In my eyes, being able to check that box of completing an Ultramarathon would mark the end of running for me. And I'm far from done.

Running has taught me so many important lessons. Traveled to so many different places all for the sake of running. Created opportunities that I didn't think feasible. Forged and bonded friendships through miles and injuries. But the most important lesson that running has taught me has to be that of belief. Belief in myself.

When my "ifs" started to change "when" I realized I had everything I needed within myself to conquer anything I set my mind to. It's not a matter of "if" this happens, it's a matter of "when" it happens.

So this item is going back on my adventure list but I'm not in any hurry to cross it off any time soon. In fact some other items may have pushed this down a little further. This was such a humbling experience. Just to be able to see some of these 100 milers in action was beyond words. They are on a completely different planet of badasses along with Sherpas. Running for 36 hours. Can we just eat 100 chicken wings instead? 🐔☠️🤯

If I had one wish, I would wish for everyone to find something to be passionate about. Something that will drive you to the ends of the earth to achieve. Go crazy with it and let it drive you crazy. Push you way beyond your limits and make you uncomfortable. Pay attention to what grows in that space cause you may suprise yourself.

You know for a long time I struggled to answer that question but I think I finally have my answer.

What the branches won't do, the leaves will. There are 4 parts of a tree : Roots, Trunk, Branches and Leaves. Each part represents a generation. Not one part is more important than the other individually but collectively important as a whole.

The first adventure my family has ever embarked on was immigrating to the States. At that time, my great grandparents were the Roots, my grandparents were the trunk, my parents the branches and the leaves were my sister and I.

All my grandparents at that time spoke of the sacrifices they endured to get their " tree" to where they needed to be. My grandmother would tell me about how poor they were and they couldn't afford to buy meat so they would eat leaves and vegetables for dinner. My mom told me of times when they went to bed hungry. As a child I could never fully grasp the scope of their sacrifices because my parents made sure we never went to bed hungry. It wasn't until I was old enough to travel back home and see where my grandparents and parents grew up in that I understood. And the 1st time the great shift in roles when my grandparents joined my great grandparents back to the earth as the roots. Essentially changing the roles of my parents as the trunk and my sister and I as the branches.

This is what adventure means to me. To consistently push the boundaries of limitations for growth just as my grandparents and parents did before me. My grandparents never really traveled so they made sure we certainly did. There will be a day when these roles will shift once again. When that day comes I want to make sure the next generation after me, their tree will be the one that touches the moon.

BLOG