Adam Goodkind Minnetonka, MN - PATH projects KREW
I live in Minnetonka, MN, which is in the greater Minneapolis area. My relationship with running goes back a long way and has evolved considerably. In high school, I ran cross country and track, and thought of running purely as a competitive activity. It was all about pushing as hard as possible to achieve a time. Near black outs and vomiting at finish lines were the norm back then. For some reason, I took an extended break from this particular form of masochism through college and young adulthood, turning instead to another, less healthy extreme endurance sport: workaholism. It wasn't until my mid 30s, as the multiplying demands of my engineering career and family life began to take a toll on my body, that I returned to running as a means of staying in shape and managing stress. I devoted the very early mornings - my only free time - to getting good at running again. What I found, moving along empty streets and trails at the break of dawn, was something I wasn't expecting - a new aspect of running that has enriched my life far more than the physical fitness I have now come to view as a mere byproduct of running. Running as meditation is one way to describe it, although no words can encapsulate the exhilarating, profoundly cleansing state of mind that flows from finding deep tranquility through extremes of motion.
At some point on this journey, I decided to start taking photos of the incredible predawn sights and sunrises that are the visual backdrop of my daily running experiences. I have tried to capture images that impart some sense of the inspired state running evokes for me. These images are posted along with my activities on Strava, and sometimes Instagram as well.
As the years roll by, I've found the more I run, the more I want to run. And the more I want to run, the more time I'm able to find to run. So, although I am still as busy as ever, I've found time for 10 marathons / ultras in the past 18 months. Looking forward to many more!
Running accomplishment(s) you are proud of
I recently did a solo, self-supported ultra I called "One mile on Earth for each lap it's made around the sun in my lifetime." This was 44 miles on my birthday. I ran it on an amazingly scenic route which connects a loop around Lake Minnetonka with Lake Waconia via the Dakota Rail Trail.
Any races or adventures on your horizon and / or bucket list?
Assuming races happen in 2021, I will do all the canceled/postposed races I was signed up for in 2020, which include: The Avenue of the Giants Marathon, Afton Trail Run 50K in MN, Destination Trail Tahoe 100K & probably some others along the way, like Ice Age 50 and/or Voyageur 50.
Your favorite PATH projects gear?
Every PATH product I have tried is outstanding, but my personal favorites are Sykes AT 5" Short and the Tahoe CL 3" Liner. This short/liner combo is just incredibly comfortable, light weight and low-impact on the skin. I have never come across another product that compares. Running ultras in these, I haven't had even a hint of chafing or skin irritation, regardless of the weather or distance.
What do you enjoy about running?
What I love about running is seeing and thinking in an elevated state of awareness. It is how I make sense of life, solve problems, understand dreams and reconcile emotions.
Advice for runners looking to improve?
Don't push yourself too hard until you have a solid mileage base established. Just start with something small and increase gradually over a long time. Remember that from a musculoskeletal perspective, running itself is actually a destructive activity. Strength is built through the healing that happens between runs, not by the runs themselves.
Social channels you are most active on?
Anything else you’d like to share to the PATH projects community?
Hearing what other people love about what I love is always inspiring to me. Feel free to drop me a line on Strava or IG - I would love to hear from you.
Learn about all other KREW members HERE.