Just an incomplete note here: I listened to the podcast in which Juliane touched on the importance and quality of your (Lisa and you) support through this. And I have an image of what that means and the support = love in all this. Love for nature, the sport, the challenges, the ups and downs ... nerding into it, not judging, being here and now // I have dozens of associations around this. I feel it. And this type of human connection is something I value (and look for in sports, in the mountains, in life).
Thank you for diving deep into our wild ride at TOR. It was indeed a very moving experience. Definitely not something we would have done for anyone, but Juliane is one of the most lovely humans on this planet. Glad we went through this together.
I was also out in the Aosta Valley last week, supporting my husband as he completed his 9th Tor. I agree with your observations about the ways that endeavors such as this are so much more than races — they are, to fall back on the old cliche, vision quests. I understand their value, but I've also been conflicted about these sorts of endeavors for a long time. My own pursuits have nearly broken me more than once, and I've been dealing with the physical and mental repercussions of these near-breaking incidents for 10 years. But I struggle to walk away, and the person I love the most remains all-in, so I continue to move like a shadow in this world. Your piece gives me more to think about as I process my recent experience in Aosta. Through it all, I remain in awe of the people who can finish this race.
Thank you for your honest and first-hand thoughts. I am a big advocate of not sugarcoating things. Ultra running, especially races as unreal as the TOR, can destroy us. That's a fact. Sometimes it's to rebuild us afterwards, stronger, wiser, more experienced. Sometimes, however, irreparable damage remains. I wish you and your husband all the best in finding what you are looking for and staying safe on the way there.
Just an incomplete note here: I listened to the podcast in which Juliane touched on the importance and quality of your (Lisa and you) support through this. And I have an image of what that means and the support = love in all this. Love for nature, the sport, the challenges, the ups and downs ... nerding into it, not judging, being here and now // I have dozens of associations around this. I feel it. And this type of human connection is something I value (and look for in sports, in the mountains, in life).
Thank you for diving deep into our wild ride at TOR. It was indeed a very moving experience. Definitely not something we would have done for anyone, but Juliane is one of the most lovely humans on this planet. Glad we went through this together.
I'd love to have such an experience, either as runner or supporter. For me it's gonna be a long hike, maybe ;-)
I was also out in the Aosta Valley last week, supporting my husband as he completed his 9th Tor. I agree with your observations about the ways that endeavors such as this are so much more than races — they are, to fall back on the old cliche, vision quests. I understand their value, but I've also been conflicted about these sorts of endeavors for a long time. My own pursuits have nearly broken me more than once, and I've been dealing with the physical and mental repercussions of these near-breaking incidents for 10 years. But I struggle to walk away, and the person I love the most remains all-in, so I continue to move like a shadow in this world. Your piece gives me more to think about as I process my recent experience in Aosta. Through it all, I remain in awe of the people who can finish this race.
Thank you for your honest and first-hand thoughts. I am a big advocate of not sugarcoating things. Ultra running, especially races as unreal as the TOR, can destroy us. That's a fact. Sometimes it's to rebuild us afterwards, stronger, wiser, more experienced. Sometimes, however, irreparable damage remains. I wish you and your husband all the best in finding what you are looking for and staying safe on the way there.