What an epic ๐ฅ adventure this life has been. ๐ซ I’ve learned the hard way (repeatedly) that life begins where your comfort zone ends.๐ I’ve out run ๐depression, PTSD & TBI๐ง through some blissful miles, including ~150 marathons (or ultras), covering all 50 ๐บ๐ธ states and 6โญ world majors. It’s been over 2500 days since my last day off ๐ค- Life is worth living everyday. Fast, slow, short, long, alone, or together. Doesn’t matter. Just get it done, with a smile on my face ๐ผ. OK, maybe not… I kinda look like death when I run hard. ๐๐จ
I spent several years pretty much running full time. I’d hitchhike ๐ there, stealth camp โบ๏ธ on the side of the road ๐ฃ, then get up and run ๐โโ๏ธ the race. No budget ๐ต, food insecure ๐, oft managing simply on post race snacks ๐. All those races took care of wardrobe ๐ฝconcerns too. Yup, I was the Hobo Runner. I’m currently working on the book ๐ about those journeys…
๐งNow, I’m hard at work at the Hobo Hideout, building a new life. A new self. ๐๐ช๐ช๐จ. But how did I get here?
I ran ๐โโ๏ธ cross country in high school๐, transforming from a miserable, depressed wretch ๐ญto the beginnings of the man ๐ช I am today. Then I got to college ๐ซ and my attention went elsewhere. Go ๐ฆ Eagles! I still ‘ran’ Boston almost every year, but that was pretty much it. After being humbled by a poor performance in 2012 (ie I walked most of the way๐ฉ), I realized I wasn’t 18 anymore, and it was about time I got back into shape. For months things went pretty well. My body remembered what it was like to run, and my mind rejoiced at the rediscovered passion. I was a ๐โโ๏ธrunner again. Maybe not 18… but 21 and holding still sounds good to me ๐น
On April 15th, 2013, everything I believed in was challenged. Barely a hundred feet away from the first ๐ฃ explosion that day, it took years to get past my own resulting demons๐ฟ. Through ๐โโ๏ธ running, and its incredible community, I became stronger ๐ช than ever. I emerged prouder of being both a Bostonian and a runner, and more committed than ever to making the world ๐ a better place
Throughout 2015 I was knocking off all my old high school PR’s ๐ฅ. I was in the best running shape of my life, and rapidly improving. Then in mid December, cycling ๐ดโโ๏ธ home from work๐ป, my life was forever changed. A distracted driver ๐ plowed straight through me from behind, then sped off. Miraculously I survived – but I was left with significant injuries. The neurological ๐ง and spinal issues from that crash devastated my life. I lost my livelihood and my home๐ . But I would not give up. My Boston experience had made me psychologically invincible๐ช. This would test that, but I would not falter. I continued ๐โโ๏ธrunning. Painfully. Slowly. But still running๐โโ๏ธ
Now as I continue to heal, Boston remains my internal ๐ฅ fire, and has driven me to a level of running ๐โโ๏ธI never thought I could attain. Most importantly, it has taught me to cherish the run. Where the mind leads, the body will follow. I’ve been through the abyss and I’ve been to the pinnacle๐. I kinda like it here on top, so don’t expect me to stop running. Ever. Come join me on this adventure! It’s better together.