I’ll save you a seat!
My marathoner pal Stacy is the best – thanks! I’m not a huge fan of driving into Denver – especially during rush hour – but the chance to watch Polar Explorer (& Everest summiter), Eric Larsen LIVE was worth leaving the Boulder bubble.
Intention was to educate myself on everything Everest, I left with polar exploration on the brain.
Someday, maybe…you never know 🙂
Denver REI — Colder: Adventure and Inspiration from Everest & the Poles
- Date: 1/12/2015
- Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM MST
- Presenter: Eric Larsen
- Group Size: 120
Polar adventurer, Eric Larsen, shares stories from two decades of extreme expeditions. Hear stories about months on the Arctic Ocean, perilous conditions, Polar Bears, avalanches, and much more. Eric will also share anecdotes from his recent unsupported speed record expedition to the Geographic North Pole called Last North.
To date, Eric has completed more polar expeditions than any other American in history. Included in that list are the first ever summer expedition to the North Pole as well as a world record expedition to the South Pole, North Pole and top of Mt. Everest all within a 365-day period.
https://www.ericlarsenexplore.com/
Inspiration & motivation – key to maintaining consistency & keeping my head in the game.
Much easier to drop off & miss a run (or 2 or 3) than to stick it day after day. I’ve got my go-to guy – endurance runner Kilian Jornet…but when looking to consistency, gotta look to the ladies.
Tammy, Monumental Marathon
We all have friends who FitBit every daily workout on FaceBook. Run mileage, cross fit WODs, maps of their neighborhood treks – annoying, huh? Day in, day out – Tammy’s 4.3 mile run, some impossible rope climb, pics with the weekend run group, race photos.
Somewhere in the process however, I got over being annoyed, set a goal & joined a gym. If ever asked why I started marathoning – it was Tammy. Ran our first full together this November…my 14th marathon, 2nd sub-4 & a new PR. Ice in my veins – thanks sis!
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- Had just seen the 26 mile marker up ahead. At this point, I was running 5:1 intervals and knew I was so close. Time to pick up the pace and look strong coming in.
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- This was when I saw that beautiful finish banner. I knew it was in the bag! I was so relieved. Was just trying to hold it together so I’d have a good picture and not embarrass myself. This is what 7 months of hard training looks like. Goal achieved. FINALLY.
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- Yep, pure joy!
Stacy, Marathon Maniacs
Briefly met Stacy after finishing marathon #11 in Scottsbluff NE. Admiration grew as I followed her journey on social media. Shared a Southwest flight to Tulsa last month (Route 66 Marathon), then 2 weeks later randomly bumped into Stacy [at DIA] while returning from Delaware (Stacy raced in San Antonio). Great life spirit. This lady keeps me inspired – & organized.
Thanks to Stacy my 2015 marathon calendar is set – 26 new states on the horizon. We next collide in Miami.
To anyone out there – find your passion, your dream, your goal, and GO ALL IN! Whether you want to run a mile, or take an art class, or bake the best chili at the county fair – do what makes you happy and LIVE YOUR LIFE. Surround yourself by those who do what you want to do. They were once beginners as well. To anyone hesitant of taking a leap into the unknown, just ask yourself: “How bad do you want it?”
Running to Alaska: Stacy Bolyard (full article)
Sally, Western States 100
The obvious connection here is running. The inspiration is endurance running – where I see myself in another 2 years. Sally’s video ‘Western Time’ is more than a gal & a lotta miles. Hooked on her personal journey & ambition to compete/complete/finish Top 10 in Western States (100 Mile endurance run). Super INSPIRED!
Sue, Life Below Zero
Been addicted to NatGeo’s Life Below Zero all season – & Sue Aikens is the primary reason. Each ‘Life’ individual adds something unique to the show’s success – but it’s Sue’s no nonsense, no excuse, straight talk that shines. Personally [I’m] a bit too pollyanna – too rah rah & upbeat – so I appreciate Sue’s contrast. NatGeo doesn’t gloss over that strong personality. An entrepreneur working in the Arctic Circle (operates fueling station, Kavik River Camp), this lady subsistence hunts &’s a thinker. Tough chick; I’m a FAN.
https://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/life-below-zero/articles/sue-aikens/
Following a person’s FB posts or blog, can skew one’s perspective/reality – folks generally only post happy pics, happy stories, motivational moments. What is wrong with my life? Why am I stuck?
I advocate managing an Inspiration library – fill it with pics, stories, videos & quotes which inspire YOU.
95 consecutive weekends later, I haven’t taken a break. No excuses. “waiting is the opposite of living”
Camping on the Frozen Arctic Sea
AMAZING pics in this photoblog! Icebergs, breaching whales, polar bears & an Inuit guide.
Literally camping on the frozen sea in Baffin Bay, Nunavut (Canada).
After 3 flights and 10 hours of travelling, a group of nine tourists connect in Pond Inlet, a small hamlet in Nunavut, located on the northeastern shores of Baffin Island, 72° North.
Baffin Island, Nunavut (Canada)
INSPIRING kayak adventure! Followed this Canadian team of 4 all summer on FB. They successfully completed their journey across Baffin Island on September 19th.
Pittarak Expeditions, comprised of Erik Boomer, Sarah McNair-Landry, Eric McNair-Landry and Kate Breen, completed a 65 day journey across Baffin Island, the 5th largest island in the world. Not only did they kayak the 1,000 km across the island, they kayaked in traditional Inuit kayaks they made themselves!
Pittarak Expeditions
Love letter to Colorado: Thank you for bringing me home
Whereas my writing is limited to caps, action superlatives & exclamation marks, Robin Enright pens in full sentences Colorado-evoked emotions carbon-copied in my heart. Robin emigrated to Boulder from Massachusetts; I moved from New York/CT.
Follow my 6-degrees of separation — this article was written by Ashton’s Tom’s cousin/aunt Robin 🙂
robinenright.com
Pair who walked to Colorado 14ers expect to hit 58th summit Sunday
Ya’ll know I love to hike & LOVE LOVE my Colorado. Wee bit jealous these guys had 10 weeks available to hike 1,300 miles & climb all of our state’s infamous 14ers. Just means I’ve gotta dream BIGGER 🙂
The pair has been walking for 10 weeks, starting down south in the San Luis Valley. They’ve climbed every 14,000-foot peak in Colorado as they’ve ambled north, leaving what 33-year-old Dawud called a “continuous set of footprints” and forging a first-ever through-hike of the state’s high points.
The self-supported trekkers will climb the North Inlet Trail and scramble up Longs Peak on Sunday. When they descend into Grand Lake Sunday afternoon, they will have scaled the last peak and walked more than 1,300 miles, climbing about 300,000 vertical feet in a first-of-its-kind mission. (It’s “about” 300,000 vertical because the elevation-gain feature on their GPS has maxed out and stopped counting.)
Colorado14er Kings
