Communities exist that are centered around being active outdoors, in nature, everyday. I have longed to move our family away from the increasing congestion of the urban home to one that values and embraces the outdoors as a way of life.
This summer we did it. We didn’t plan on it being this summer. It just happened. More serendipitous activity fell into place than didn’t and we now find ourselves living the mountain life in Truckee, California, where there are mountains, elevation, and trails for days.
In June, I was in Tahoe supporting the super bowl of the ultra-running world, The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Race. It is a spectacular feat. While not a one-hundred mile endurance run through the mountains, I did just accomplish what feels like a massive ultra-endurance feat of strength, relocating. Relocating a family while still taking care of the emotional and physical well-being during such a time of change is a huge feat. This was done while also holding down a full-time job, pivoting a career, emptying a house, moving everything owned into storage, buying a house, a work trip to London , fixing a house for sale, selling a house, then moving everything out of storage to the new house – in two months time. Anything is possible once you put your mind to it and start grinding it out.
To make the most of resources and time, the move happened at a pretty grueling pace. My crew was tough and kept us moving forward. It also came with many tough ascents and descents. We planned enough to keep organized while keeping it loose enough to adapt to the inevitable unknowns as they unfolded rapidly before use.
It might not be a coincidence that I set our family off on this seemingly abrupt change the day after witnessing fierce, strong, and courageous athletes face their demons while running one-hundred miles from Squaw Valley to Auburn. Every one of them toed the line as prepared as one possibly can for a journey rampant with unknowns. Yet, they didn’t let thoughts of fear or doubt sway them from putting themselves all out there on the Western States Trail. Without knowing exactly how it could turnout they went for it. In doing so they gained experience and insight they will carry into their next challenge.
We may feel comfortable and safe in one place but, even then safety and security are not certainties. We might as well step into new experiences, prepare, train, learn ,and run with it to squeeze the richness out of being on this tiny planet.