29029 Sun Valley: You CAN Do This, But Will You?

Aug 9

Jesse Itzler kicked off the welcome evening with a speech where he talked about can versus will. He said, “I have no doubt that everyone in this room can climb the mountain and reach Everest, but will you?” This question stuck with me all weekend, especially as things felt impossibly hard climbing the mountain. There is so much that we can do, but what are we willing to do?

This was my third 29029 Everesting event, which meant if I reached Everest at Sun Valley, I would get the coveted black bib the next time I climb with 29029. If you haven’t climbed, you might not understand the significance of that, but it shows everyone on the mountain that you’ve previously reached Everest three times. This year, I set out to get that black bib in the first 29029 event of the year and wear it proudly during the second event of the year at Jackson, WY. Why? So many people asked me at Sun Valley why I’m back to climb a third time, why I want the black bib. Let me try to explain.

The first reason is that the community of 29029 is so special, and I want to keep showing up and being a part of that. When you’re surrounded by people that want to push themselves, want to dig deep and do something they’ve never done, it’s extraordinary. At every mountain, I have learned something new about myself. In the moments of struggle, there’s much to be uncovered. Also, I admire those that have earned the black bib, that show up for themselves and the community again and again. They’ve done it, have wisdom to share, and have helped get me up the mountain. If I could be that for someone else, well that’s just magic.

Another reason, the more personal reason, is because I can (and so I will). It might sound flippant, but I have two legs that work well enough to get me up a mountain. That wasn’t always the case. When I was 16, I got shot. The bullet went through my stomach and came out millimeters from my spine. I woke up in the hospital and was paralyzed. The doctors weren’t sure if the damage was permanent. It took two days before I got feeling in my right leg, and it took more than a year to get feeling back in my left leg to my knee. Basic things weren’t so basic for me: I couldn't take a shower by myself, I couldn’t walk normally, I couldn’t tie my shoes. Between the pain from the scar that ran from my sternum to below my belly button and the pain and numbness in my leg, doing anything and everything hurt for a long time.

To this day, I can’t feel much above my left knee. When I do events like marathons, 29029, or really any endeavor that requires significant time on my feet, I can expect significant pain. I don’t let that pain stop me. That pain is a reminder that I’m alive. There was a time in my life where I couldn’t climb up a mountain once, let alone 15 times. So I climb, because I can.

Jesse talked about being back of the pack in life and wanting things more than anyone else. That resonated with me. I’m a back of the pack climber, slow and steady. My first 29029 at Snowbasin, UT in 2021, I didn’t sleep in 36 hours and finished with 25 minutes to spare. At Stratton, VT in 2022, I was able to sleep for two hours and finished with maybe 2 hours to spare. This year, in Sun Valley, I slept for an hour and a half and finished with an hour and a half to spare. I don’t know if I will ever be one of the people that can get it done in 16 to 20 hours. That pain, that struggle, is what makes it so rewarding for me. If I give in to the voice in my head that wants to stop and wants to take a break, then I wouldn’t reach Everest in 36 hours.

29029 is a special event because it mimics the ups and downs of life. You feel the full range of emotions during the 36 hours that you have to reach Everest. Who are you in those moments? I’m the person that keeps going, even when I don’t want to anymore, when it hurts, when I’m hot, when I’m freezing, when it doesn’t look like anyone else is left on the mountain but me and the stars above. And that’s who I want to be in my life. The person that shows up and keeps going, no matter how hard it gets, when the odds are stacked against me.

To everyone that was on the mountain in Sun Valley, I loved climbing with you. Whether we chatted for a minute, for an ascent, laughed together, cried together, you made the experience incredible for me. Thank you.

A massive thank you to all the volunteers! You kept us fed, hydrated, and gave all the hugs and fist bumps to keep us going. A well placed woohooo and some cowbell changes the game!

The extraordinary coaches - Chris, Dawn, Emillee, Ashley, Brent, you always have the answers to any problem I could throw at you and a strategy to get me through it, and I appreciate that and all of you.

Colleen, aka the voice of the mountain, you are a ray of light at the base of the mountain. The way you get to know all of us and are so vested in our success, I don’t know how you do it, but I am so grateful for you.

Kaelee, you put the red bib on me and apologized that it wasn’t Colleen, that you know it’s more special when she does it. I wanted to tell you, that’s not true (sorry Colleen). You are amazing, and your energy and support all weekend is a huge part of what gets us all up the mountain again and again. I feel lucky to have had that moment with you before I started the last ascent, even if you did make me cry!

Jesse Itzler, Colin O’Brady, and Marc Hodulich, the co-founders of this event, put together the most unique, challenging experience that brings the most incredible people together. Thank you. If you keep putting on these events, we will keep showing up!

For more information on 29029 Everesting, check out their website.