MUSH!

In the days leading up to my Marathon des Sables - a 250km stage race thru the Sahara desert, I watched the classic movie "Lawrence of Arabia". In part because it would be a good way to relax and stay off my feet while resting for the race, but mainly because it was filmed in the areas I would be running thru, so I thought it would be fitting to watch it there.

Lawrence always handled things in a calm, collected manner and I found that very inspiring. There were 3 lessons I learned from this movie that have become my mantras for ALL my ultras and they come top of mind when things are not going as well as they could.

ONE
Lawrence lights a cigarette for a friend, then extinguishes the match between his thumb and forefinger. William Potter, who was watching in awe, attempts to do the same thing.

William Potter: Ooh! It dame well 'urts
T.E. Lawrence: Certainly it hurts.
Officer: What's the trick then?
T.E. Lawrence: The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts.

The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts

TWO
While in the office of Mr Dryden, who is sending Lawrence to the desert to find Prince Feisal

Mr. Dryden: Lawrence, only two kinds of creature get fun in the desert: Bedouins and gods, and you're neither. Take if from me, for ordinary men, it's a burning, fiery furnace.
T.E. Lawrence: No, Dryden, it's going to be fun.

It's going to be fun

THREE
Lawrence is learning the ways of the desert from his bedouin guide, and learns that to get your camel going, you say "Hut, Hut, Hut!" Now, when I find myself slowing or needing a bit of refocusing on the race, i would say to myself...

Hut, Hut, Hut

I'm not sure what movies I may watch in the near future, whether it be Nanook of the North, or Call of the Wild, and what new mantras I may learn from them, but I already know I will be updating my "Hut, Hut, Hut" to the term used to get the dogsled teams moving...

Mush!

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