Guides Gone Wild

Getting Dirty for a Decade: Heidi Myers of Rasputitsa Teaches a Master Class in Intentionality

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Today we celebrate the decade anniversary of one of the most storied and epic bike races in the east, the Rasputitsa, with race co-founder and co-director Heidi Myers.

So what exactly is Rasputitsa, you might be asking? Short answer is, it depends.

This year it was a whole weekend of events built around a 50-ish mile gravel bike ride/race that based itself at Jay Peak in Vermont, and included 4,500 feet of climbing.

For the long answer, PLEASE go back and listen to my earlier episode with Heidi, and follow @rasputitsadirt on Instagram to let the energy and ethos of this amazing person (and the event she helped to create) wash over you.

Content warning - audio is admittedly not great. Heidi lives in a rural spot in northern Vermont, and her service left a lot to be desired... so I ask you to bring the same level of intentionality to listening to this podcast that Heidi and the Rasputitsa team bring to every little, tiny detail of their race planning. Find a quiet place where you can focus on her words, you won’t regret it.

And one final note - spoiler for those who haven’t yet listened to Heidi’s first appearance on this podcast - she’s been battling early onset Parkinson’s for years. She is the last person to expect (or desire) any kind of sympathy or extra attention for what she’s going through, but I do think it’s important to consider when you look at how intentional she is, particularly regarding this race and community. She really does blow me away.

Prepare to be inspired.

And some links before we go:

Heidi Myers:

I think it was the best day in the world it was definitely, probably one of the highlights of our last 10 years.

Jen:

Welcome to the Guides Gone Wild podcast. What is Guides Gone Wild, you ask? This is where you'll fill your ears and minds with the stories of everyday, extraordinary women who will inspire you to take your outdoor adventure game to the next level. Whether you're starting your journey from the couch or the trailhead, this is the place for you. So let's get a little wild.

Jen:

Welcome to Guides Gone Wild. This is Jen, and I'm here today to celebrate the decade anniversary of one of the most storied and epic bike races in the East, the Rasputitsa, with race co-founder and co-director Heidi Myers. It's very fitting that I'm finishing up this episode today. I spent a few hours this morning trying to squeeze in a bike ride and wound up getting caught in the rain on my way back, which taught me two very important lessons. First, when weather underground tells you there's a 100% chance of rain at a certain time, it's highly likely to actually be raining at that time, go figure. The second lesson I learned as a two-parter that my reaction to the tiny bit of wet, cold discomfort I suffered in air quotes this morning should really render me unfit to share the mic with today's guest. And also, for sure, I am completely and utterly psychologically unfit to even attempt the Rasputitsa. But since Heidi Meyers didn't know what a wussy I was two weeks ago, she did.

Jen:

Let me chat her up about the Rasputitsa's 10th year and all the thoughts and feelings swirling around in her mind and heart as they get caught up on sleep and family time this month. So what exactly is Rasputitsa, you might be asking? Short answer it depends. This year it was a whole weekend of events built around a 50-ish mile gravel bike ride slash race that based itself at Jay Peak in Vermont and included 4,500 feet of climbing and a lot of mud. For the long answer, please go back and listen to my earlier episode with Heidi, which, of course, I've linked up in the show notes, and follow at Rasputitsa Dirt on Instagram to let the energy and ethos of this amazing person and the event she helped create wash over you. Content warning here audio is admittedly not great. Heidi lives in a very rural spot in northern Vermont and her service left a lot to be desired. I did the best I could, but I ask you to bring the same level of intentionality to listening to this podcast that Heidi and the Rasputitsa team bring to every little tiny detail of their race planning. Find a quiet place where you can focus on her words. You will not regret it.

Jen:

One final note, spoiler for those who haven't yet gone back to listen to Heidi's first appearance on this podcast. She has been battling early onset Parkinson's for years and while she's the last person to expect or desire any kind of sympathy or extra attention for what she's going through, I do think it's important to consider. When you look at how intentional she is, particularly regarding this race and community, she really does blow me away. So let's get a little dirty with Heidi Meyers of Rasputitsa away. So let's get a little dirty with Heidi Meyers of Rasputitsa we're just going to start.

Jen:

So Heidi Meyers, the complete hype girl, if I'm allowed to say, girl behind Rasputitsa and one of the co-founders and just just such a overall badass in the industry, which and I'm so honored to have met you in person and I'm like I don't know. I, trish and I literally still talk about you all the time, um, when we get together, and how amazing that vertical experience was, and I have like 10 friends that constantly ask me is she ever going to do that again? I'm like I don't know, maybe, maybe not, but if she does, you're definitely coming with me.

