At mile 45 of the Mt. Hood 50 Ultramarathon, the single-track trail descends back to the road where my brother Drew and I began the race that morning. Shade kept us cool from the afternoon sun and the water from the aid station behind us kept us hydrated and fresh. Drew looked at me and asked if I wanted to try to catch the two fellows who had been in front of us since the start of the race.

After 45 miles of running, you need other people. I followed behind my brother as we moved quickly down the hill. It was as though we were falling. We were gliding. Gravity took over and we simply had to lift our legs enough to keep moving. Drew and I passed one group. Then another. And one more before we reached the road that led to the finish line. My uncle was there when we finished. Dry dust and salty sweat covered our legs and a young girl handed us each a pint glass as we crossed the finish line.

After deciding I wanted to do this race, I needed other people. I needed to tell someone that I wanted to run an Ultra. I had to sign up and let those around me know that this was really going to happen. I needed to tell those I took Spartan with that I was doing this. I needed to let those in the Spartan group I train with what I was planning on doing. Some of those folks said the race sounded difficult. Other said it sounded interesting. Matt Rudolph said it sounded a little boring. But no one said I wouldn’t be able to do it. 

When you think of a goal, when you want to do something, you begin to need other people. No one can accomplish your goal for you, but it is foolish to think you ought to try and accomplish anything on an island. The best things happen in the continual goodness of where we are, among those we know, those who will say many things but never “you can’t do that.”

Do whatever you want, whenever you want. And as you strive for fitness, see those around you. Follow them down the hill and across the finish line. Look and see who is waiting there to say “good job.”