I was fortunate to find a good job immediately out of college. It paid well for our geographical location, had benefits, a 401k, the whole deal. Attending an in-state school with parents that valued education and getting a start in life with as little debt as possible I was in a great position. Towards the end of my time in that field of work I was working with people who were terminally ill. I would be on the phone with someone one week and they would be gone within the next. This added to a string of catalysts that eventually led to me leaving my job to travel for the year with my wife. We are fortunate that she works remotely, allowing us to live untethered when we want. We sold our condo and put a majority of our belongings in storage. We simplified. One of the most important things I learned from the type of work I did is the value of time and the limited amount of it we have.
The following winter was spent living in Hawaii, where my wife partially grew up. We worked with endangered monk seals through the Kauai Marine Mammal Response, where I was able to participate in the rescue of a seal on a remote part of Kauai. My running was used to patrol areas of the Hawaiian coastline that are otherwise inaccessible.
We also drove across the United States four times that year, including from Maine to Austin, Texas and to Portland, Oregon. I obtained my running coach certification through the RRCA shortly after completing my third ultra marathon of the year and first 100-miler finish. During this past year I have realized that my passion to see the world, experience new things, and meet new people is endless.
We are about to embark on a 7-week trip to Spain and the Portuguese island of Madeira. This will allow me a chance to race in different cultures and landscapes. I plan on racing the Madeira 85K on April 13th and then the Ultra Trail Barcelona on April 26th. This will prove to be a new challenge racing this close together and recovery will play a key role in regards to performance.
Who would not want to run 85 kilometers over that?