09/18/2026
Adventure isn’t about proving what we’re capable of.
It’s one way we continue discovering what we’re capable of.
In late August, I spent four days mountain biking the Colorado Trail from Molas Pass to Junction Creek with old friends and new friends.
Each day brought roughly 20 miles and 3,000 to 4,000 feet of climbing at 10,000-12,000 ft above sea level. There were long days, steep hike-a-bike, tired legs, rain and changing mountain weather. Plenty of moments when the trail—and the elements—asked us to adapt.
It was stunning and ass-kicking.
I didn’t feel strong or confident every moment—and that’s the point.
Confidence isn’t something we either have or don’t have. We build it by entering the stretch zone, navigating the unknown and discovering that we can handle more than we thought.
There were sweeping views that made us feel wonderfully small. New friendships built through shared effort. Moments of awe that shifted my perspective. And the reminder that hard things feel different when we don’t have to do them alone.
At 52, I don’t choose experiences like this because I need to prove anything.
I choose them because they expand me.
What hard or expansive thing is calling you into your stretch zone?
