Who thought this would be hard? November 2 - Day 219, 16.9 miles, Datil, NM

This is hard. Running across the country is hard. It’s been 7 months on the road. I’ve run equivalent to 94 marathons. I’m sometimes tired, but I’ve been humbled.

Mountain ranges that stand in front of my path, standing as strong as a warrior standing akimbo, have tested my metal capacity to think positive. There is no way around the mountains. There is no way to dig a hole under them and excavate my way through. The only way is to go over these warriors that stand to test my limits.

Pic of me after conquering mountains!!!

It is ironic, though, that obstacles, those that are thrust in front of our faces, have an ulterior motive. That motive is to put us through a cyclone of doubt, to engineer the possibility of succumbing to fear, and to offer the option of quitting. This is why those obstacles are humbling to me, because, in my case, I have NO OPTION but to take on these challenges. They are bigger than me and I need to find the strength within me to battle them. I cannot hit a wall and sit down. I can NOT afford to be a lazy sack of bones. I must PERSIST!

When you want something bad enough, that is the option you must give yourself - the option, and only option, that you must persist. No matter what it takes, you will push through, climb every mountain in your way, and come out a humbled, wiser, more appreciative and proud human being.

The last month in New Mexico has been...surprising. How do I put it...New Mexico lured me into its boundaries with enchantment and a curiosity for a place that is so unknown to most. I’ve been in the state since October 2nd, exactly 31 days, and it has been surprisingly difficult to push on despite the enchanting culture and gorgeous landscapes. Despite our stay in Albuquerque for a few days, we have not had a homestay with a family in 31 days. Why is that? The land is sparse, and as one New Mexican native put it, “people are hiding out...they like their privacy...they like their space and keep it.” He jokingly continued, “what other state has more places named ‘Outlaw Post’ or ‘Hide-Away’...?!” (We have still met many wonderful people, just none of them have invited us to stay with them in their homes).

The Ogawa Family in their back"yard" (aka mountains)...such a wonderful host family in Albuquerque, NM!

Not being able to break bread with people infuses the question in my mind, “Why am I doing this? If there are no people, what is the point?” But I know better than to let that thought effect my actions and plug up my forward-moving gusto. Again, it’s another challenge, it’s an instance that inspires a “what-the-heck-am-I-doing” moment (dubbed by a Washington, IA resident).

But alas, there is no gain if you do not persist. If I break my foot, I will crawl. I will walk using a crutch. There is no quitting. If there are no people that want to help, I will move forward with the fuel people have added to the fire already over the past 7 months on the road. There are a million reasons to keep going, and all the reasons to quit are the lazy ones.

The last thing I want to live with are the questions,” what would have happened if I DID run up that mountain in 40 mph wind...if I DID put one foot in front of the other despite the snow and bone-chilling, gray weather...if I DID ask one other random shop owner to host us for a night...if I DID keep going? Would I have succeeded?” The point is, why would we want to live with the wonder of IF we could have made it? This is why we need to push through the walls that hinder our dreams, that stray us off course to the road most-traveled, that give us the option of failure. Those same walls that if not busted through, will leave us with that plaguing wonder.

I say it again - GO FOR YOUR DREAMS. You must do the things that you are, that you already know - like an entrepreneur should - and you will learn more from leaping off that lily pad. You - your gut, your essence, your goals - are your own lily pad. Take the risks, because then you will grow. I ran up that darn mountain, and then felt proud. I flashed a big smile (literally) on a run during which I felt like a blob, and then felt stronger. I called a past host from Pennsylvania to say hi, and then felt more connected to my mission and what this run is doing for people across the country.

Stride on! One foot in front of the other. I keep telling myself these mantras. It will all be worth it. I want it bad enough. Don’t you want what YOU want bad enough? You should. That is the way it should be. Go get it...stride on! Jump off your lily pad.

Love,
kt