Benjamin Floor

Someone pinch me. Best birthday ever! Tonight we party!

Today we said goodbye to our sweet pup Friday. She was part cocker and part stuffed animal. She was the cutest, sweetest, floppiest, and most loving pooch. Friday has so much love and instantly shared her love with everyone she encountered-friends, children, strangers, and even converted a few people who weren’t “dog people.” I was so lucky to have had her in my life. Friday was my best friend and I miss her dearly. ❤️ #who-rescued-who #ourgirlfriday @ripleyrader

I can’t believe it! …and I can totally believe it! I can’t express how proud I am of my wife. @ripleyrader I love you and I love who you are. /sites/kristenphilipkoski/2023/04/27/ripley-raders-perfect-pants-did-not-happen-overnight/?sh=329315c55715 @shopripleyrader

Our brand @shopripleyrader is going to be on the Today Show!!!

Day 6: 23 miles, 1 mile of elevation gain! This morning, I woke up with confidence, joy, excitement, and all those things - this was the last day and I just have to finish! This morning, I woke up with fear, fatigue, no appetite, and all those things - I knew that today might not be possible, literally. To viscerally and succinctly have those opposing feelings, and for both of them to be correct, is hard for me to get my head wrapped around… However, I put on the sequin cowboy hat and a smile. We started off and I was quickly greeted with a hard climb and switchbacks. I then hit the Aspen forest and what a nice reward - it was so beautiful and magical! Then, I really started the climb. It was big and endless! I begged for the top and hours later, I found it! Then I got to bomb down a thick grassy trail that was hard to see through the tall, thick brush. I let gravity take over and tried to keep my legs underneath me. After a couple miles, extreme fatigue and muscle pain kicked in more than ever! I begged to find the bottom and the next aid station- I needed a gumption boost and a miracle, and I found it! Or perhaps it found me. My good friend @brisacksy was waiting for me and was going to finish the last 7 miles with me! With less 4 miles remaining, we had one final, terrible, evil 3 mile climb - after 116 miles, I still didn’t know if I could finish. Each step was hiking with concrete legs. I knew I had to take the next step, and the next one, but I didn’t know which one might be the last. Bri kept encouraging me - I had this patient coach/friend with an invisible rope pulling me through. It was a special moment because I previously paced her during her ultras, encouraging her, trying to get her to eat, and not allowing her to stop moving. Favor returned. Eventually and somehow, we were on our last decent and had less than a mile to go! We could hear the sounds of the finish line announcer @scottpdavis23 in the distance. It was at that moment, over 119 miles in, that I finally knew I was going to cross the finish line! 6 days, 120 miles 20,000 ft elevation gain @transrockiesrunning

Day 5: 24 miles, tons of elevation, but Vail This was my favorite day but it took awhile to realize it! I woke up knowing it could be horrible after yesterday. So I decided to bust out the silver sequin cowboy hat (that I procured from a stranger’s wedding a few days prior) to remind myself not to take it too seriously and enjoy the mountains. I also grabbed some proper trekking poles (thanks @chelsees_life ). It was beautiful and I got encouragement along the way from strangers, new friends, along with Mr. & Mrs. Claus. At my lowest point (towards the top), I said to a runner, it looks like we have to go all the way up there (I was beat by the thought). She quickly said cheerfully “what else are we going to do today?” Totally wasn’t ready for that and I’m so grateful! It was a game changer and a switchback later, I said it back to her smiling and excited. (Thanks @oliviakalmanson .) I then realized I was in the back bowls of Vail where I learned to go switch on a snowboard at high speeds and soon I’d be going through the trees where I got mad snowboarding technical tree skills with @bryanmbayer many years ago. I felt like a child on my old stomping grounds and kept seeing myself cruising these slopes I used to know so well. On the way down, the struggle and pain was there but I’d didn’t care. I was loving where I was! However by the end, my legs caught up to me and I was really wrecked the last couple miles. I met new friend. We chatted and he got me to the finish line! Chuck stayed with me and wasn’t going to go ahead without me. What good dude! Thanks Chuck. I can’t make sense out of the mileage or elevation (even on fresh legs) and I had my favorite day!

