National Geographic has named their 2014 Adventurers of the Year.
“For nine years, National Geographic has combed the globe to find the Adventurers of the Year, each selected for his or her extraordinary achievement in exploration, adventure sports, conservation, and humanitarianism.
This year, we picked people who embody the spirit of adventure in diverse ways—a sky runner reinventing the rules; a skier reimagining his backyard; a climber seeking the hardest routes; a solo woman walking across the globe; a pair of veterans creating community where it’s needed most; and five more incredible feats.”
Folks know I’m a HUGE Kilian Jornet fan. That said, I was inspired by ALL of this year’s honorees.
The Honorees
• Adventure Educators Amy and Dave Freeman
• Alpinists Raphael Slawinski and Ian Welsted
• Big-Wave Surfer Greg Long
• Climber Adam Ondra
• Community Builders Stacy Bare and Nick Watson
• Explorer Sarah Marquis
• Long-Distance Swimmer Diana Nyad
• Skier JP Auclair
• Sky Runner Kilian Jornet
• Snowboarder Kevin Pearce
VOTE HERE for People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year: https://on.natgeo.com/1aGpYtW
(If you don’t vote for Kilian, check out Explorer Sarah Marquis. WOW – super inspired!)
Adventurer of the Year – Kilian Jornet
Better than running my first half marathon since June? Family support at the finish line. The best!
Announced my 60 day Marathon challenge & soon after was down with a cold. ARGH – crummy luck! 3 weeks of steady training later, have hit the halfway point. Time for a half marathon – 13.1 miles.
Longest training run to date: 12 miles – but who can’t gut out an extra mile on race day? 🙂
Took an xtra day & journeyed to Arkansas for a long weekend with family – before winter weather & holidays fill folks’ schedules. Flew into Fort Smith Regional airport via Dallas. Small plane, small airport. 1 seat by 2 seat row capacity – landed in a 2 gate facility (yep, it’s either Gate 1 or Gate 2 🙂 ). BAM – 10 minutes later enjoyed lunch at Williamsburg Kitchen. LOVE LOVE how close & convenient everything is in a small town! And the weather? Sunny & 60’s. FAAAANNNNTASTIC!
Saturday, race day. FCA River Valley Run.
Wait, wait – missing part of the story. Received a TomTom GPS Watch as a belated birthday gift (which should cover birthdays for a decade – thanks James, Collette & Maddie). First run with the watch, a half marathon. Talk about setting the bar high. LOL>
Easy race start – fairly flat ‘til mile 6. Big hill but nothing crazy. Happy to see James & Collette at mile 9 – super nice!
Trick finish. At 10 ½ miles you drop off-road & run thru a wooded area. BIG smile. A mile-half later you’re still gradually climbing. NOT nice. One mile to go – super winded, thinkin’ maybe 2:16 for a finish time. Goal is always 2 hours but hadn’t raced this distance since June, I’m drowning in humidity – yep, full of excuses.
Yards away from the finish I squint hard to see the ticker.
1:54 baby. Assume once I learn how to download my race splits from the new watch, I’ll see a HUGE pace drop-off after mile 10 – but dang, I did it. Finished & finished strong. Confidence high – full marathon in 30 days.
Water, bananas & a purple Bible. First race in the Bible-belt. Check, done 🙂
Finished the weekend with a lotta food, lotta card games & a lotta laughs.
Running in Arkansas – I’ll be back.
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- 34th overall, 3rd in my age group!
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- 2 gate airport – Hello Arkansas!
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- Williamsburg Kitchen’s infamous clown room – highly recommended!
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- pre-race pic w/ James & Collette
UPDATE:
Williamsburg Kitchen celebrates 35 years! CONGRATS!
Although I thought I was in love in January, that love has faded over time.
I still love your bright yellow hue, Saucony. Call me frickle – a guy’s mid-season crisis but I’m moving on. It’s not you, it’s me. Sure my new love is bigger, wider, looks a bit orthopedic – but I like to think I’m open-minded.
Let’s not fight. I remember the love we shared. I remember Alaska.
Let me introduce Hoka OneOne.
We’ve already run 50+ miles together. Plan to see more of me & my new shoes as I full-on train for Ironman Boulder 2014.
Next stop, Fort Smith Arkansas. River Valley Run, Saturday November 9th. My first half since June.
Wish us luck. Only 45 days to Tucson.
Hoka OneOne Bondi 2 Speed
