What TSP Meant to ME…
When one of the other Founders, Mona, came to the rest of us and announced that NETC had an invite to field a team in this year’s The Speed Project, the initial overall reaction was excitement, enthusiasm, pride, eagerness…the full gamut you would expect from a run group still in its infancy. But for me, internally, there was anxiety, nerves, questions, and most importantly, there was doubt. All feelings I am not used to experiencing, but had been more and more noticeable since the start of the pandemic. I don’t know what most people would do in that situation, but for me, I knew right then that I was going to be a part of NETC’s team. This was an opportunity, a challenge, both physically and mentally. And while I’ve had many others in my life, this one seemed to carry more weight.
The last 2 years have been rough for everyone, I’m no different; I know that. I’ve lost loved ones, both human and K9. As I sit here typing that sentence I am welling up with tears. I started a new job right at the beginning of the worldwide shutdown, and since then have experienced more insecurity, more depression, and more self-doubt than I had in the 40+ years in my life prior. Being a part of NETC, its growth, the lives it has affected, and the impact its had on the community around it gave me the strength and distraction I needed to find a way through. I owed it to my Co-Founders, the Captains, and all the Members to take advantage of this opportunity and prove that just saying “yes” can give you that light at the end of the tunnel.
Like many of us, I contracted COVID-19 in late December 2021, and by the time I was able to run again, 4 miles was a struggle. I remember like it was yesterday, early January running with Vonks and absolutely dying. My breath was heavy and labored, my legs were tired, I was in my head! I had less than 3 months to prepare to run a 340-mile relay from Santa Monica, California to Las Vegas, Nevada, and I was already wondering, “did I make a mistake here?” But like SO many of those in the NETC family, I’m no quitter, never have been. I had committed to this, and I was going to see it through. Over the next few months I put in the time, the runs, the sacrifice, both physically and mentally. I abandoned Vonks more than either of us wanted, but I did it the whole time knowing, and thinking that I was representing more than just me, I was representing every runner that pushes through a Track Tuesday, or goes faster and harder in a pace group they didn’t think they could; the runner that comes to a Saturday Long Run and doesn’t think they should be there, but finishes with us every time. I knew my other teammates were putting in the hours, sacrificing as much or more than me. And finally I knew that, selfishly, I needed to prove to myself that I was still this person; that the last 2 years may have let that doubt creep in, but I still owned my own will.
As is always the case, faster than expected race weekend was upon us. I’m sure we all could have used a couple extra weeks to prepare, but here we were! It didn’t really hit me until the Thursday afternoon pre-race “expo” for all runners. Seeing all those teams, those athletes, and RVs in a random lot near LAX airport with commercial planes coming in 200 feet overhead, it was surreal. Walking in you felt the energy. And while I was definitely sizing up everyone else out there, the electricity and anticipation of the moment washed away any nerves or questions. This was it, it was time to go…LET’S F-ING DO THIS!
The team, Mona Garcia, James Majewski, Claire Kao, Javi Martinez, Jazz VanLoon, Jonathan Hunter, Mike Foster, Molly Applegate, Ralph Navarrete, and I headed back to our hotel for one last team dinner and one last actual sleep before that 4am start. I don’t know if everyone was hiding it, or maybe avoiding the thought of what was to come, but there we were, 10 of us just chatting, laughing, eating away without what seemed to be a care in the world. That was my first real internal “aha” moment, when I knew THIS was my team. This was a group, some meeting for the first time that day, that wasn’t commiserating, wasn’t worrying, wasn’t preparing for the worst, or hedging their bets. This team was just ready to go run a casual 300+ miles with and for each other!
