Support

The starting line is rapidly approaching. I recently endured a week where I thought I was burned out, disinterested in training, and wondering if this isn't too much. Too much training. Too much focus. Too much time away from the family. The real answer is that 'yes', it probably is too much. Running is an addiction and once you're hooked it can be easy to overdose. Fortunately, I think I was just grouchy at the time because now we're in sort of a taper mode and the focus is more on planning, packing, travelling. I've been back on the TAR website and have been getting incredibly fired up. It's going to be sick. Take a look at this video and tell me I'm wrong.

Something I've been thinking about a ton lately is that participating in an event like this is not possible without significant contributions from others.

Most importantly I rely on my family. I would not have chosen to participate in the TAR if Heidi, Grace and Rose were not going to join us. I would not have been able to train for it if Heidi had not agreed to sacrifice a huge chunk of her personal time this year to allow me to get into the mountains for numerous long days. While I expected that the training would require Heidi to buy in, I definitely underestimated how much of a commitment she'd have to make. And we haven't even left yet. I hope a time will come when I can, at least partially, pay down some of my debt I owe to Heidi and the kids. In the meantime all can do is share my gratitude.

I know Harlow feels the same way about Gina, and I do to. But don't want either of them to get the wrong idea if I start singing Gina's praises to the world over the internet. That could put a damper on our team dynamic.

I will, however, express appreciation to Pete and Sarah. For those who aren't aware, Pete, Sarah, and Heidi, Grace and Rose will all be following the race in RVs and joining us in the stage towns. I think that the trip they're going on would be sweet on its own merits, so I hope that they enjoy it. But we will also be relying on them tremendously along the way. Harlow and I will definitely need the help and we're grateful to them for filling that role.

And, of course, Salomon USA and Skinny Raven have been hooking us up with gear, advice, and moral support in preparation for the event. Harlow and I have always been happy to push their products. And now we really owe them. Both companies have helped us out in big way.

A couple of parting shots from my last week of training in Anchorage. For those who like to hate on Anchorage, and you are many. This city has some of the best and most accessible terrain I've ever run on. I didn't want to move to Anchorage either, but it's by far the best community for outdoor recreation I've lived in. Here's some of it:

Looking SE from Rendezvous Peak.

Back towards town from Wolverine