10 ways in which NaNoWriMo is like running an ultramarathon
Published in
2 min readNov 30, 2016
- Just making it to the start line without injury or insanity is an impressive accomplishment, requiring commitment and care.
- An ultramarathon is defined as a run of over 42.2 kilometres, but no one counts it unless you hit at least 50 kilometres. That’s 50,000 metres — the same number of NaNoWriMo words you need to generate for it to count as a finish.
- The third quarter (or sometimes the second third) is the slowest and most painful part, where it’s easy to lose momentum and the finish is still so far away. This part requires concentration.
- You have to do it on your own, but it doesn’t really feel like that if the people you love are supportive.
- It’s best to have multiple sources of sugar and/or caffeine readily available, including (but not limited to) cookies, lollies, ice-cream, coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, and Frangelico. Wait, not Frangelico. Maybe Frangelico.
- Hallucinations may occur. It’s usually for the best—if you’re lucky, they’ll provide some inspiration, but at the very least they’re a handy distraction from the suffering.
- At some point you’ll go through a low phase where a little voice tells you it can’t be done. Millions of real people disagree with that little imposter.
- If you go out too hard at the start in the hope of creating a buffer, you’re more likely to DNF.
- There’s no shame in a DNF. I know: I didn’t finish either NaNoWriMo or the 100 mile race I started on Saturday.
- You’re ecstatic when it’s over, only you’re not, because you kind of miss the routine.
