HK100 contender Dylan Bowman finds motivation in competition and friendship as he ‘destroys’ himself for a living
- The contradiction in competition and community spirit is what draws the American to ultra running and helps him stay motivated
Dylan Bowman has been running ultramarathons for nine years, but has stayed motivated throughout despite the sport’s gruelling nature.
As he prepares for this weekend’s Vibram Hong Kong 100 (HK100) race, he said the secret was appreciating all aspects of running vast distances.
“I love to compete, it’s what I’ve done my whole life, but I’m not a super competitive person at the same time,” he said, but he also loves the community spirit. “That is why I think this sport is so perfect for me, it marry being competitive with being friendly, which is perfect for me.”
Being a good steward of the sport is just as motivating as being a good runner, which means doing “justice to the spirit of the sport” by staying available to the community, taking selfies, answering questions and not having an overtly cutthroat competitive attitude.
“It is quite a difficult way to make a living in some ways,” Bowman said. “Several times a year you have to completely destroy yourself physically and emotionally. I think that’s what I love about the sport, it’s just the depth you have to go to and the power of those experiences. So for me, I don’t struggle for motivation.”