Heidi Myers:

So, but anyway, I want to ride with you and Trish again.

Jen:

Oh, my God, it'd be so fun. And I just want to talk about Rasputitsa because I was like, like the 23 bajillion other followers, million followers that you guys have somebody who probably will never do the race, but completely like loves, it's like the best follow on the internet. So I just and the pictures that came out of this year. It was the quintessential Vermont spring gravel race and so I want you to talk all about it, because obviously you know COVID's happened. The last few years have been extraordinarily difficult for you. The race, all the founders, everybody's had a lot of hard things going on. And then you pull something like this off that looks like it was just the absolute best day in the world and I want to hear all about it.

Heidi Myers:

So I'm going to shut up now. I think it was the best day in the world. It was definitely probably one of the highlights of our last 10 years and it was a hard decision to make to move. A lot of people question like I thought Burke was your home and Anthony and I well, anthony lives in Newport so he's closer to Jay, but I'm probably halfway in between Burke and Jay. But we just wanted to shake it up and like bring a true Raspetita. So we were really looking for the muddiest of roads and the earliest that we could get cyclists out there, with maintaining safety and everything kind of aligned, and we had a completely epic, hardest course we've ever done.

Jen:

Um day and mother nature totally delivered it, like. It's so hilarious that, like, depending on whose pictures you're looking at and when they happen to be riding and finishing, it was like sun, wind, like clouds, mud, dry roads, rain, snow.

Heidi Myers:

I was just like, oh my god, yeah, it made true on the statement. If you don't like the weather in verona, wait a minute yeah, yeah, the the uh dfl.

Jen:

What do you call it? What did you call her? The uh daring force legend daring force.

Heidi Myers:

Legend picture Daring.

Jen:

Force Legend, daring Force Legend picture triptych was like the absolute ultimate. I was just like that woman is a freaking force and she kept the Canadians from sweeping all the major categories, may I say too and she like managed to come in with the biggest smile, which is a win in our book 10 plus hours of like just complete, yeah hammering on what looked like just an impossible.

Jen:

I mean some of those pictures of, like the guy that's going through the giant puddle and everyone is standing there waiting to like walk gingerly around the outside, looking in complete awe and amazement as he powers through.

Heidi Myers:

It's crazy. Did you see the paracyclist image on our Instagram?

Jen:

Yes, yes, that was equally amazing. That must have been. I mean, she must have arms of steel. Like I couldn't get over.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, I would not want to pick a fight with her.

Jen:

No, no, I would not want to race against her. I would be on like literally an e-bike and she'd probably kick my ass. So I'm, she would definitely kick my ass. It was, it was. It was just amazing. So, like how you know, talk about how you're feeling right now, because this has got to be. I mean the fact that all three of you have like actual lives, actual jobs, actual like families, other things going on and you you pull together this just epic race like and who found the frickin cover band? Because I was listening to the clips and they were like amazing also and played two phenomenal sets. I mean just everything about it the art, the photography, the course.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, just everything about it the art, the photography, the, the course. Yeah, I mean, I think what people don't realize is this is like an athletic feat for us, for three of us. Um, I tracked my steps throughout the weekend and I actually walked 30 miles all weekend long oh my god so, like the recovery for us is real.

Heidi Myers:

Um, because there's both, like you know, riders asking for pictures and timing results and online stores that we're like hustling to get up and running, but like we actually like need to like recover ourselves and sleep and like eat good food and replenish our bodies and our minds. Because, like I talked to Anthony early this morning as we were like resolving something, and he said it's just like you're, mentally, you have to be on all weekend long and you have to expect the unexpected and be able to deliver answers for things that you weren't really necessarily prepared for, which we do and we do well, but yeah, I mean, I think my voice is starting to like go because it's just it's it's a completely athletic event for us, like well and as we get older, it doesn't get easier?

Jen:

no, well, and I think too, like it's not, it's no small feat. Um, I feel like, yeah, you, you can't get away from the fact that promoting it and creating such a physical event would be physical, but like you guys take it up like 15 more notches in the way that you hold space for the community and make those, that matrix and those connections such a integral part of the event, and that brings its own set of, like just mental fortitude that you're going to have to have to get through this, because you can't be like some douchey bike person and be like, yeah, whatever, figure it out yourself. Like that's not the spirit of this event and you know you guys have to bring that energy though, through that throughout the entire weekend, and all the prep and all the customer service issues and everything else I can imagine would be just exhausting yeah, and I think our families like really showed up for us.

Heidi Myers:

I think they're the unsung heroes right now because, like anthony's son and my son ran our merch booth and like they worked hard, so they worked so hard all weekend long and there was a point like after the race on saturday.

Heidi Myers:

I was like I said to there, it was like five o'clock when the last racer came in and I said to Thayer, do you want to grab a pizza and just go up to our room and like take 20 minutes and eat pizza on our bed? And he's like I can't, I have to get back down to merch. People are waiting for me.

Jen:

He designed one of the t-shirts, did he? He's like I gotta.

Heidi Myers:

I gotta sell some merch. So, and like Callan was like checking that's Anthony's son, was like checking in with me all weekend, like where do you need me? What do you need? I'll be here, I'll go do this. Like, so, like our kids really showed up.

Jen:

Well, and they're freshmen in high school, so like and this is your 10th year, I mean, this has, like, literally been part of their life as long as they have like memory you know what I mean, like this is so woven into their lives.

Heidi Myers:

It is my oldest graduates from high school this year and he was seven, six or seven, when we started this and now he is 17, going on 18, about to graduate high school and it was kind of emotional for me because I can remember him being, like you know, a first grader when we started and he was actually driving around the course this year and marking signs with Anthony, so like that kind of put it all into perspective of what 10 years means yeah, I'm sure he wanted a a chance to drive that ginormous um truck slash what.

Jen:

I don't even know what you call that thing.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, I don't even know what you actually call it A beast.

Jen:

That truck. The unveiling of that thing, I was like, ooh, I want to drive that thing. Yeah, it was a beast. Yeah, did somebody let you borrow that for the weekend, or is that like something that one of you owns?

Heidi Myers:

No, no, no, Somebody, let us borrow it. We have Tyler Berliner. Berliner is a good friend and he supported the race with Subarus and other like off-road type vehicles for a few years now and had some connections to that and brought it up, so we're entirely thankful.

Jen:

Yeah, absolutely that was. It looked like it was very critical to have something like that, to even just like mark the course, because, as I said, like anyone who doesn't already follow Rasputin's the Dirt needs to go back and see, and I'm sure you guys will be posting a ton more stuff after you, you know, get that rest and relaxation that you so, so much deserve right now. That was another thing I wanted to ask about. Mean the. You know, I know um jeff is also very involved in the whole creative direction of the. Where do you get all these amazing photographers? How do you engage all these people that take just the most amazing event?

Heidi Myers:

I mean yeah, over the course of 10 years it's just been people that have reached out to us or like we've met through friends, and this year we just we signed deals with anyone who reached out to us and that alone becomes like family, like it's just always so good to see returning faces that are there to support you and you know we support them in return. I have this kind of strict policy that like, yes, we have volunteers on course, like course marshalling and stuff, but I really truly feel like especially artists should be paid for their skills, because it's something, as our world becomes more commercialized, we don't respect it and appreciate enough. So, yeah, we always try to do the best we can, even though our budgets are low.

Jen:

Yeah, that's pretty remarkable, which kind of leads me to my next question. I want you, if you want to off the cuff kind of talk to me give me kind of a rundown of the organizations that sponsored and supported the event this year, because I know there were quite a few and that's so critical to what it is you're doing Because, as you said, like I mean, budgets are razor thin anyway and these companies seem to be, for the most part, coming back year after year to support this because they're so they're in such support of what you're doing. So I feel like another call out is worthwhile.

Heidi Myers:

I'm just afraid I'm going to miss somebody, but I'll do my best. So Specialized has been with us for years and they're amazing and like family. We have connections with the East Coast crew, which is Adam St Germain, dave Richards and Joe Wilson all phenomenal people and pretty much like are there for our crazy ideas and asks and willing to do anything, so they're always great to have returned whoop came in large this year um, they ran the bike wash station in conjunction with born's energy and um, they did the smoothie station at the finish line, which was giving out free smoothies to racers.

Heidi Myers:

We got zero gravity. We were pretty psyched to have them this year because having a non-alcoholic option was something that was really important to us, just as we grow and want to please different.

