Many people assume that the most rewarding part of these races are the unique locations.

We visit places that few have the pleasure of seeing.

Mongolia is certainly beautiful.

But despite being out there for days, I have a hard time recalling exactly what I saw.

What did we do on stage 2?

I honestly don’t know.

And the parts of the course I do remember are pretty general.

Big hill.

Sand dune.

Dirt trail.

Gravel road.

My fondest memories were not of me trudging through river crossings or bombing down a valley.

No matter how spectacular the surroundings were, that's not what made it special.

The cherished moments happened after the stages were completed.

Sharing stories with my tent mates.

Laughing about the unfounded fear of wolf attacks.

Worrying about the knot on my tent mate’s forehead after a fall.

Learning about their journeys, passions, families, and dreams.

This is what I will remember.

This is what I will miss.

Did you know that there is no being in the animal kingdom that has greater endurance than humans?

Horses?

Wildebeest?

Alaskan Sled Dogs?

They’re p*ssies.

Over extreme distances, these animals will succumb to their efforts eventually.

Humans have all the right adaptations to keep on trekking - the biggest two being upright walking (efficiency) and sweating (heat tolerance). 

So don’t keep circling the parking lot to find a front row spot. 

Just walk.

Humans have been walking far since the dawn of man. 

Far enough to inhabit every crevice of the planet. And soon (maybe?), even off the planet.

Which brings me to… aliens.

You know the famous stereotypical grays?

Big head, black eyes, long skinny arms, and short frail legs.

I think that’s what happens when humans go interplanetary.

What do we need strong legs for when we buzz around in a spaceship? 

But enough about that…

Today’s stage was fun.

We had a change of scenery.

It started with a hill climb, then turned into a grassy steppe, and ended in sand dunes.

My pacing continues to get better. 

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.

I finished strong and feeling good.

Tomorrow’s stage is 50 miles.

Daunting? Sure.

But I was built for this.

And so were you.

Funny I forget how hard these days are.

When I tell people that I’m doing this, they often ask if I enjoy suffering.

Fair question.

The honest truth is, yes I do.

If I think about all the things that have brought me the most fulfillment in life, the commonality is that they were a grind.

There were easy days, many in fact. But over the course of many years, it's tough. Tough to stay on the path, remain disciplined, and make sacrifices day in and day out.

Without hardship, I feel like I cheated.

Like I cheated myself.

Actor and martial artist Michael Jai White said something in an interview that stuck with me. He said he doesn’t look at exercise as a chore. Not “I have to work out.” But “I get to work out.”

Such a simple yet powerful perspective.

One day, none of us will be able to do the things we do today.

There will be a last marathon.

A last mountain.

A last adventure.

Our bodies don’t stay capable forever.

One day I might need help just to get in bed.

So yeah, I get to run.

150 miles.

In the Gobi Desert.

Carrying everything I need on my back.

The suffering isn’t the goal.

It's the price of admission for something far more valuable.