That mountain, it's a beast, but I respect it so much, and I know every inch of it, and now I'm connected to Stratton, forever. That f”&*in' hill. I know every blade of grass! There are three distinct sections of that mountain, and everybody knew that leaving the second aid station was a killer. You basically walk into a wall, and you have to climb it. I wanted to love this stretch, so I thought about my kid's favorite place to ski in Telluride. A run called Enchanted Forest. Every time I got to that section, I thought 'I am going to enjoy it, it's the enchanted forest.' The 29029 team thought of everything. They positioned signs along the hike that symbolize how far you have to go. As you get closer, you see these signs that indicate that you're almost to the top. And, most importantly, that you're close to getting a break. It's such a unique event, and they really focus on the participant experience. It's clear to see that it's the most essential element.
29029 is in the top five life events for me. Getting married and having kids, are significant milestones, but they aren't all about you. When you get married, it's about you and your partner. And when you have a baby, it's a moment of absolute bliss, but then you've got to get home and take care of the kid.
This was one of the rare times where it was all about me. Throughout the entire journey, it was all about me. Afterward and during the recovery, it was all about me. As a mom, it was nice to feel like I was the center of my universe for this weekend and walk away feeling like a superhero. After it was all over, I got to soak it in because I didn't have to run back and take care of somebody else.
I made a video for my kids, and I was sobbing and tried to explain to them that they were happy tears. That mommy was so proud of mommy because I did this amazing thing. When I got home a couple of days after the event, I was driving my kids home from school. My oldest daughter said, "Hey mom, how old do you have to be to do 29029?" I said, "I think you have to be 16," she replied, "well when I turn 16, will you go back and do it with me?" I lost it. It meant so much to me that they were watching. How cool is that?
What 29029 does is it bonds people together forever! I came to the event with friends, and our relationship has shifted since the event. The connections are stronger, and we're closer than ever. That doesn't happen at a marathon or a girls' trip away.
I wear my red 29029 finisher hat around the city. I immediately notice when someone has either done the event or knows about it. They either yell out across a parking lot or give me a big smile and point at my hat. It's a powerful community to be a part of and I'm so glad I got roped into it!