One of the pioneers...

In 3 short months (Yikes!!!), I will be an Inaugural Alaskaman finisher, having done something no one else on Earth has ever done. Think about that. I will be one of the first. Through the good the bad and the ugly, I will be one of the pioneers and when this race is 10, 20, 30 years old, I will be one of the founding finishers that blazed the trails for the first time (like the trail to the top in the picture) so that thousands to come could enjoy the Last Frontier in a way most never will. That is so hard to wrap my brain around but it is entirely cool. Oh, and I added the second picture of the Orca family. This family was spotted in Resurrection Bay - the same place we are swimming in 3 months. Fortunately, they won't be bothering us.

Within reach...

Appropriately titled, "Within reach" is a defining moment in our lives. The top photo is a great view looking down in the valley. Way, way out in the distance, off to the top right of the lake is Transition 2 (bike-to-run). So, we have been up since 1:00am, swam 2.6 miles in cold glacier water and rode 112 miles (within a possible headwind) and hit T2 just so we can run 27 miles. Heading into Girwood is within reach because that is mile 14 of the run. We start the climb at mile 20 and head up the mountain for a 7-mile, 4000-feet elevation gain. The bottom photo is the final mile to the finish... definitely within reach. From the top photo where we so far away to now at the top of the mountain is amazing in and of itself, especially since we have traveled more than 114 miles. Wild to think and exciting to think about... within reach in 13 weeks.