Jen:

It's becoming more of a thing. I mean, people are just, yeah, recognizing that athleticism should not be, you know, so ridiculously tied into alcohol, Exactly Like you want to have your fun, great. But if you want to have your fun in other ways, that's also great.

Heidi Myers:

So that was a strategic move for us and we were super stoked. J-peak was absolutely phenomenal and I think the infrastructure there just made things a lot easier. Emily, andy and Ted in particular were just amazing. Then we had all of our gravel family. So Mid-South came, Big Red Gravel came and Grandin, Nebraska came. That's always like having family up for the weekend and they pretty much hang with us from like Wednesday or Thursday through to Monday, so that's amazing.

Jen:

Yeah, that was cool.

Heidi Myers:

We still tried to work with some local longtime sponsors that you know just moving to Jay. We didn't want to sacrifice, so our friend Cassie, who runs the Fertileva catering company, made 1,500 jars of jam for us, which was no small feat to give to every racer.

Heidi Myers:

And then the jimmy who historically has provided our post-race meal. Well, jimmy wanted to. On that. We didn't want to um not give emily and the crew at the jenny our business, so we had them make all of our feet zone cookies. So there was homemade cookies at every station.

Jen:

That's the kind of stuff that just like you can't I mean yeah, I think that speaks to a lot of different things. It's the kind of stuff that just is so unique to what it is you guys put together. But also, you know, this is no small task for anybody locally who's involved in this or adjacent to it, because this is a lot of people that this part of the world does not see pretty much ever, except for something like this. I mean, jay, obviously, is a is a world-class ski resort, but this is just a whole different thing and uh it it brings a lot of benefits, I'm sure, but it also brings a lot of challenges, and I think that's definitely uh, I'm glad you're mentioning that yeah, for sure.

Heidi Myers:

Um Bevo has hosted our art gallery year after year, so that's amazing, um, and you know we highly appreciate artists like. That's a key component of our race and the chug contest. I saw that yeah, we had a new sponsor this year traffic gear company uh, who made, who makes these like fenders out of like recycled plastic. So that's amazing. Um, yeah, I think those are the big ones, and apologies if I'm missing anybody, it's just because of pure exhaustion, not because your help did not matter yeah, I actually am like.

Jen:

So, as an aside, I I'm on your site right now, so we had Shimano Dilbo. Oh.

Heidi Myers:

Dilbo, yeah, dilbo, for sure. Dilbo has, I think, been our longest continuous sponsor, so they sponsored the photo booth. At the finish was captured a bunch of buddy faces.

Jen:

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, bunch of buddy faces. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right, I saw you guys were talking. You were talking about before the event that they they've traditionally put it at the start and you decided to put it at the finish this year to better capture it, and I can't wait to see what comes out of that. Yeah, so joe is definitely clutch to what we do yeah, and then there's one that looks like a scorpion and then Plink, oh yeah, and then Castelli produced our leaders' jerseys.

Heidi Myers:

So first place men, first place women, first place non-binary. They produced jerseys that says that their logo would say in a corner in small print I'm just here for the Stanks.

Jen:

Nice.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, in small print. I'm just here for the stands nice, yeah, and then clean was key. On the hydration that all of our feet don't stop. So that's great, you're great and that's just a great company that's up and coming so yeah, so good, oh, my god, it's just so good.

Jen:

And you know, like I think that the, the you guys promote like nobody else. I mean you really are world class. I saw somebody comment that early on and I just I second that. I just can't. I've never, ever seen an event, even something with like 90 million times the budget, do things as well. It just is just just really find a voice and bring it to market, like you guys do, and get the same you know and get the same you know and get, hopefully you know, rewarded by the, the kind of participants and, and, um, you know, both people you've heard of and people and lots of people you haven't that do this just hellacious race time and time again because they can't miss it.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah I mean it's like bringing this gravel community to our local community and the immersion of both um really shined through this year. We did this thing with Columbia Forest Products, which is located in Newport. They're a veneer mill and they have a local foundation that does charitable work throughout Orleans County. And so we approached them and said for every volunteer, we'll donate $50 to your foundation to support local programming.

