In many cases, as we go through life, there are moments where you may lose your own personal identity.

When you're a parent, when you're holding down a job and have multiple responsibilities, you lose track of things that bring you fulfillment personally. Not to say that family and being a father and being a husband isn't fulfilling. Those things bring immense amounts of satisfaction. Still, there was nothing that I was doing that I could proudly say, "I'm doing this for me."

And as a result of that, the other buckets in my life were suffering too. It's easy to think, 'I'm so dedicated to being a good father, to be a good husband, to running our business.' Put simply, the fact I wasn't chasing something more meant I wasn't completely whole. 

For me, 29029 was something that I could do for the sole purpose of bettering myself or finding a new version of myself. And having that goal and that outlet allowed me to be optimal in the other important facets of my life.

After I signed up, I was so excited! And the anticipation only continued to grow over the months leading into Utah. I put complete faith in the training plan and the coaches, which allowed me to feel confident about reaching 29029 feet. 

There was also a level of uncertainty that came with it. I arrived at Snowbasin and saw the first part of the climb, and all I could think was, 'holy shit, that's really steep!' I also remember how welcoming everyone was. I was there by myself, but as soon as I walked to the tent to sign in, I was met with this warm feeling of community. I immediately felt like I was part of the family!

That was a feeling that continued to grow over the entire weekend. You meet people so quickly. There's a sense of, 'we're in this together, and we're going to lift each other up.' The event is really hard, but the experience is much better because we are on the same team. 

I will never forget standing on the start line and listening to Jesse's pump-up speech! I still have the video of it on my phone, and I'll often listen to it when I'm out on a run. It's so powerful. 

When the horn goes off, and you start to hike, it's like being pulled into a powerful vortex. It's just your headlamp and the next step in front of you. It was like time stopped, and everything around you slowed down. That was an uncomfortable feeling for a while because, in our everyday lives, you don't get that. The whole weekend was like that. Time kind of stopped, and I was able to be present. It felt like an extended state of flow. 

My first hike took around 50 minutes, and I got to the top and thought, 'okay, this wasn't that bad, I'm feeling good.' The second hike felt even better, and I was thinking, 'wow, I am moving!' Unfortunately and perhaps expectantly, that feeling didn't last forever. As the sun came up, it got sweltering. And later in the day, there was a distinct turning point for me. I skipped lunch, which in hindsight was a big mistake. I definitely underestimated the importance of nutrition and fueling. I really had no idea about that stuff at the time. 

Another turning point for me was when I realized that I wouldn't make it to 29029. Typically, I would have seen that as a huge failure. But through the community's strength and a shift in perspective, I realized that that was okay. I recalled feeling so happy to be there and wanted to feel more of that! Even though it hurt, I was okay, and I started having fun, my mindset shifted, and I embraced the fact I was doing the best that I could. 

I look back now and realize that in those moments, that's when we are the most connected with ourselves. When we're in nature, surrounded by positivity, we can go to an uncomfortable place and come out the other side as a changed person. You have to go to a place of despair to experience the rewards of that effort. Furthermore, it allowed me to redefine my perception of failure. 

I didn't get to 29029 feet. So technically, I failed at achieving my original goal and objective. That was my anticipated outcome. That was what I viewed as my return on the investment. And what I predicted was totally different from what I walked away with. I realized that it's okay to come up short of a massive goal. As long as you can take something else out of it. I took great relationships, stories, and a feeling of accomplishment that I never expected to feel. 

I think back to my experience on the mountain every single day. It's had such a positive impact on all facets of my life. My wife and I want to be there for our kids and show them that life is to be lived. We started doing ultramarathons together. We make sure we attend all of our kids' events, even if it means taking time off work. It's an essential part of our family dynamic. 

It's had such a profound impact on my life, I decided to get the 29029 logo tattooed on my arm. It's my only tattoo, and I wear it with pride. Every time I look at it, it feels like a warm ray of sunshine on a winter's day.

This whole experience has translated into me being a better father, a better husband, and a better businessman. But the journey is far from over! My wife Liz and I have signed up for Vermont, and I can't wait to be there with her. I can't wait to suffer together and have that shared experience and feel the bonds with this community. I can't wait to have this time where for 36 hours, we can be present in nature, with each other, and come away with life-changing experiences and memories. 

See you at 29029 feet!