Mile 208. (Zero day.) Friendship.

Friends who are endurance athletes appreciate the intricacies of proper preparation. And - dang! - am I lucky to have Nicolas Nouvel as a friend!

In my first 200 miles, I’ve learned a lot about what is and isn’t working for me on the trail. Nicolas and his wife Miriam were “in the game” with me - helping me to plot out mileage strategy, fine-tune my nutrition plan, and dial in my clothing game. From sun up to sun down, we were nose down in trail prep.

Bonus 1: Nicolas is a French chef and cooks like a boss. Oh yes

Bonus 2: Mariam is an accomplished artist and gave a first-rate tour of the hidden treasures in Asheville - what a cool town! We even saw a mama bear and two yearlings along the way!

Tomorrow is back to work. Let’s get in some miles!