I’m not going to take you the reader through the race, I don’t think I could do it, or my teammates, justice in even trying to do so. The duality of the experience is impossible to explain with words. It is euphoric and bleak, breathtaking and boring, dreamlike and ordinary all at the same moment. Time behaved strangely, the brightest and hottest of days becoming pitch black, cool nights. Experiencing loneliness while being on a team. Having to deal with injuries, pain, and internal thought struggles while taking care of and looking out for others. Then there was the sheer beauty of the race itself. Running along a road that seemingly goes on and on out into the middle of nowhere with miles of daylight visibility. Turning off your headlamp in the middle of the night for a moment just to run in complete darkness and to see more stars than you even thought existed. I wish I had the words or ability to put the weekend’s scenes into the readers’ head, but I don’t…or maybe I don’t want to?
Running is not typically a team event. But for 1 weekend, for 10 of us, it absolutely was. I couldn’t be more proud of my teammates:
MONA
For getting us there, blazing the trail and giving us the opportunity. A Captain with the experience and knowledge for all of us to lean on. Fighting through the pain of a hip injury, showing us what it means to be a leader and persevere.
JAMES
For doing James things and NEVER stopping! Hopping from RV1 to RV2 and back again over and over, to pile up shot after shot. James knew what I said above before anyone else realized it. This story would only be able to be told through images, words alone wouldn’t do it justice. He never quit, barely slept, and still managed to put down the camera to throw in a few miles!
CLAIRE
Our “Clairebear.” The youngest on the team, but by no means the weakest! Claire rolled her ankle, fell to the ground slamming her knee on pavement on Day 1, her SECOND leg. Did she quit? No! She didn’t even slow down. She picked herself back up, found whatever she could to use for ice, wrapped some KT-Tape on her ankle and eventually got back out there and piled on the miles…to the end!
JAVI
One of our two-headed “beast” runners. Not only did he tie for putting in the most miles at around 65, he did it at blazing speeds! No slowing down, not even for a train, Javi pushed all of us to be better. If ever I got complacent, I was quickly reminded this was still a race by seeing what he was doing.
JAZZ
For being our secret weapon. She patiently supported us while we all busted out of the gate. Never once asking, or complaining, Jazz quietly waited for her moment. And when it came, boy oh boy did she take advantage. She was like a caged animal! Picking up Claire when she went down with an injury Jazz started putting in miles that were not only impressive, but inspiring.
JONATHAN and
MIKE aka “FOSTER”
Our absolute MVPs! I hate putting them in a single call out, but I feel the same sentiment for both. They each came in knowing only 1 other person on the team, yet meshed and fit in like they’ve been running with NETC forever. Both had probably the hardest job(s), yet handled it without complaint or any need for recognition or appreciation, which they deserved more than ever. They had to navigate, to be alert, to find rest and nutrition knowing they were at the mercy of the race. And then they not only did all of that, they did it without ever putting themselves first. Oh yeah, I failed to mention they both casually threw in a couple miles. Foster captured some incredible content throughout. And Jonathan escorted Molly and kept Javi from dying. These guys were the true heroes, M–V–Ps!
MOLLY
The other half of our “A-Team.” She also put in the most miles at around 65, and did so while running extended legs and at blistering paces. Speaking of blistering, she battled nasty blisters on the back of both heels throughout the race, pushing through the pain every time she even put on her shoes. To see her limp out of the RV only to absolutely crush some miles and never complain is a testament to not only her focus, but her unwavering competitive spirit.
RALPH
For taking time away from his wife and his baby son, Roman, for the first time to do this with us. I’m personally thankful Ralph was in my RV. I said above I don’t quit, and I found that in Ralph too. Missing his family, experiencing those feelings for the first time, and going through this race on top of that, I had a front row seat to what commitment and being a proud father should look like.
I’m a better person today than I was before this race started, and it is because of the 9 people above and what we shared together on a weekend in late March 2022. Someone asked me, did you get a medal, or prize money, or anything!?! My initial response was to laugh and say, “nope, just pain and sleeplessness” in my signature sarcastic tone. But realistically, I did get something, I got a lot more than any medal or even money could do for me. The experience was my reward, and it’s something that is a part of me and can never be taken away or spent.