Two Years and One Accountabilibuddy Later: An Ode to Him

     "What's that hard thing at the end of the bed?" I curled myself into a ball and pulled the covers tight over my head as I became painfully aware of what Jeff was inquiring about. The toenail I feared would fall off on any given day now had decided to depart from my toe on one of the very first nights I had spent in Jeff's bed. Not knowing how he would take to this, two years later, and with many laughs remembering that first snuggling intro to my feet,  he now shares in the same blackened and battered toenails that have become the "norm" of our relationship.

Yocum Ridge intersection on the Timberline trail, Mt. Hood. 

   
       I've always been extremely aware that any lasting relationship I would find myself in would be one where my partner was tolerating of my nuissances, patient, passionate, shared my twisted humor, and desired to live life outdoors away from comfort zones. Little did I know that taking a hike onto a remote ridgeline on Mt. Hood I would find what I had almost given up looking for. I write this post with the utmost appreciation for my best friend who will be toeing the line of the Mt. Hood 50  this weekend. A race I had been training for only a few weeks after meeting him on that ridgeline two years ago. The race he told me I was "crazy" for doing. The race he just shook his head at in conversation.
   
       When Jeff and I established ourselves as partners in crime very early on in the relationship, it only made sense that I would test his ability's in enjoying time on the trail with me. One of our first runs was along the Salmon River trail, and since then I can't remember a time where we've stopped chasing each other up steep ascents, over jagged terrain, splashing through stream crossings, or comparing who fell harder on that section of trail. All so that afterwards we could drive ourselves to the land of Coke and Orange Fanta, complimented by chips, ice cream, and a whole lot of Netflix. Every weekend we've picked our destination and escaped the city to run with friends all over the PNW,  or fly fish the rivers Jeff has fallen passionately in love with since moving west.  We've spent countless hours in his Toyota pickup we've named Amiga, one of two (rest in peace Monty), sleeping on the side of roads en route to adventure, and listening to Jack bark with reckless abandonment as we weave through meandering dirt roads with the smell of firs and pines on either side of us.

       
        Once Jeff started running there was nothing I could do to tame his excitement for covering ground on foot this way, and I'm not about to try. I have been so unbelievably lucky to share a life with this man who has enhanced my love for the run in ways I've been unable to imagine until now.  Having a training partner on and off the trails is something I will never take for granted. It's something I think about every single day, and honor beyond any scale of value.  If you've never heard the term before, I'd like to introduce you to what we call "accountabilibuddies." These are the buddies that hold you accountable for what you've set out to do, and don't take slack when you're behaving like a CBPP (cry baby pissy pants). Your accountabilibuddy wants the best for you and pushes you to new heights by believing in you when you're having a rough go at it.  For Jeff and I, we do this pretty well. Right down to yelling at the other to sit deeper into the ice bath because, "YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT!" "If I go any deeper you can say so long to kids!" One also cannot forget the intimate nights spent squirming and grunting as we roll each others tender spots out with the "stick," while our roommate is trying to sleep above us while wondering what the hell is going on down there?
 

       The support required to be able to live a life of chasing your passions, spending hours, days, and weeks doing so is a beautiful thing. You'll find yourself challenged as you seek the balance between it all, and you'll find yourself needing to challenge yourself as well as your partner to support them on deeper levels. You make sacrifices to make it all happen, and try to do so as selflessly as possible even though the sacrifices may require a bit of selfishness.  To find myself living a life with Jeff where our passions align, and we exist in a very cyclical manner of pushing each other through positive energy and actions of encouragement day in and day out, I am ever so grateful. To have witnessed and supported him over these last years grow in the sport of ultra, and explore his strengths in many aspects of life, I can't help but smile.
   
        To me, Jeff has been invincible since he started running these longer distances. For the most part he has existed harmoniously with minimal injury and increasing speeds. Only until just recently on a training run where something in his foot began to disagree with him. These last weeks I have watched him struggle with a foot issue that has for the most part,  gone undiagnosed. I can see the worried look in his eyes as he rolls his calves out, when we takes a step and it doesn't feel right, or when he focuses any extra time in doing his strengthening exercises. I can feel his strength in determination to heal himself so he can be out there doing what he thought was "crazy" only two years ago.  Everything he does to mend himself is a reminder to me of how fortunate I am to share in such a unique sport with my best friend. It's no longer a solo act where people question my sanity. It's now a dynamic duo act where we understand what the other is going through at any given time, and can relate and be there to poke fun when unnecessary, not take each other too seriously,  or no longer cringe when that toenail falls off.
   
      In a recent trip helping our buddy Gary Robbins  set the FKT around Mt. Rainier on the Wonderland trail, there was a moment that stuck out to me above everything else. It was when Ethan Newberry who was documenting the adventure asked Gary if he had anything to say to his wife Linda who was back home. Gary expressed his sincere gratitude and love in being so fortunate to have found a life partner who supports and brings out his best qualities to enhance every part of his life, pushing him to be the best version of himself that he's capable of. By challenging him and believing that he is capable of feats like this when he is not equally as certain. I couldn't help but to look over at Jeff knowing Gary's words echoed everything I've ever experienced since meeting Jeff up on that ridge.
   
      I have no idea what to expect when Jeff steps up to the start line this Saturday, but what I do know is I get to watch him fight for what he wants to accomplish because he's stubborn, and he's strong. I get to support the person who brings out my best qualities and enhances every aspect of my life from sun up to sun down. To me, there's no greater comparison to the joy it all brings. So enjoy your journey love, whatever that may be!

Suns out buns out! Tahoe Rim Trail.