I have to know if I can do it. I don’t mean I need to do it. I certainly don’t need to win the race. But I do need to know, one way or the other, if I can start the race. And can I finish it? If I can’t do both, then I will know what I want to know. I’ll learn something from that. Then there will be a decision tree. Conversely, if I can do it, I’ll have something to say about that too. Of course, a different post-event decision tree will follow. But I need to know. And it will be a story. Whatever happens.
I’ve decided to pick a fight with 247.5 miles and 24,589 feet of vertical gain in the form of the Endless Mountains 250 Challenge, a gravel bikepacking race that takes place along the western loop of the Endless Mountains Gravel Backpacking Loop (EMGBL) in the Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania.
It is now that time of year when people start to take stock of the previous months and seasons and look ahead to the following year. Thanksgiving is probably the time when the introspection begins, which eventually blossoms into New Year’s resolutions. Leading to the loss of my mother this past June, I had no shortage of time to take stock of a good number of things, so I feel no need to wait until January 1st to write this post. Let’s just do this.
So here I am, two days after Thanksgiving, telling you that from now until September 20th, 2025, I will explain what led me to want to race a bike 247.5 miles, what I’m going to have to do with my body between now and then to maximize my probability of starting and finishing the race, and minimizing the probability that the system that fails me will be me.
I genuinely have no idea if I will even start the race. Life is nothing but variables. Of course, I have no idea what might happen after starting either. But I’m going to do what I can, with what I have, and control what I can control. Regardless of the outcome, I will learn whether or not I can do this. I will know. And it will be a story. Whatever happens.
You can follow the journey on this website. For context and the why and how of what I do, check in frequently, as I expect to post updates here weekly. I’ll have a lot to say throughout my preparations for next autumn’s ride, which will probably lead to additional introspection around this time next year. Additionally, you can follow my workouts and rides at the expected places.
LFG