Jen:

And we also asked riders to bring non-perishable food items to help feed food banks locally and that outpouring from the riders literally brought tears to our eyes and we had two truckloads full of food that will helplessly feed a number of families in this like rural poverty-stricken area and so like that immersion of like local community and gravel community coming together for the day is probably like the most moving thing that I've witnessed yeah, that is amazing and yeah again, it's just like this amazing circular economy system whatever you want to call it of just feeding the community, feeding into the community makes the community want to do good back at you and it's just been such an amazing journey that you've been on already I mean 10 years, and even just being able to do this for that long is just such a testament, because it's just not a huge. You know, it's not like you have this giant infrastructure of professional organizers. It's like this is kind of the thing, the one thing you guys do outside of your other stuff, and it's just unbelievable thank you.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, we're pretty proud, like I think this year um elevated our spirits and souls a lot, just because, after doing it for 10 years, you feel like are we just doing the same thing? Are we just recycling this year after year? And there's like you can never go back right.

Heidi Myers:

So like sometimes I yearn for like the early days when this was like much simpler and the demands were much lower and it was really just about people riding bikes, and I think that's what people refer to when they talk about the spirit of gravel. But I'm not sure you can actually ever go back. So the question really is, how do you go forward and not lose your values? And I think that's where we're really trying to hold ourselves accountable.

Jen:

Yeah, well, I think and and I don't know, I assume it was you that wrote the you your interesting parallel of like why you chose Pearl Jam as the you know theme band this year, because every year you guys have kind of a musical focus, or at least you have the last few years when I've been kind of watching you and I did think it was an interesting like. Again, people need to follow Rasputitsa on Instagram because there's not just beautiful pictures, there's a lot of really thought provoking and interesting and fun and entertaining and just thoughtful writing that goes along with it. And this little mini essay that you did about you know, grunge and the, you know how it parallels gravel, I thought, was I'm like, oh, that's a and you know, do you become a sellout? Do you not become a sellout? As somebody who, like completely is enamored with Pearl Jam as well, I really appreciated that completely is enamored with Pearl Jam as well.

Heidi Myers:

I really appreciated that. Yeah, I think that's what a lot of people don't understand is there's real intentionality behind pretty much every decision we make.

Heidi Myers:

We're not just like, oh, pearl Jam's cool, let's bring them in. There's real intentionality and I think we've had some social media feedback which is relentless and will never end. And I don't blame people for voicing their opinions, but like that say, like you know, stop talking about all this stuff. Like we just want to ride bikes and like I agree with that to a point, but like this is, I really think Rasputin is more than a bike race. If a bike race is what you're looking for, I'm not sure it necessarily the ones for you. We had a really inspiring story this year. At the start line we made this announcement that someone needed some specialized tools to get their bike ready to race that day and the specialized didn't have what they needed.

Heidi Myers:

So we made announcements and this rider came off the start line, ran to his car, got the kit that was needed, brought it to the other rider and we had a conversation with him, asked after and he said you know, I went in this to race it and I've read everything that you guys have talked about community and things like that, so it's like I just decided to ride it and to like be part of this community and I think I got so much more.

Jen:

Yeah, yeah, that's. That pretty much sums it up right there, cause just by watching it and I think you're totally right Like I see the trolls. They come out all the time Like it doesn't matter what you, it doesn't matter what perspective you are sharing. There's somebody who's critical about it, which always blows my mind, and you know that's the internet for you. But you're right, it's like okay, well, f, you then go do something else, like this isn't the race for you, like we don't want you there anyway Because like that's not the kind of energy that you bring.

Heidi Myers:

And if you're going to be like that, if all you care about is, you know, prize, purse, podium. You know, get out of my way like don't hold me back. It isn't the race and yeah, you know all things to all people like we need to be true to who we are and so I don't despise that person who's looking for that like authentic race.

Jen:

Yeah, it's just not who we really are, yeah, and just seeing, like again, seeing the full sideline of cheering people 10 plus hours into the event, you know, like looking forward to carolyn caroline, however she says her name, I apologize, I'm saying it wrong coming over the finish line. I mean, it's just like. Seeing the big smile is just like that, just uh. I was like, oh, my god brought tears to my eyes and I wasn't even there.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, so many moments over the weekend like brought tears to my eyes and I wasn't even there. Yeah, so many moments over the weekend like brought tears to my eyes.

Heidi Myers:

I was like particularly emotional this weekend. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm an aging female. Um, like this has really like struck me as year 10, um, and that's hit my soul. I'm not not sure. I'm still kind of churning through those emotions and like writing this like post race recap that I'll hopefully share with the world soon. But, um, I always have to like figure out my emotions myself before I can share them.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, because it's just over flooded with like love, like it's not like there's so much love that weekend, like there's so many hugs and so many comments and so much inspiration and so much support from everybody, not not directed towards us, necessarily, but directed towards each other, and it's really not that common and not that often in the world that you experience that amount of love in a weekend.

