After the party...

The party is over, the funds have been pledged, now I've got to go do this thing. I had obviously always planned on running the race. There was never a doubt in my mind otherwise I certainly would not have been running 20 mile days. However, it just now seems a whole lot more real, whole lot closer, and quite frankly a whole lot longer.

I am running 150 miles across the Gobi Desert in order to raise awareness and funds for the outstanding organization Room to Read (roomtoread.org). The race (racingtheplanet.com) begins June 17th in Kashgar, China. I am incredibly excited about the race and so overwhelmed by the support of the community here in Santa Barbara. The fundraiser on friday night raised $100,000 for Room to Read. That is enough money to build 6 new schools. Schools that will provide education to children who previously did not have access to any primary or secondary schools and would have spent a lifetime illiterate and bound to poverty.

I will chronicle my training and my experiences in the days leading up to the race.