Leaving Austin -- The Final Stretch

Pardon my absence folks. It's been a strange week -- a revealing and sometimes unpleasant one, but mostly great.

I arrived here in Austin from Waco expecting an outpour of media support and perhaps an end to my days of hiking. In the end, neither outcome materialized. This isn't a condemnation of Austin however, because I'm honestly not upset -- but I did allow myself to be so for a little while. It's easy to get excited about something when it's not real yet -- it's simple to have inflated expectations. The reality of things is not always so glossy, particularly if you're looking at it through one lense.

For just a bit, I felt down -- abandoned. How silly of me.

I've gotten no press here in Austin, which is a huge market with an active running community. That's a bummer, but it's fine. Really. When I started hiking out of Flagstaff a transformation in priorities was developing. What I needed and what I thought I needed were two entirely different things. By the time I had reached New Mexico, this trip wasn't about the ammount of press I could garner in each town -- it was about the journey. It was about putting one foot in front of the other, because that's what I could control. That hasn't changed. Running or hiking, I control the outcome of this. I was letting that get away from me when I arrived here. I started having expectations, and feeling entitled to certain things.

Press will come. Support will come. Until then? I can put my pack on my back, and move forward. That's where my confidence is, that's where my motivation rests -- in me. I've had a great experience in Austin. I spent time with friends, got to be a present and functional (I hope) big brother for the first time in eleven years, got some good footage in with my documentarian, and took a much needed rest from the road.

My feet are healed, my mind is in the right place again, and I'm motivated. Austin has been good. I'll continue looking for support and pursuing media attention for this cause, because both would be much appreciated -- but my will to continue does not hinge on either being available. I needed to get here to learn these lessons and remember why I was so content during the worst times this trip had to offer.

Time to go. I'm looking forward to experiencing the final days of this adventure.

-Dustin