Homer Simpson.
Not your typically inspiring guy, and certainly not for the trail/ultra/mountain running crowd. But you know what? There are at least three lessons all good runners can learn from the big yellow man.
1. You don't have to get it right, all the time.
We learn more from our mistakes than we do our successes - persist, keep trying new things and don't let failures deter you. Just because you have a run or a race that doesn't work out, doesn't mean you shouldn't keep at it.
2. Never lose site of the big picture.
Training for an event is a lot like a swear jar; if you keep making lots of small deposits regularly, even if you don't want to at times, it eventually adds up to something big. Effective training is about consistency - overall consistency is always more important than nailing an individual workout. Also, you often you get a nice surprise at the end (Beer! How'd you know?).
3. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Particularly for those new to running ultra distances, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of events and race endorphins and race year round. Over-racing is all too common in the ultra-running community, and it can lead to injury, burnout or other equally nasty consequences.
Avoid the temptation and make sure you have plenty of rest and down time between events. You may not necessarily feel overly tired in the week(s) post-event but it all adds up, and repeatedly "going again" will come back and bite you. A break allows your body to recover, and gives you a chance to relax mentally before going back into structured training. It's OK to go easy for a while.
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Who would have thought that a regular guy who loves beer and doughnuts would have so much to teach us about ultra running? Although writing it down, having a love of beer and doughnuts applies to a large percentage of ultra-runners too - so perhaps it's not that surprising after all.