The Goal I Was Afraid to Say Out Loud + The Story Behind Rewritten

2026-08-24

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For years, there was one goal I wasn't sure I was good enough to accomplish: breaking the self-supported Appalachian Trail record.I planned to try in 2020. It never happened. And for the next five years, the goal sat there.In this episode, I talk about why we're so afraid to say our biggest goals out loud, why I finally decided I would rather fail than never find out, and what happened when I went all-in on the Appalachian Trail in 2025.I also share a preview of Rewritten, the new film about the record and the much longer journey that...

For years, there was one goal I wasn't sure I was good enough to accomplish: breaking the self-supported Appalachian Trail record.

I planned to try in 2020. It never happened. And for the next five years, the goal sat there.

In this episode, I talk about why we're so afraid to say our biggest goals out loud, why I finally decided I would rather fail than never find out, and what happened when I went all-in on the Appalachian Trail in 2025.

I also share a preview of Rewritten, the new film about the record and the much longer journey that led back to the AT.

Rewritten premieres in Bozeman August 27 and on the Free Outside YouTube channel August 28.

If you enjoy the film, share it with someone who has a goal they've been afraid to chase.

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Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside