Mother Nature’s Data Feed:

One Ultrarunner’s Journey To Measure The Human Spirit

Scott Dunlap @ Le Web ParisDec 4th, 2012

Scott’s Hero

Ah, The Internet of Things

Why Do Anything Hard?

“…because it’s my PASSION.”

PASSIONis

POWERFUL

PASSIONis

INFINITE

PASSIONis

the core of the human spirit

Can PASSION be measured?

Internet of Me

Internet of Now

…Just Try Not To Overdo It

Boston Marathon

Altitude(feet)

Heartbreak Hill

2,412 calories27,488 steps50 oz water

05m

10m15m

20m26.2m

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Boston Marathon

Boston Mrthn vs Woodside 50k

Altitude(feet)

3,880 calories40,176 steps85 oz water

05m

10m15m

20m26.2m

31m

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Boston MarathonWoodside 50k

Boston Mrthn vs Wasatch 100m

Altitude(feet)

15,221 calories130,106 steps440 oz water

05m

10m15m

20m26.2m

31m35m

40m45m

50m55m

60m65m

70m75m

80m85m

90m95m

100m

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Boston MarathonWoodside 50kWasatch 100m

05m

10m15m

20m26.2m

31m35m

40m45m

50m55m

60m65m

70m75m

80m85m

90m95m

100m

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Boston MarathonWoodside 50kWasatch 100mHardrock 100m

Boston vs. Hardrock 100

Altitude(feet)

18,770 calories*151,090 steps522 oz water

Heartbreak Hill

* Data from Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc, not Hardrock.

Perceived Exertion/Euphoria

Good

Great

Awesome

Euphoric

Pls Kill Me NowSerious

Struggling

Rough Patch

Perceived Exertion/Euphoria

Good

Great

Awesome

Euphoric

Pls Kill Me NowSerious

Struggling

Rough Patch

Perceived Exertion/Euphoria

Good

Great

Awesome

Euphoric

Pls Kill Me NowSerious

Struggling

Rough Patch

“The Wall”“The Pit”

“The Abyss”

Perceived Exertion/Euphoria

Good

Great

Awesome

Euphoric

Pls Kill Me NowSerious

Struggling

Rough Patch

“The Wall”“The Pit”

“The Abyss”

Achieving “Flow”

Heart Rate

Speed

“Flow”“The Zone”

Enlightenment

Runner’s High

TranscendenceMushin (無心 )

Zen

Anandamide

What Euphoria Feels/Sounds Like

“When You Stare Into The AbyssSee It For What It Truly Is

An Infinite Pool of Will and CourageSee The Reflection of Your Soul

To Some, This Is The Face of GodStare Into Her Eyes

It Is Full of StarsMy God, It Is Full of Stars”

- Scott, Mile 85, 2010 Western States 100

Conclusions (?)

• My Journey Has Just Begun

• Four Lessons To Share

Lesson #1

Encourage passion in those around you.

Lesson #2

There is no such thing as work/life balance.There is only life balance.

Lesson #3

The marathon is a sprint, so pack lean.

Lesson #4

Predict and celebrate the pain.Passion will pull you through to euphoria.

There is no greater feeling than life success through the rigors of passion.

Don’t stop until you find it.

Then keep going…because it will feel effortless.

Thank You! See You On The Trails…

Scott@10dlabs.com@scott_dunlapLinkedin.com/in/scottdunlapwww.atrailrunnersblog.com