Sunday Long Run Thoughts: An Open Letter to Those Who Ask "Why?!"

Featuring HC Fountain

From Polynesians rowing canoes across the Pacific thousands of years ago to the first Southern Pole expedition in 1912—humans have been pushing the limits of endurance since stories could be told.

But now the year is 2024, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking there are no new adventures in the world for us anymore—that there are zero places on this earth currently “undiscovered”, or even worth discovering.

In other words, being coaxed into a scarcity mindset.

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So what does adventure mean today, and what role does endurance have to do with it?

I present to you, HC Fountain: A man hell bound on adventure, with his sights set on traversing the Grand Canyon, following a route known as the “Rim to Rim to Rim” (R2R2R).

A grueling journey that would take a non-runner/fast-packer multiple days to complete. If he’s lucky, he will finish in ~15 hours.

A normal person would say “why?!”, with an adventurous soul simply saying “Hell yeah”. If you’re in the former group, there’s still time for you to join the latter, as I believe it is pre-built in all of us.

So what does adventure mean now?

We won’t ever know HC’s real first name, and we may not even remember his anon-handle, but we will remember his story and so too will his family.

Much like our grandparents did with old war, immigration, and adventure stories—HC will be sitting around with his kids & Grandkids, telling the story of an epic journey. Our names, knowledge, and money alone aren’t enough to pass on—stories of dedication & purpose are what hold true multi-generational wealth.

But fear not former-group dwellers, there’s a way out.

So what does endurance have to do with it?

Whether it’s collecting medals at local races or traversing terrain for sake of testing the human spirit, do something that makes you a ‘larger than life’ character in your direct family/tribe.

It may be true that heading to the south pole or summiting Everest has turned into a vacation for the ultra-rich enjoying escapism, but there’s more out there if you look closely.

Be the person that: Runs the local road race for 20 years straight, sets a goal for X # of marathons in your life, become an Ironman, run an ultramarathon, run a race in every Country you can think of, raise money for a charity race, qualify for Boston, run all six world majors, run the R2R2R, set an FKT on a local trail, DO ANYHTING that someone somewhere will remember.

Collect achievements and stories of human will & endurance that makes your offspring tell people “My Mom/Dad/Uncle/Aunt/Grandma/Grandpa was a FUCKING BEAST”.

Don’t ask why someone chooses endurance, find out where you can apply it.

Make your mark with endurance, it’s more than just “getting in shape”.

Note From HC Fountain

I’ve been in the Canyon twice. The first time was an overnight hike to Phantom Ranch in Boy Scouts. My Grandfather, who I only met twice in my life, hiked the Canyon dozens of times. I was able to capture the same picture he took decades prior. My Aunt still has our pictures, in the same spot on the same bridge separated by thirty years, on her mantle.

The second time was on an epic and life changing trip. Throughout his life, my mentor put together thirty trips down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon. He would invite colleagues, friends, and family to join him on these journeys. The days were spent in the hot sun on the cold river enjoying the majesty of the Canyon and the wonders of Creation, and crashing through the dozens of rapids along the River. The evenings were spent fireside on the beaches of the Colorado River, taking seminars on life, and drifting off to sleep next to the two billion year old Vishnu Schist Rock.

I am privileged to have gone on the thirtieth and final trip of his life. That trip down the River was life changing in ways I don’t think I can describe to anyone else who wasn’t a fellow traveler that week. My mentor was a giant of a man who changed the lives of countless people across the globe. I will never call myself a giant like him, but I can carry on just a little bit of his adventurous spirit and hopefully pass it along to my children.

When I saw a post that Bow Tied Runner made about someone attempting the FKT on the Rim to Rim to Rim Run, something inside me immediately said “I’m going to do that.” I’d like to think it was just a bit of his spirit pushing me to do something great. Who knows, maybe I’ll run it thirty times with my friends from across the globe. As my mentor would often say, “It’s a great life, and it ain’t over yet!”

Happy Sunday

-BTR