Life lessons on the trail
Shelley Sparks, a local ultra-runner, spoke about her years of experience training and competing in ultra-marathons, along with the valuable life lessons she’s learned, at an event at the Union Museum Saturday in Farmerville. Leader photo by Matt Belinson
FARMERVILLE — Shelley Sparks lights up as she talks about her years in ultra-running.
The trails are long, and the training is grueling for ultra-marathons, events that have to span at least 26.2 miles, but it’s what Sparks love to do.
Once you get past the pounds of gear required, the extreme sport boils down to simple principles – lessons Sparks shared with community members at her event, “Becoming a Runner: What does it take?” Saturday at the Union Museum of History and Art.
The event was a feature of the museum’s current exhibit, “Beyond Human Limits,” which is on loan from the Science North Museum in Canada until Aug. 30.
Sparks’ resume includes competing in the Pikes Peak marathon (26 miles) twice, eight 100-milers, three 90-mile stage races, and numerous races with distances of 50k to 100k.
But it’s the people and the stories she’s experienced along the way that inspire her to brave the next course.
“Running is all about mentality,” Sparks said. “There are so many things with running that you can reflect on your own life and compare to ultra-running. Dealing with challenges, hitting the walls in the run, and realizing that there is something on the other side of that. You don’t have to stay where you are and stare at this wall. That’s just some of the lessons I learned with ultrarunning.”
In her hour and a half clinic, Sparks spoke alongside a slideshow of personal photos of her races, teaching attendees how to prepare mentally and physically for ultra-running.
It’s a sport designed to push human limits and show participants that with enough motivation and training, anything is possible.
Sparks learned that lesson thanks to her stepbrothers, who introduced her to ultra-running.
Following typical sibling curiosity and not wanting to be left out of the fun, Sparks told the story of how she begged her brothers to take her along with them to races and train her to take up the sport.
“I’ve always been an adventure seeker – just a little timid,” Sparks said. “I decided, you know, I’m going to give trail a try.”
The trio worked together and spent time pushing each other along for training, giving each other confidence to move forward.
But after a mental health battle, one of Sparks’ stepbrothers took his own life, giving Sparks one of her first realizations that life has no guarantee.
It’s important to enjoy God’s creation and the people in your life for as long as you can, no matter the obstacles.
“I’ve learned that you really need to stay grateful to the people in your lives that are there for you, supporting you,” Sparks said. “You can learn a lot from other people and hear their stories and their why’s and that keeps me going.”
When she’s not taking on nature’s most challenging venues, Sparks is a high school health teacher at D’Arbonne Woods Charter School.
Over the past 20 years, she has coached K-12 PE, track and field, cross country, and volleyball as well.
Alongside her husband James, Sparks has spanned the country trying to hear stories of others and continue pushing forward, just like Sparks’ brother always wanted, as she competes in ultramarathons.
She is currently training for a 100k ultra-marathon in Colorado in July, sending her out on another journey that she’ll never take for granted.
“It does help deal with stress and it is a great outlet. It’s a wonderful thing,” Sparks said. “But it can also become your God. And you have to be careful with finding a balance. I do come across a lot of people in ultra-running who are trying to use it to fill a void in their lives. Personally, the only one who can fill a void in my life is God almighty. He’s the only one.
“I have to pay close attention that I’m not worshiping the creation. I want to worship the Creator in what I do.”