Day 4: 15 miles Big Climb I woke up feeling confident after day 3. The morning fog over the lake was lovely and it was time to get moving. Unfortunately, within a few miles, I felt worse than I had the entire time! The mountain was steep and each step felt like a breaking point… I had miles of climbing remaining. I picked up some branches to use as walking sticks to help pull myself up the beautiful, but steep forest. Finally I got to the top and looked around to take in the views! It felt great but I realized, I wasn’t at the top, I had a couple more miles of climbing. It wasn’t quite as steep and the struggle was real but the west was done and the views of mountain peaks and the fresh air made it wonderful. The encouragement of others kept me going! Finally, i got to the real top and it was time to go down! I was so excited but quickly found out my legs weren’t having it. It was painful and difficult and I found myself wanting the downhill to end. It was rough until I got to the water portion of the trail. The ice cold water felt so good on my feet and I enjoyed taking it easy. After awhile, I found the finish and the hardest day was over. It was humbling and it was beautiful. @transrockiesrunning

Day 3: Continental Divide 24 Mile Recovery Run? You have to be kidding me! How is this possible?! On day 3, I woke up feeling a little sick to my stomach. I think I was nervous or worried about how today could be possible after how I felt at the end of day 2. Fortunately, it’s was way easy …not really, but aside from my stomach, I was much better than expected and clocked my biggest single day run in years! The views continued to delight and I met a yeti and @corbinlemieux along the way. My stomach seemed to get better throughout the run and at the finish line, I crushed a cheeseburger. Day 3 was also special because we ran along the Continental Divide. As a young boy, I had a silly idea that it would be fun to pee on both sides of the Continental Divide and my pee would start traveling to the Pacific and Atlantic at the same time! Turns out, it was fun;) -picture not shown. @transrockiesrunning

Day 2: Hope Pass 13 miles (33 of 120) Today, we got to climb a mountain! The views were amazing and the pauses to take it all in were nice and gave me a break. My legs didn’t want to climb from the beginning and it was a slog to Hope Pass! There, I was rewarded with 360 degree views and @brisacksy waiting to run down with me! What followed was the the most fun bombing down a mountain I’ve ever done for about 4 or 5 miles! After that, my legs reminded me they were tired and the rolling flats turned into a combination of walking and running, with a side of struggle. Although it was really tough and I had to dig deep in order to finish, it felt so good to push through to the finish line and I loved it! @transrockiesrunning

Day 1: 20 miles I had a blast! @transrockiesrunning

I’m about to start a 6-day 120 mile run across the Rockies! I’ve never done anything like this - I’ve ran or hiked 20 miles only a handful of times in my life. Everyday after the first will be a personal record. I can’t believe it and I’m so stoked for the challenge! …However, since arriving, I’ve realized running is secondary. To be in nature in the Rockies is amazing! The views, the air, the sounds, the stars, and slowing down to take it all in are refilling my tank in the best ways! Also, I’m hanging out with wonderful people, some who I haven’t met yet. I’m so grateful to be here! This is going to be fun! Thank you @transrockiesrunning for creating this event and thank you @ripleyrader for surprising me with this!

Ripley launched a podcast, Younger but Wiser. She wanted to keep the spirit of her in-person camp going at a time when she couldn’t have the camp due to the pandemic. In the podcast, she interviews teen girls and discusses relevant topics that turn out to be relevant to adults too. I’ve been blown away by their gems, insight, and wisdom from these teenagers! I’m excited to hear them all in their entirety. I’m so proud of Ripley for creating a space for their wisdom to be shared. Take a listen to Younger but Wiser on Spotify or Apple Podcast, or watch it on YouTube - youngerbutwiserpodcast.com