BECOMING AN
U LT R A
E
by Diane Ciarloni | photos courtesy of Miranda Eserman
very passionate pursuit develops its own following, becoming a mini society with a specialized vocabulary, goals, newsletters, standards, magazines, competitions, and awards. Car racing enthusiasts have such a world, as do swimmers, weightlifters, joggers, computer geeks, animal advocates, slow cooker lovers, and many more.
Ranking high on the list of specifically focused groups is the world of runners. You see them on hot, humid Texas afternoons; running, sweat pouring from their foreheads and soaking their clothes. You see the toned legs and lean bodies. Runners fall into a variety of intensity levels. There’s the casual runner, who frequently becomes the half-marathoner and, maybe, the marathoner. Whether or not there is advancement depends almost exclusively on an individual’s sense of personal challenge; on whether he/ she asks can I go faster and can I go longer. Miranda Eserman of Lantana, a 44-year-old mother of four and a personal trainer for Body Bionics, began running recreationally 30 years ago. “It was 10-years ago when I began training and becoming disciplined,” Eserman said. “That’s also when I started challenging myself. The first question I answered was, yes, I could run a half-marathon. Since then, I’ve completed six marathons and one triathlon.” For those not familiar with the runner’s vocabulary, a marathon is 26.2-miles, with 16 to 20 weeks of preparation training. The word “marathon” is rooted in Greek history and the story of Pheidippides, who ran 25 miles (from Marathon to Athens) to deliver the news of a Greek victory on the battlefield. Anything longer than 26.2-miles is referred to as an ultramarathon, and Eserman is on the cusp of “Becoming Ultra.” “I was on Instagram within the running community when I saw a post about Becoming Ultra,” Eserman said. “I read about the project and 14 | LANTANA LIVING | OCTOBER 2021
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