I recently sat down with Aaron Boike, owner of Performance Running Gym, for a conversation that felt both full circle and completely grounded in why I do this work. Aaron and I first met during Superior 100, deep in the Crosby Manitou section. Anyone who has been there knows the deal. Steep climbs. Heavy rocks. A long gap between aid. I filled the miles with horrible dad jokes and questionable humor. Somehow we both made it out smiling.
Reconnecting a few years later to talk about the Kilimanjaro FKT felt like full circle moment. We dug into the logistics behind the route, the decisions that shaped the project, and what it meant to have Brian beside me through the whole effort. We talked about the beauty (and challenge) of what comes after a major push and laughed about the awkward moments on the mountain that are my favorite memories.
Aaron has built a real community in Minnesota. He cares about the work, the miles, and the conversations that happen among runners. This episode gets into the heart of the Kilimanjaro project and the grit it demanded. If you want to understand the story behind the summit and the human side of the preparation, this is a good place to start.