Ever taken on something so outrageous that everyone—including you—thought you were nuts?
In 2014, a buddy of mine dared me to join him in a 24-hour adventure race called the Wilderness Traverse.
The name alone should’ve been a red flag, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge—no matter how ridiculous.
Teams of 3 or 4 navigate 150 kilometers of unforgiving Canadian wilderness using nothing but a map, a compass, and sheer stupidity.
This isn’t your casual Sunday hike; it’s a brutal, soul-crushing grind through hell and back. The kind of race where finishing is for the insane and quitting is for the sane.
150 kilometers? Over rugged, unforgiving terrain? On foot, bike, and canoe? No thanks.
I’m all about road trips with good tunes and AC. But then, I did the unthinkable—I said yes.
Why?
Because it was for a charity, a breakfast program for kids.
Yeah, because nothing says "helping kids" like dragging your body through the mud for 24 hours.
Sure, I could’ve just donated money, but where’s the fun in that, right?
Here’s the kicker: Once you commit to something this outrageous, you either figure it out or die trying.
So, I bought a bike. Rounded up two more fools to join us. Trained like I was running from the apocalypse.
And guess what? I got into the best shape of my life.
Our team raised a boatload of cash, and I dove headfirst into the most insane experience I’ve ever had.
Let me break it down for you:
🤟Paddling along the Nasicot River like we were some kind of explorers.
🤟Being attacked by mosquitoes like they had a personal vendetta.
🤟Freezing my ass off in the middle of nowhere, questioning every life choice.
🤟11 blisters and a couple of toenails sacrificed to the trail gods.
🤟Three ankle rolls that had me limping like a pirate.
🤟Pants torn to shreds like I’d fought a bear.
🤟Stunning views that almost made the suffering worth it.
🤟2 AM highway thoughts that belong in a horror movie.
🤟Rattlesnakes, bear crap, moose tracks—take your pick of nightmares.
🤟The most amazing watermelon that could bring a grown man to tears.
Long story short, we didn’t finish. Our minds gave up before our bodies.
Epic fail, right?
Wrong. Anyone who thinks failure is the end doesn’t get it.
Failure is the freaking roadmap to winning.
This was a stepping stone, a painful, blister-filled stepping stone.
No amount of training could replace experience, and you don’t get experience without screwing up first. You fail, you learn, you fail less, and eventually, you nail it.
✨And yes, we signed up again the next year—and hell yeah, we finished.✨
In total, we raised over $12,000 for charity.
So if you’re sitting there, doubting yourself, thinking you’re not up for something, let me be clear: You’re either in or you’re out. But if you’re in, go all the way.
As Richard Branson said:
“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you’re not sure you can do it, say yes—then learn how to do it later!”
- Justin