Still hanging in the balance of anxiety and extreme excitement for this weekend’s endeavor.

Naomi and I have admitted to each other multiple times that we have no idea what we’ve gotten ourselves into. Can we do this? There was a time I was told I couldn’t run 2 miles. Now I run marathons. There was a time I was told I would never make it as a varsity rower… only to help lead my collegiate team for 2.5 more years.

So maybe not if, but why? But I imagine there are no real answers as to why we attempt such things. Definitely no logic. Only lots of heart.

For us runners, the question of “why” is pretty moot. Not because it may not be interesting, or important, from a certain point of view, but because we’ve left the question of the meaning of running behind. After all the questions have been asked, and all the answers given, in spite of the disagreement on essences, physiology, rationales, training strategies, trail running, road racing, i-pod wearing, mid-foot striking, turnover cadences, arm carriages, Jack Daniels, Arthur Lydiard, 20 miles a week or 100, 5k or the 50k, whether it’s really the Miles of Trials or the Trial of Miles, after all the words have been spoken and keyboards have been pounded, meanings given and ideologies subverted… After all this, we runners bend down and tighten the laces, open the door, brace for the cold and are renewed: another godawful, glorious, and meaningless 8 miler. Answer enough.
-Jeff Edmonds (Rock/Creek Race Team)

At the very least, we’re in it together. And we can enjoy the journey.

View from aid station - Stump/Jump, Chattanooga TN