Aidan

Happy 50th, Bronson. You somehow make 50 look like the beginning of something, not the middle of it. Grateful for the life you’ve built, the incredible people around you, and the attitude you carry into every new chapter. You’re my human, and getting to do life alongside you is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. I’m pretty lucky to have a front-row seat for whatever comes next. Cheers to 50. ❤️

The decision to try. I needed to try at something. I had to say out loud that I was afraid to fail. I had to cry about it. I had to think really hard about my past failures and where I had room to improve. I had to be ok with taking a chance at something I could ‘fail’ at again. Failure is scary but letting go of this dream felt a whole lot scarier. So I decided I’d try - even if I failed. My training wasn’t better than last year, my mental state wasn’t either. I knew my only chance of making it to 100 miles was going to be by staying calm - staying within my own limits. And that’s what we did. My team was everything. The overwhelming sense of love and support from my people makes tired legs feel stronger, makes trail shits less shitty, makes ‘I can’t’ into ‘we got this’. I’ve never felt more supported in my life. I am so grateful to all of you for lifting me up by my bootstraps and believing in me when I really didn’t have much faith in myself. We did it. And the funny thing is, since I made the decision to try that hard scary thing that I knew I could fail at, I’ve been able to try in my not running life again. I trust myself again. I feel strong again.I’m excited again. There are so many lessons learned out there but the glaring take away for me is to try. Even when you feel broken discombobulated, can’t-catch-a-break, dropped on your head stuck and sad. Talk about it, be scared, lean on your people but don’t be afraid to try.

Norm, Thank you for every single day we shared. You made me a better human. It’s been one week without you. I miss you so fucking much. I’ll love you forever my sweet baby. I hope they serve cheese in dog heaven.

It’s been about 2 months since I took my first stab at running 100 miles. Processing the experience has been a long, slow and on going affair. I still tear up when I talk about those 34 hours on anything more than a surface level. The experience was absolutely powerful. I was able to push myself physically and mentally farther than I’ve ever gone before and was confronted with my weakness in a raw way. Having the opportunity to test my own limits in that way was one thing - but the overwhelming sense of support I felt from my people is what brings me to tears. I’ve never felt a stronger sense of love support or gratitude in my life. Thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged and chased me around the mountain that day. You were the light at the end of the tunnel and strength when I had none - you’ll never know just how profound the impact of your presence was for me. I thought I could run 100 miles. Turns out what I had on race day was precisely 34 hours and 87 miles (and 23,000 feet of climbing) and not an ounce more. Soooo needless to say there’s some unfinished business, I’ll be putting in for the lottery to come back and get this thing done in 2023. 🤞 #wasatch100 #leftfootrightfoot #failandtryagain #notdeadyet

Right where I want to be 👌

A few of my favorite moments from 2021

I savor every moment of you, July.

Midwinters desert reset ✨

Extreme violence, police beating the pulp out of citizens. This video was taken by my brother who was arrested for filming this... these beasts must be held accountable!!! Please share!!!@benlehfeldtehlinger

Been having a lot of ‘best days ever’ this year... but this was a BEST WEEK EVER! Yosemite you were such a treat 🍦

It will be impossible to forget these magical days and the transformational journey that has only just begun. Thanks for pushing me beyond what I knew to be possible and expanding my dreams! It took a few days for the reality to settle in, I did in fact complete my first 105k run. I guess I had anticipated a euphoric feeling of accomplishment, after all this was a goal of a life time and I had just run 18.5 hours, 65 miles and 15,000 vert, rode the roller coaster extreme emotional highs and lows and at times lost track of my WHY - only to be picked up by my friends and hurled through that finish line that I wasn’t certain I’d be able to cross. The euphoria and sense of accomplishment never came, instead I was consumed by this overwhelming gratitude for the PEOPLE who helped get me here. From the beginning when @em_smithhh @phoebe802 @isaaacole followed me down to Moab for my first 50 mile DNF disaster (got lost, fell in a cattle guard on mile 2, and at some point filled my shoes with sand for ‘cushioning’), to the years of consistency of @marshawnmoyer , and @jeremy.wilstein who has learned that the follow your heart method usually requires a headlamp and always steps up for any adventure (que the Thursday Night ‘accidental’ marathons). To @saravalerious and the THUNDER PUSSIES @seancollon @cedricgamble (because the vagina is the strongest thing on earth) for pushing me completely out of my comfort zone during a summer of long days (plenty of tears and learning curves) out on the ridge line of the Wasatch. And finally to my coach @annamaeflynn , who took me on not knowing how loosey-goosey my methods truly were and in one month dialed in my training and nutrition (swapping my jalapeños for electrolytes and teaching me the value of rest) to give me the smoothest (and longest) most enjoyable race yet! Having a dream team like you guys is truly the magic sauce! Im starting realize it’s not all about that finish or goal. The real magic is all the moments in between, the sunrise missions, the rest days of going out into the blizzard when you’d rather be in by the fire... extending my ramble to comments -

Getting my fix 🍂