Its over. Wow. What a mind-blowing, spirit bending, physically debilitating challenge. I have so many thoughts to express and am overflowing with emotions I want to relate. I’ve been recouperating the last few days and am now just resurfacing, hobbling around and tending to my wounds. I need to focus on my professional life for a couple days so I don’t have the time to write at length at the moment, but expect a lot of posts coming in the next few days.
For now, I just want to thank the countless people who made this life-altering experience happen. You all know who you are, and its an understatement that I could not have done this alone. It was a complete team effort, pillar to post.
Just a few names I want to credit right now. Dave and Nancy Roll (my parents), for their endearing and enduring love and support. Vylna and Larry Mathis (Julie’s parents), who are always there. Molly Roll (my sister), Lloyd, Teresa, Chris, Carly, Sean, Jo and Robert at Triathlon Lab for the bike & tech support, Compton Rom at Ascended Health, my nutrition and healing guru, Marc Katz at Sportiva Importare for the awesome shades, Zoot for all the gear, James at Sandbox for his custom gear designs, Squadra for the custom race gear, Tai Blecha for the run & crew gear, the Plan B crew for the training support, Chris Hauth for his supreme coaching, Vega for the nutrition products, Lucy for the Sunwarrior products, Stacie Turk and Peter Forelli for their tireless efforts to promote me, Rick Kent and Timothy Carlson for their wonderful photos and Tim’s laudatory articles, Alan & Nicole for their complete dedication and peerless examples of service, Chris Uettwiller & Dan Halsted for always being there, Mike Field, Ed Dougherty for their expert paddling, Odie & Annette for their crew strength, and my boys on Montcalm for spiritual grounding.
But most of all to my astounding wife Julie and my kids Tyler, Trapper, Mathis & Jaya. You all sacrificed in countless ways and were there for me day and night over the last year and on the course as my tireless and dedicated crew.
I thank you from the deepest place of my spirit and love all of you dearly.
All the details soon to come.
