Photo Credit Scott Rokis
Photo Credit Scott Rokis
Dear Friends,
My volunteer thank you(s) go out to a small enough group of you, many of you close friends and family, with everyone else clearly being likeminded individuals, that I don’t mind sharing some personal things in them from time to time. In the past six months we lost my father in law to cancer, my second oldest cousin (60) to a stroke, and my second youngest cousin (40) to cancer. Every year we lose someone in our trail running community to disease, suicide, or accident, as evidenced by the memorial / photo table we set up at most of our races. In fact, I just recently learned of another longtime participant and volunteer of ours that was diagnosed with cancer and given a low chance of survival. Needless to say, with these recent losses, I have been doing a lot of reflection this year. While I don’t question my faith in the the divine, every once in awhile I do question my faith in ultrarunning. I question the priority I give to it, and its utility in my life. Instead of directing and volunteering at races, I could be working more hours and saving more for retirement. Instead of running races, I could put the not insignificant amount of time and massive amount of energy into something “more productive”. But then, seeing my father in law pass; when he was expressedly determined to live, spend more time with family (and his Labrador of course), and pursue his many hobbies, or my little cousin who was barely at ‘mid-life’ with a husband and two young children, I am reminded about how terribly short life is. I believe that whatever comes after this will be wonderful, and strange, and it is certainly beyond my current level of comprehension — but right now, in this life and current form, in addition to so many other things of course, I am ‘a runner’. It is a mode and substrate that was chosen for me in order to receive, give, and connect; with others, with nature, and deeper consciousness. Running is nothing more than a prayer and a meditation. A call and a response with our primal, uncomplicated, and infinite selves. Running together is ceremony and a celebration of lives being energetically well lived. Thank you for continuing to join in ceremony and celebration with me friends. In the continuum of all of time and space this phase is infinitesimally short. I encourager you to listen carefully and answer what calls you, and if at all possible pursue that call with family, friends and other likeminded individuals by your side. I have been blessed to do so.
I encourage you check out the full event recap HERE https://www.aftontrailrun.com/afton-2025-recap/
Thank you all, for everything. As always, please reach out if you need anything.
In Community,
John Storkamp
Race Director
Afton Trail Run