Home

10%

Atlanta Crew

Entered as Strangers, Left as Family

By 29029 Everesting

August 5^th, 2022

29029: Welcome! Thanks for taking the time to chat for this story. Maybe the easiest way to jump into this is just a bit about how you all know each other, and how your journey to 29029 started.

Bob Larkin: Well, we know each other because of 29029, so that’s where this group started. Well, I guess Cindy [ed: his wife] and I have known each other a bit longer… But this group came from the shared connection of 29029.

Noah Pines: When Jen and I signed up in 2019, we thought we should form an Atlanta Facebook group, that way we could train together and meet some other like-minded people tackling 29029. It all started pretty casual - I’d just post and say, “Hey, Jen and I are going to Stone Mountain today,” or “We’re going to Kennesaw today.”

At first it was just Jen and I, but eventually a few others joined. Elizabeth is actually an OG. She was the first person to show up. Then Amber and Shelly started joining us to train. Monique was next to show, and finally, Bob and Cindy joined.

Amber Bishop: We weren’t even all doing the same event - we were all taking on different mountains. But we all still trained together. Even when one of our events had passed, we’d still continue to show up to help the others train for their mountain.

29029: That’s some commitment. It’s like it’s not just enough to train for and conquer your own mountain, but you all were invested in getting back to training just to help the others conquer their own event.

Amber: Yea! Committed to each other, and to the process.

Monique Crapper: The training also goes beyond 29029. Everyone in this group is now doing other crazy things… Ironmans, Ultra-marathons, you name it!

Cindy Larkin: The first time we hooked up with the group, we were registered for Utah #2, and everybody else was in Utah #1. On the very first training lap up Kennesaw Mountain with them, I was already devastated that I wasn’t part of Utah #1 so I could be together with the group. That’s how quick the connection formed.

Bob Larkin: I’d also like to say that it should be a direct quote that “Cindy hooked up with the group.”

Cindy: [Laughing] There actually was a bit of behind-the-scenes effort to get us moved into Utah #1.

Amber: Yes there was… We were politicking hard!

29029: As a group, you’re all very invested and passionate about seeing everybody here succeed, but on an individual note, what was it about 29029 that spoke to you - what led you to register for this experience?

Noah: I actually saw an ad on social media for 29029, and immediately thought holy shit, this is so me! I’m not a runner - never considered myself one - but I’m a grinder. I can walk up a mountain. This is cool! Very few things speak to me - but 29029 did.

Amber: Noah and I were on a call, discussing a mutual client of ours, when he mentioned that he was doing it. I thought to myself why the f*** not? Immediately, I registered. I texted Noah right after and said I’m in. We knew each other professionally, but we weren’t friends yet, so I sent one more text: By the way, this is Amber.

29029: What was it that led you to sign up so quickly?

Amber: I signed up because I felt like something was missing. I was happy, my life was great, but I also found myself often thinking this can’t be it… I hadn’t found my tribe yet.

Elizabeth Dickson: I actually saw on ad on social media just like Noah. I had two young kids at the time, and of course I love them, but I was also tired of the same old routine day in and day out. I thought 29029 could be something for me. I signed up, and now we’re here!

Amber: Her husband thinks she joined a running cult! [laughter]

Bob: Coach Brent is my triathlon coach, and I heard about 29029 from him. I met him for coffee one day to talk about my goals, and go over a few different triathlons I was thinking of doing, but we ended up talking about 29029 the entire time. I don’t know why, but it spoke to me. It was different. It seemed like it would be impactful.

It worked out that last year was also Cindy and I’s 30th wedding anniversary, so it turned into an amazing shared experience. Although, I will say that it took a little bit of arm twisting to say let’s do this instead of Europe or something like that. But after that, she was all in.

Cindy: Travel would have been great, but if we had gone to Europe instead of entering 29029 last year, we wouldn’t have met a friend group like this! The outcome of this group and these friendships has been even more impactful than the event itself. 29029 is only 36 hours, but the relationships and bonds we’ve built from it are forever.

Bob: And we’re signed up for more! We’re all masochistic barnacles… we all come back for more.

Monique: I knew of 29029, and it always looked interesting, but interesting like a TV show or book. I had no intention of doing it, I just wanted to hear what it was about. So I went to their website one day, clicking through because I was curious. I knew it always sold out, and my clicking somehow led me to the registration page. There was a ticket available.

That was like my sign to register. So I did.

