The Highest Standard of Excellence

Meredith and support crew at entrance of Death Valley National Park

It is amazing the places running takes me. Right now, my “normal” schedule would place me in Europe racing for four weeks in the lead-up to what I had hoped would be Worlds this August. Due to the rupture in my posterior tibilias on my right foot and subsequent foot surgery to rebuild the tendon, I have found myself sidelined and seeking other interesting opportunities within the running field.

And so I find myself at the Badwater 135-mile Ultramarathon in Death Valley, California, this week—the hottest place on earth even above the Sahara Desert. This race is known widely as the “Toughest Footrace on the Planet” and is ranked #1 by National Geographic on their list of hardest events, so I jumped at the chance to take the final crew position for my good friend Meredith Dolhare.

I love to experience all aspects of running, and this is the complete opposite end of the spectrum from what I do: long, grueling, gritty, unpredictable mile-after-mile starting at night and most likely ending at night featuring some of the toughest athletes on the planet in extreme conditions. The last year Meredith was here (2013), temperatures topped out at 129 degrees with wind gusts at night up to 50mph.

Witnessing the preparations involved the past couple of days for both Meredith and the crew has been fascinating and reminds me of what it takes for visionaries like L.L. Bean and In the Arena to build products and programs to last within today’s culture. Just like an ultra-marathoner, both In the Arena and L.L. Bean take the long view and both are ready for anything thrown their way. In fact, both organizations relish helping people find the tools necessary to succeed. Preparedness is key.

That being said, I brought my Vintage L.L. Bean Puff Vest all the way to the “hottest place on the planet” this week because you never know what will happen. I will be ready when we climb from the lowest point in the continental United States in Badwater Basin to the highest point in the U.S.—the top of Mount Whitney. Why? I have L.L. Bean and In the Arena on my side. My puff vest is the only cool weather article of clothing I need for this trip and will keep me warm when Meredith reaches the top of Mt. Whitney as she finishes her race early this Thursday morning!

Meredith running the Badwater 135 in 2013 at mile 110.  She eventually climbed Mt. Whitney in the distance finishing 3rd in her inaugural run.