironman in 2024. Goal was sub-6, result 5:50.
Then the itch - what if I do a 5:30 next year and a full Ironman?
Well… I did. On Nov 1st, I crossed the line of my first full Ironman in 12:45.
Yeah, yeah - a lot of numbers. A lot of performance metrics. A lot of “efficiency”. But here’s something I hadn’t talked about:
During my first marathon in 2021, I got destroyed by chafing. Back scars from my hydration belt, and in other places.
I bought Body Glide for training and the next races. At first? Great. Then I realized I had to reapply every hour. Not fun when you’re trying to run. Then came the stained shirts - brown marks that wouldn’t wash out. Especially around my chest.
One of my favorite shits is still ruined from it.
That was the moment:
“I need something that lasts a full marathon without reapplying… doesn’t stain gear… and isn’t a greasy goo.”
And that’s where Run Slick begun.
Back to the bigger question - why we do endurance races?
Because they give us something we can’t fake. They give us time with ourselves. They let us push, test, break, rebuild. They help us silence the demon that always whispers: you’re not enough.
But let me be clear - no one likes suffering for the sake of suffering.
So I thought: What if I could create something that helps me - and millions of runners around the world - move more comfortably?
Challenge accepted.
I thought it would take one try.
Good joke.
It took 14 versions - and an army of miles and friends in running, trail, and triathlon giving raw, real feedback. I always asked 1 question: “What would you change?”
Back to the original question - again - who would wake up at 4 or 5 am to run 3, 6, 9, 12 or 15 miles before going to work. Why?
Maybe I don’t know yet. Maybe I do. Maybe we just need at least some miles to stay grounded.
So… what’s next?
Run Slick is next. My next big challenge.
Plus a Half Ironman in 2026. Some trail and ultra races on the radar.
And waiting to see if I get in to Chicago Marathon.
A lot going on… but one day at a time.
Stick around. More stories - and more truth - coming to this blog.
Thanks for reading!
Felipe.