While relaxing and chatting with family and friends on the shores of Lake Michigan in early July, my friend Betsy suggested I provide an update on some of the things I’ve been doing this year. Thanks to Betsy’s encouragement, I wrote this post.

During the dark of winter, I was feeling a little sluggish. So I decided to do something drastic.
 
With some trepidation, I signed up for the Oregon Cascades 100-mile ultramarathon, a long-distance race in the mountains between Bend and Sisters. Although I’ve run several ultramarathons and marathons previously, I’ve never run more than 50 miles in a single effort.

Before I signed up, I was usually running about 20 miles a week. To prepare for the challenge of a hundred miler, I’ve ramped up my training considerably. This week I plan on running about 70 miles, which has been my weekly average since May. The training has been life-changing, and the consistency and volume have allowed my running practice to flourish.
​
In June, as part of my training, I participated in the Wy’East Wonder 50-mile race, an ultramarathon held in Mt. Hood National Forest. It was a spectacularly beautiful and awesome race. By my standards, I did well, finishing the race in 10 hours and 17 minutes, feeling strong and positive throughout, and recovering quickly afterward. For me, the goal of running is not perpetually faster splits, but the opportunity to move my body, better understand myself, and spend time in nature.

​I started the 2021 Los Angeles Marathon next to a barefoot runner named Albert Perusset, who I would later learn was the world record holder for running barefoot marathons. After the race, I looked him up and discovered a profound editorial he penned for a digital magazine called Mr Feelgood. Unfortunately, the marathon we ran together would be his last, an astonishing 211th barefoot marathon. Perusset passed away only a month after the race. However, the wisdom he shared lives on through the people he inspired. This post is dedicated to the memory of Albert Perusset, who left an indelible impact on me through our brief interaction and his sage advice. 

I am fascinated by the mountains. Mountaineering epics move me in ways that few other things do. I’m deeply inspired by the audacity and perseverance of the mountaineers that came before me. I’m curious to visit some of the world's tallest peaks to see what’s there. The metaphor entices me fundamentally.
 
Ambition, curiosity, and excitement attract me to mountaineering. When Greta and I moved to Seattle in 2021, Mt. Rainier was clearly visible many days of the year. After a few weeks in the city, I put the summit of Mt. Rainier on my bucket list. When I did so, I figured I was many years away from realizing this goal. Learning to glacier travel, manage crevasses, and utilize an ice axe seemed distant at the time. 

Running the JFK 50 ultramarathon in November 2022 was a defining experience, one that challenged me physically, mentally, and emotionally. It was a humbling reminder of the delicate balance between preparation and perseverance required to navigate ultramarathon distances.