Just over a year ago today, I signed up for my first 100-mile ultramarathon with a guy I鈥檝e been friends with for 18 years, my old pal Jayson Sime. If things went well, we would, in the span of exactly two years, go from not ever running an ultramarathon distance to completing the 102.9-mile Run Rabbit Run 100 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. If things went well, anyway.聽
I鈥檝e known Jayson鈥檚 story for almost as long as I鈥檝e known him: he grew up one of six kids raised by a single mother, battled dyslexia, got bullied in school, learned to fight literally and metaphorically, and worked his way to a successful career as a political organizer and later, a motivational speaker and coach. For years, he鈥檚 been in my ear with career and life advice, telling me to fake it till I make it and not be afraid to bite off more than I can chew (or be afraid and do it anyway).聽
I figured a 100-mile ultramarathon would be the perfect metaphor to tell the story of Jayson鈥檚 life, as well as provide an opportunity to explain ultrarunning through the eyes of two people who aren鈥檛 exactly natural runners. Things went sort of according to plan for part of the race, and then鈥攚ell, you can watch the film if you want to see how it went for us. I hope it makes you want to dream up something big, lace up your running shoes, call a close friend, or all of the above.聽
A big thanks to REI for their support and also to the team that put in the long hours to make it: Hilary Oliver, Aidan Haley, Ian McLeod, Matt .