2014: Slowin’ My Roll, Runnin’ In Circles, Commitment
(Butt Slide Hill, Frozen Gnome 50k, 2014. Image by Scott Laudick, Runnerpics)
We did it! We made it through another year!
I started it out by sacrificing my footing in a frozen tundra.
A couple weeks later, I “ran” 21k through knee-deep snow, in the time it generally takes me to run twice that amount.
In the spring, I re-lived a dream to run the Boston Marathon, this time with no tragedies, floating atop the endless love and compassion from the good people of New England.
Not long after, I got cocky, raced a teenager and had to pull myself out of the game, flexing those mental muscles.
I recovered in time to run mad, around a .97 mile loop in a municipal park, setting a new personal distance record and fighting to stay on my feet for 24 hours straight.
In September, I experienced three distinct seasons over 50 glorious kilometers in the heart of my home state.
In October, I ran two marathons in consecutive days, and was back to work on Monday, walking around like nothing had happened.
And in November, I popped my century mark cherry by crossing the finish line of the Pinhoti 100, proving that through a sound, prepared and focused mind we can do anything we wish to do.
Throughout the year, I volunteered again at the Earth Day 50k/10k and the Des Plaines River Trail Races. I paced my good friend Siamak to a fierce finish at the Mohican 100 and Edna in her 100 miles at Potawatomi and 100k at Hallucination.
I also had the good fortune of getting another race report published in Ultrarunning Magazine (October issue).
I lived every moment, one footfall at a time, over mountainous trail and monotonous blacktop.
I ran. I laughed. I cried (more than you’d think).
I slowed down. I took it all in. I wrapped myself up in the trail, in the challenge of going far on foot, with pushing myself past any and all boundaries.
But perhaps most exciting of all: I got engaged! The thrill of sharing my life with the woman I love — a woman who shares my passion for adventure, for exploration, for making dreams come true — is more exciting than any race I’ve ever run. It’s a good thing we both love distance running, because life, my friends, is THE ultimate ultra run.
Happy New Year!
(Un beso en la meta, Powerade Maraton Monterrey 2014)
TheRunFactory.com 
What a great year! Congratulations! So happy for both you and Edna!
December 31, 2014 at 19:18
Thanks, Michele!
January 23, 2015 at 09:16
There I was checking off your 2014 milestones right along with you (don’t forget one of your more amusing moments – missing Mexico City by a month!), until I got to that last one. Way to finish the year (and this post) on a high note, and huge congrats to you and Edna! 2015 promises to be epic in so many ways.
January 1, 2015 at 03:19
Indeed! Yeah, the missed Mexico City race was more of a blunder than anything. Still pinching myself! I did end up going there anyway and we ran our own half marathon on a 2 kilometer long track. Pretty cool!
January 23, 2015 at 09:17
All the best in 2015, Jeff!
-Mike
January 1, 2015 at 11:36
Thanks, Mike! You too! Det v Stl in the WS!
January 23, 2015 at 09:17
Awesome year. And congrats to you and Edna. We’re really happy for you both!
January 2, 2015 at 12:15
Gracias, amigo!
January 23, 2015 at 09:18
You always have huge years, Jeff, but this one seems to be one destined for the stars. Your wooded dalliances of distances insane certainly played a substantial part, but of course, every mile run would not be worth it were it not for Edna’s unconditional support. You two are peas in an ultra-pod and I wish you all the happiness you crazy people deserve. Happy New Year, Mr. Lung, and much love and prosperity in 2015!
January 15, 2015 at 17:29
Igualmente, amigo! Thanks for reading and for sharing in the run love. Here’s to a bigger and even brighter 2015!
January 23, 2015 at 09:19