I will be running a 50k trail race this weekend up in Bishop. It will be my third official ultramarathon race, but joins a slew of other Type 2 Fun adventures I've had over the years.

What is Type 2 Fun?

I was first introduced to the idea of “Type 2 fun” by my brother-in-law. He was describing some of the trips their family had taken over the years, how they always seemed to be a mix of Type 1 and Type 2 fun.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You know: Type 1 fun is sitting on a beach with a cold beverage. Just straight up relaxation and enjoyment. Type 2 fun is hiking five miles up to a lake, jumping in the freezing cold water, and then hiking back down. Where you might not fully enjoy it while you are doing it, but are glad when it’s over and you can say you did.”

(To be fair the hiking example is probably more like Type 1.5 fun, but I digress).

Some of my Type 2 Fun Adventures Over the Years

running my first marathon without training more than 3 miles a day
tackling the Three Saints Challenge: hiking the three peaks in southern California over 10,000ft in one day (Mt. Baldy, Gorgonio, Jacinto)
Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim
Cactus to Clouds hike (Palm Springs desert floor to San Jacinto peak)
Paddling a 6 man outrigger to Catalina (and back) with no prior outrigging experience

What I Enjoy About Type 2 Fun

While Type 2 adventures can take a wide variety of forms, they always include a certain amount of drudgery and discomfort.

So the natural question is why seek them out? Why do something you know ahead of time is going to push you into places of often grueling physical and mental pain? Why not default to Type 1 fun, and pull up on a beach with a cold drink somewhere? (Besides the obvious answer of with three kids under three I ain't relaxing on any beach anytime soon).

The answer I find myself returning to (often when asking the question of myself) is: within that drudgery and discomfort I am forced to be present and alive in a way that few other things in life force me to be.

Conclusion

As I look ahead to the 50k this weekend I am of course hoping for the best, while preparing for the worst. The beauty of a difficult undertaking is that even the best outcomes will push you into places you've never been before.

And that's really what Type 2 fun is all about.

Day 5: Why I Keep Seeking Out "Type 2 Fun" Adventures

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