This story almost broke me.
Or, more accurately, I cracked myself into a fever dream in the running that led to its creation. In the aftermath of The Speed Project 4.0 I scribbled down the grittiest moments within the relay and formed them into this story.
I’m so glad that I did.
I’ve said this before, but writing essays about running has proven to be the most effective way for me to hang onto the essence of the experiences for years to come.
And what an experience this was. Filled with excitement, fear, failure, and mind-bending depths of competition.
I’m not sure that I’ll ever see a team go as deep for as long as I did for those two days in the desert.
I explain this in the intro, but I wasn’t even meant to run on Team Tracksmith. A late injury moved me from crew to racer, and the race unfolds from there.
I’ll always be thankful to Tracksmith for inviting me in, trusting me, even as I faultered, and collaborating to tell this epic tale.
TSP 2025 is coming up in a few weeks. For everyone racing, enjoy it! Even when it’s awful. For anyone not racing, listen to this essay and consider forming a future team.
Here’s the link to the audio essay on Apple Podcasts
Below are a few of my favorite images from the event, captured by Emily Maye
Cheers!
Peter
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