09/28/2026
Feeling grateful. Just over a week ago I completed 29029 Trail Park City. Three mountain marathons at altitude with brutal climbs, done. This was my second 29029, and the Trail version is a very different animal from last year's Mountain event.
29029 builds a heck of an environment and a true "you versus you" challenge. Nobody to race, no podium to chase. Just you, the mountain, and whatever's in front of you. I've got a ton of respect for the whole community out there, and especially for my 16 comrades from the Jesse Itzler Adventure Club, who I've gotten to know and spend time with on and off the mountains.
Then there's the part I didn't train for. I'd put in months of work and "time on my feet," and I thought I was right where I needed to be. Then, less than a week out, I got a sudden ingrown toenail and had to have it cut out four days before go-time.
Asking the doc for advice was hilarious...
Me: "I've got this thing later this week that's non-negotiable. Am I good?"
Doc: "Umm, why would you do that? Just stay off it for a week or so."
Me: "Ha. Okay."
So I moved my flight up a day to get out to Park City early and take skipping it off the table. Trust me, I wanted to skip it. Months of prep, and the thing that nearly got me was my big toe. 🤦♂️ On the first climb, that toe took up most of the space in my head, and I spent every step wondering how I'd get through three marathons at elevation.
Murphy's Law shows up at every one of these. Things rarely go to plan, and the whole thing comes down to who shows up and how you handle the self-talk. Type 2 fun they say, lol. What I've come to embrace is simple: it's a lot like life. The mountain doesn't care about your plan, so you adjust and keep going.
The absolute best part was seeing my wife and our son waiting at the finish line. I'll remember my boy running that last stretch with me forever. It made me think about all those middle-of-the-night starts for long rucks and runs, so I could be back by 10 or 11am and not miss the day with them. They supported me through every one of them. 🙏
#29029
