I realized last week that we’re within 80 days of the 2018 summer solstice!

Sunrise in Craftsbury, VT

That means that as of today, there are only 73 days until I plan to get on my bike at the Vermont/Canadian border in North Troy, VT at 4:30 am on June 20th and head south along VT Route 100.

If all goes well, I’ll make use of the day’s 15 1/2 hours of daylight and make it to North Adams, Massachusetts, some 215 miles away.

The next day, on the morning of the solstice, I’ll change bike shoes for trail runners and start up the Long Trail. The first 4 miles or so are still in Massachusetts, which adds some distance and elevation gain to make the first day a bit longer, but, again, if all goes well, I’ll be on my way north and Journey’s End at the Long Trail’s northern terminus.

With the help of friends and family, I’ve started breaking down the days a bit more granularly — trying my best to balance distance and elevation, keeping in mind the transition from bike to run, and making sure I have support when I need it most.

With this planning comes a renewed excitement — and a mounting anxiety — about this huge goal I’ve set for myself.

Clearly, I know I can’t do this on my own. In a departure from my endurance runs in the Arctic and the Far North, I’m inviting people to join me in support of both this adventure and to help build resilience in communities across Vermont.

Are you interested in joining me for a short stretch, a 1/2 day, or even a full 50km day?

Just shoot me an email and let me know.