RACE UPDATE:
Friends - thank you all for the support and well wishes before, during, and after the race. I have had a couple of days to decompress and gather my thoughts. That was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I am so happy and proud to have completed the Big Horn 100 and make significant strides in the fundraising goal at the same time. This is impossible without all of you. Many of the other runners that I crossed paths with made a lasting impact on me and I enjoyed some real quality time on the trail. I was able to run with my brother-n-law which made me really happy. I ran with a gentleman named Stephen England. Stephen is a type-1 diabetic. He runs with a pump and manages everything on the run. Multiple times his alarm went off and he had to stop and manage his blood sugar. He hammered the course and finished well ahead of me. It just brought a sharp perspective of the challenges that others face and must overcome in the journey of life. Stephen was told he would never be a runner. Now he is a Tahoe 200 finisher. HIs strength and determination was contagious on the run. As for the course, the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming are truly spectacular. The course was blessed with snow, rain, MUD,MUD, and more Mud. The race director and volunteers were amazing. Many of the aid stations were only stocked and accessed by horseback. There were cowboys and cowgirls helping you get on with it all night. The run ended with an 8 mile downhill with 4k foot vertical loss. I thought my knees were going to fall off. I will be reaching out to all of you to say thank you and discuss the donor options in the next couple of weeks. I have updated some pics for you all to see. Thank you again!
The Why
Why run a 100 miles? That question is often asked of by people when they learn of ultra running. For me, the answer is short and profound. I do it to see what I am made of, to test my mettle. When someone signs up for a 100 mile endurance race, it is the rare exception that they are actually trying to win. That blue ribbon is reserved for the few elites that run. Everyone else is just trying to win the day, their day. I do this knowing that in the next 20-30 hours, that I will undoubtedly have my back up against a wall. l will have to confront fear, failure, and fatigue head-on, many times over. Discomfort and pain will become common place and through it I will have all the time required for SOULful reflection and connection. There are no cell phones, no internet, no work schedules, no distractions. The only things you have are the present moment and the obstacles you face. Additionally, the 100 mile distance requires you to run through the night. This is one of the greatest gifts of ultra running. It provides you the experience of a life cycle the way it was intended. Running from the birth of a morning, the aging of a day, and running long into the night is very emotional. You must endure the bold dark hours from sundown to sunup. These hours are cold, you feel vulnerable and alone. You test your breaking point and wonder if you can keep it going. Questioning yourself, Will I fall short? Will I quit? Then when failure is imminent and hopelessness is abound, day break arrives. The pale blue sunrise glows on the horizon and hope returns to your eyes. In a short distance the sun's rays will provide warmth and guidance on the trail. The day is reborn and your spirit grows once again. Depending on the race start and course profile, you may be nearing the finish then again maybe not. When you do arrive at the finish line it is often unceremonious with the grand exception of receiving a belt buckle for your efforts. In most 100 mile ultras, finishers receive a coveted belt buckle reflecting their triumph. My first finish came in Leadville, Colorado at the iconic LTR 100. I had chosen this race to pay homage to a dear friend and mentor in my life who has driven me to succeed in so many ways. The day had even more meaning as I was paced and crewed by family and friends. It literally took a village to get me to my goal and get that belt buckle. Unselfish friends waited hours upon hours at aid stations, through bitter cold and rain just to greet me with warm clothes, food, and words of well wishes. It was a day I will never forget and a day I will try to replicate.
The Campaign - The Big Horn 100 - Wild and Scenic Trail Run -
That day brings me here. This Friday, June 14, 2019 at 9am, I will take on the Big Horn 100 trail run in Dayton, Wyoming. I will be attempting the 100 mile distance solo - meaning no pacers / no crew. To commemorate the event, I am asking friends, family, and community to join me and support the effort of all runners by joining in on this campaign. The campaign is called 100 Friends for 100 Miles and it is a bit unconventional. During the duration of the race, this site will be accepting donations. The recipient of the funds has NOT YET been determined and will NOT be chosen until after the event when everyone who donates can vote on where the funds will go. The recipient will be an INDIVIDUAL who is worthy of an acute life change and deserving of a financial windfall that we create. Prospective recipients could be a disadvantaged child where the money would go to a 529 College plan. Can you imagine donating $10,000 to a 6 year old stranger via a 529 plan as a group? in 12 years college could be paid for. Maybe the money goes to a young cancer survivor to pay for a once in a lifetime trip? Or perhaps we could support the family of a fallen soldier or first responder who gave the ultimate sacrifice to make our lives safer? Whomever it is, together we can make a big change in someones life who is deserving and forever altering their path. We can become a daybreak following a cold and dark night.
The Ask -
I am asking you to either pledge an amout per mile I run or a simple give of a fixed amount. Whatver that amount may be, it will get us to or over our goal. The goal is $10,000.00 and I would love to see at least 100 unique donations to ring true of 100 friends for 100 miles. Maybe we blow this thing out of the water, maybe not. But we toe the line and give it a go. I need your support in being an influencer and having others donate as well.
To quench your instiable thirst of following the event, I am posting a link to a Garmin Tracker where you can track my progress on the run. You can start at 9am Friday and watch it until the batteries die or I finish. You can also go to www.itsyourrace.com for live tracking updates. I have 35 hours to complete the run and I may take all of it.
Track the Garmin Here - mileage will be off. Updates every 10 minutes.
