“Making a decision is only the beginning of things. When one makes a decision he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.” Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist

 

I registered for The Trans Alpine Run (TAR) somewhat on a whim. I had recently broken a bone in my foot and there would be no running for at least four months. Bummer. To avoid despondency, I sought motivation. I live in Western Massachusetts. I’m blessed with a robust running community..

 

I learned about TAR from a running friend, who I met twenty years prior when he hired me to lead my first international cultural-immersion program in Costa Rica. He’s good people and I trust his recommendations. 

 

The Trans Alpine Run actually began for me in March when I was first able to fully train again. I didn’t have expectations for an outcome. I did have a desire to dive fully into the process.

 

Trans Alpine is legitimate. The 7-Day Stage Race covers 137 miles and over 44,000 feet of climbing.

 

Such a feat requests respect and full commitment. I was committed with a crew. That is the difference maker; having a collective. We rolled out mile upon mile over rocky terrain, repeating ascents on the biggest mountains we could find and pushing the pace in the final miles of our twenty mile training sessions. We showed up the next morning to run anew on tired legs. The training accrued and the departure date approached.

 

Boarding the plane to Zurich I was confident and held space for the awe of the unknown. I was excited for the opportunity.

 

The first days acclimating in Lech, Austria were superb. The breakfast each morning, at the family run Inn, was delightful. The coffee had a robust zest that comes from freshly ground beans and the eggs were imbued with the care and intention of the friendly grandmother preparing them. After fueling in the morning, I would depart on foot easily, finding a trail rising and weaving out of the valley and into the alpine meadows above. On-high, the mountains expanded in all directions merging with a sharp blue sky.

 

Bedtime was a challenge. The magnificent landscape and engaging people kept me present during the day, whereas in the shift to the solitude of night, shadows of doubt and anxiety spilled forth. I had never embarked on such a grand challenge and I would lie in bed questioning my decision and whether I actually had the minerals to do it. I didn’t sleep well.

 

I was relieved and excited when  race morning arrived. Let’s go, please. The morning was crisp. Steam rose from our breath as we departed the Inn for the last time thanking our hosts. I pulled up my arm sleeves and we trotted to the start. As we grew closer, the number of humans increased exponentially until we came to standstill waiting to funnel through the mandatory gear check. The person checking my equipment was amused to see that my emergency blanket was referred to as a space blanket. Apparently, the phrase hadn’t made its way to Austria and we shared a smile of momentary connection before I moved closer to the starting pen and people gently pushed up behind me.

 

In the starting pen, I found my friends and we jostled through our gear making last minute adjustments. A large digital clock overhead articulated the final countdown and the boom of the rock music playing reverberated in our chests. The announcer came on the mic and  the previously disparate focus of nearly a thousand people shifted towards a singular vision of the tremendous opportunity directly before us.

 

To Be Continued…