Sometimes getting to the start line is the hardest part. Two years ago I signed up for TDS at @utmbmontblanc. Then some things happened in the world and the race was cancelled. And then more things happened and I deferred in 2021. Finally, I confirmed my entry this year. Well, 2022 has been a wild ride, packed with travel, a growing events business, and a newborn at home. It’s been a roller coaster for my training as I’ve (sometimes poorly) navigated a more rigid and limited life schedule. Though fitness has been a work in progress I still felt this summer like I got in enough miles to give the 90M course w/ 30K of climbing a go. Well, about 1 month ago I fell and bashed my knee on a rock, which left me on the couch for a few days and off the trails for 2 weeks. I had major doubts about my ability to race and thought about cancelling. But I got in a couple longer efforts last week where the knee held up and my sports doc gave me the green light, so I recommitted. Then, we finally got Jack into daycare after over a year of waiting (yay!), and he immediately brought home a virus (not Covid) that knocked us all out this last week (boo!). Doubt crept back in at the darkest moments of the week, but I’m finally feeling better with today being my first run in six days. Good timing because today I’m also traveling to Chamonix as TDS is just 3 days away! This is not a woe is me post, I swear. It’s just that there will be a lot of stories at UTMB this year about people getting to the finish line slightly faster than their competitors in the various races. Those stories are inspiring, but I also want to take a moment to applaud each and every person who gets to the start line despite the many things in life standing between them and their goals. I know I’m not alone in the journey and with each set back I’ve had this year I stuck to the mantra of “I just have to get to the start line.” To all the people I’ll be sharing the start line with in Couermeyer this Monday, good job showing up again and again even when things were difficult and uncertain. It’s that type of character that might serve you all the way to the finish as well.