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Adventures in Breaking Impossible

We're all about ordinary people overcoming big, difficult challenges!

Join Chris and Michael as we train, travel and, step by step, build up to The Big One(s)

Previously we walked around Lake Washington (in 24 hours), ran marathons (and ultra-marathons), flipped a tire for a mile (twice), all to prepare for our biggest, most difficult challenge yet . . .

the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge

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Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge

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Michael Van Elsberg

Jan 9, 20203 min read

The MacLehose Trail

I'm going back to Hong Kong in about a week to face the MacLehose trail for my third time. It's a daunting prospect. The Mac is the...

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Chris Toepker

Dec 30, 20193 min read

2020: Must We Resolve? (We Must)

Set a goal, it'll niggle just enough to move you along. Small wins add up. Soon, those goals are astonishing!

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The Challenge is dead, long live the challenge.

Chris Toepker

Dec 29, 20194 min read

The Challenge is dead, long live the challenge.

Even though I had to give up qualification for HK4TUC 2020, attention turns non-stop to future attempts!

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Michael Van Elsberg

Dec 12, 20193 min read

Hong Kong

I fell in love with Hong Kong when I made my first trip there in November to train for the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (and get...

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Michael Van Elsberg

Oct 11, 20192 min read

Secret Beach Lessons

So, Chris and I agreed that the Secret Beach run at Gold Beach, Oregon, would be a "training run" and a "nice day on the beach" if...

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Chris Toepker

Oct 11, 20192 min read

Secret Beach, Getting Ready!

The night before the Secret Beach Ultra, getting ready and putting it all in context of Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge.

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Chris Toepker

Oct 11, 20198 min read

Secret Beach 50M, After Action Report

Tales from the trail, running the Secret Beach 50 mile, and qualifying for the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge

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Michael Van Elsberg

Sep 19, 20191 min read

GoPro Experiment

Yesterday I ran 20 miles and tried using my new GoPro with its time lapse photo feature but did not have enough room on the 32GB micro SD...

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Chris Toepker

Sep 5, 20192 min read

Yes: More Salt, More Sugar

It's a tough lesson to learn: bring your salt and sugar.

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Inspiration from the Special Operations Community

Michael Van Elsberg

Sep 3, 20193 min read

Inspiration from the Special Operations Community

Special Operations Forces (SOF) are essentially endurance athletes with weapons. They are warriors, Spartans, and occasionally epic,...

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Chris Toepker

Sep 2, 20192 min read

August Review

After-action report for August, with gear check and "before"...awaiting the "after" in a few months.

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Chris Toepker

Aug 20, 20192 min read

Getting Verts In

Going vertical to work it all out. Hiking up Dirty Harry's Peak, and right into a Chinese painting.

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Michael Van Elsberg

Aug 14, 20192 min read

On Running

I started running at the beginning of the first big running craze that followed the publication of the Complete Book of Running by Jim...

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Michael Van Elsberg

Aug 10, 20191 min read

Naysayers and Setting Big Goals

Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Every day we are confronted with the choice of comfort vs growth and...

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Chris Toepker

Aug 8, 20192 min read

Circuit Training, Cosmic Level

Then there was that time I went all the way around the universe. No, really. Bear with me. In the spring of 2013, I was living and...

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Chris Toepker

Aug 6, 20194 min read

Test: Terrain Race 2019

Terrain Race 2019, in Seattle, continues to test fitness and mettle - join the challenge!

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Michael Van Elsberg

Aug 2, 20191 min read

Tire Flipping

The first crazy thing Chris and I did as an individual challenge was walk for 24 hours continuously around Lake Washington at the very...

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Chris Toepker

Jul 28, 20192 min read

Trials: First 1/3rd to The Pass

Trial, and trail, report for attempt to get to Snoqualmie Pass.

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Michael Van Elsberg

Jul 26, 20192 min read

24-Hour Challenge

When Chris and I first started to prepare for the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC), we decided to start with a 24-hour...

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Chris Toepker

Jul 25, 20191 min read

What's With The Mailbox?

For 2026, the impossibility we're aiming for is the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (see the map video below for the breakdown)....

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