Jen:

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I I am. Every time I'm reading you, every time I'm looking at your page, I'm like oh, is this menopause or is I? Am I, you know'm like, oh, is this menopause or is I? Am I, you know? What is it that's making me feel this way? There's so many things, cause I also have a senior this year too, so it's like they're all it's all piling up, and now there's Rasputinza. Why am I feeling so emotional?

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, I always have the same considerations. I'm always like, oh, am I going too far? Like are people going to pick up some crazy middle-aged woman which they're probably absolutely accurate? To phrase me that way, but sometimes I have to hold myself back because the emotion is just huge.

Jen:

Yeah, well, I'm looking forward to reading it. And yeah, it's just again. I have such huge respect for you and all you guys are doing in the race and it just like love. I love absorbing your energy and your storytelling and your just sheer brilliance of everything you guys are doing from afar. It just makes me feel happy all the time and you're such an amazing connector of the world and you've created tons of great connections for me and you do it all the time and you can see it in your own community, so it's just so lovely, such a such a feel good thing.

Heidi Myers:

I think what disappoints us the most over here is that, like there's an inability for us to know every rider by name. Like we've tried so hard and like we remember hundreds, which is a feat in and of itself, but like I always feel guilty, like just walking by somebody, like near the finish line and not being able to be like hey, joe yeah, if I don't know then that that almost like literally, hurts us you're like I gave you a hug but I don't remember your name yeah, because we really are there for the people Like, I mean, the organization

Jen:

the demand, the physical demand of like setting this up.

Heidi Myers:

the anxiety that we experience on race day is huge and like I think we would have folded after like year four if it wasn't for the people.

Jen:

Yeah.

Heidi Myers:

Just like going year after year after year and potentially continue to keep going.

Jen:

I know after year after year and potentially continue to keep going, but I know so anyone who hasn't already been in your universe that now decides that they're gonna um steep themselves in your universe if they're like hmm, so when about? Would you kind of make the announcement about what might or might not be going on for next year? Do you have a? Do you have a? Is it too soon?

Heidi Myers:

I don't know. Like I mean we, I have lunch with him um just start kind of like sorting our minds out and like recapping. And then me, anthony and Jeff meet with Jay Peak um in early um May to kind of recap with them um, I remember saying something to. Anthony at the finish line and he's like I think I need three months, which is just funny because I think the first couple races that Anthony and I did like we would finish and not talk to each other for like six months, because we're so exhausted and like that's actually coming like back to fruition.

Jen:

It's like I called him the other day, like I actually don't want to be calling you right now, but yeah, I would imagine, like now your text threads, somebody will be like question mark and the other one's like too soon, and then you do it again a month later.

Heidi Myers:

We always send, and Anthony is the one that spearheaded it this year. There's always one of us me, anthony or jeff, that sound like this emotional text um leading up to the race. I think it went out like monday or tuesday before the event this year and it just said it was anthony started it. He said just want to know.

Jen:

Let you guys know that I love you guys.

Heidi Myers:

I love what we built. Anything that I say that pisses you off during race weekend, just let it go, as always.

Jen:

When I'm an asshole to you in 18 hours. Don't take it personally. I really do love you.

Heidi Myers:

Yeah, that's our code between us, because the stress is pretty overwhelming leading up to that you're bound to say something that pisses one another off.

Jen:

I don't know. I saw a lot of smiles and I know that obviously things are edited for video, but I feel like every picture, a lot of smiles. Even people that were suffering were smiling, so I think you nailed it, thank you. I know the audio was rough, but I so enjoyed listening back to this conversation. Talking to Heidi just fills me with all the good vibes. If you ever have the opportunity to be in this woman's presence, take it.

Jen:

You can tune in to all the Rasputitsa goodness at rasputitsadirtcom or at rasputitsadirt on Instagram and Facebook. Even though the race is over for this year, the site is still well worth checking out. All the merch that Thayer didn't manage to sell during his long race weekend shifts is now for sale online, including some very cool original art prints, t-shirts and hats. And, of course, if you're following Ross put its online, you will be among the first to know when they announce their plans for 2025. Decade two kickoff. We shall see, and with that, it's time for me to bid you farewell. I'm going to resume my daring forest legend training by hopping back on my bike and getting a little bit wild.