Jen Pines: Originally, I was just doing it because Noah was. We like to do things together, so when I had the chance to register for Idaho, I did! It was a chance to spend all that time training together, and the fact that we met all these other people - from all different backgrounds and all different age groups - was just the cherry on top.

29029: What makes this group click?

Noah: The rule for being in this group is simple: Don’t be an asshole.

The only thing we’re out there to do is train, hike, and have a good time. There’s no ego about it, no pretense - it’s simple.

Amber: There’s a lot of that sounds great, let’s do it attitude in this group.

Noah: Jen and I actually flew out to Utah #1 to volunteer and surprise the group. We were taking our daughter to college at the time, so we were only there for 48 hours, but it was incredible. We found everybody on the hill to watch them struggle, and persevere through the challenge that is 29029.

Cindy: Even when we can’t be together, we are all there in spirit. At Utah #1, Monique took the 29029 Journal and wrote a message to Bob and I. She told us not to look at it until we were really struggling. There was this amazing, inspiring message inside, willing us to keep going!

Bob: On the note of spirit, I’m sure Cindy would point out that I’m an eensy-weeny bit cynical as a person… but I’ve gotta tell you, I was absolutely overwhelmed by the spirit of this group. It’s like the group was there with us, even though they were thousands of miles away.

Monique: A lot of the connection started with how open we were with each other. When you spend a long time hiking together, there’s a lot of time to talk - a lot of time to learn about each other. The openness to share the good, the bad, and the ugly really cemented our bond.

Cindy: A 12 hour day of hiking flies by when we’re together.

29029: You all had some amazing stories of conquering adversity and pushing through hardship to earn your Red Hats. Do you feel like the experience changed you?

Cindy: Yes! I realized the importance of community and belonging is. Through COVID, I was working at home, and I lost the community that workplace relationships gave. This group has given me even more of a sense of belonging, and I had never realized how important that can be to finding success all throughout your life.

Bob: Cindy is more introverted than me, so when it comes time to go out with some acquaintances, she’s not always excited about it. Sometimes she prefers to stay home and recharge, but whenever anybody from this group texts, she jumps at whatever meet-up it is, even if it’s something like let’s get up at 6 am to walk up Kennesaw Mountain in the rain on a Saturday morning. It’s a testament to the dynamic of this group.

Amber: I’ve learned to never say never. Originally, I said I’ll never hike. I don’t like camping. Now, I’ve hiked up the equivalent of Everest and slept in a yurt, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Now I’m taking that attitude everwhere - I’m not saying never anymore. I’m saying yes to new experiences!

Bob: This is going to sound like an ad for 29029, but it’s legitimate… This is different than racing. This is different than other events. When I’m at a race, there’s always some community, but it’s often half-hearted. I’ll catch somebody and pass them, and of course I’ll say something like good job, keep going. But that’s said while I’m trying everything in my power to beat them to the finish line!

29029 isn’t that. When you meet somebody new on the mountain - whether they are passing you, or you them, there is a genuine conversation that happens, and a mutual willingness to want to get each other up to the top.

Monique: At 29029 I discovered that my capabilities have far surpassed what I thought they were. It’s also helped me adapt to a different lifestyle. Instead of going out drinking with friends, now I’m in bed early so I can go hike up a mountain at 5 am with other friends. This group pushes me to do better every single day.

Bob: We should probably go have a drink sometime though!

Jen: Noah has always been very good at mind over matter, but I’ve always been my own worst enemy. I’d get into my own head and sabotage myself before things even started. But 29029, and this group, has taught me that I’m stronger than I thought. It’s taught me that I’m capable.

I’ve never been around such a group of likeminded people - people who truly understand me. People who get me.

Elizabeth: I think a lot of the changes I’ve noticed echo what Jen said. To add to it, I used to be pretty negative, and was often the first to judge. Now, after meeting this group and conquering mountains together, I find myself being far more positive.

I feel like I’m never alone - somebody is always going to say yes, no matter how crazy your proposal is - and it’s such a great feeling.

Noah: I didn’t run a mile until I was in my 40s. Now I’ve done marathons. Doing these crazy things - with the support of this amazing group - has opened up new possibilities and opportunities.

29029: If somebody was on the fence about registering for 29029, what would you tell them?

Everyone: Just do it!

Bob: You just have to do it. There’s no decision to be made. Like Colleen says about getting off the gondola, you just have to step off and turn right back up that mountain.

Some people are so concerned about can I do it or how will I do it that they don’t just try to do it. And when you try to do something this hard, with the support of the entire 29029 community, you’d be surprised at what you can achieve.