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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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Heroic running advice, without questions

Chris Toepker

Jun 15 min read

Heroic running advice, without questions

Defeat is a crucial ingredient to heroics, see how we put it to work here at Breaking Impossible - with hope, and imagination.

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Chris Toepker

Nov 12, 20228 min read

Breaking Impossible: Method Me Up!

“You’re on the same road, I’m just a little further ahead” my kung fu brother Ben Hunter once said. He was referring to how he’d met Lam,...

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Chris Toepker

Jul 8, 20221 min read

Servant Leadership in the Wild

If you're like me, you often hear about servant leadership. What might it really look like? I was lucky enough to spot an excellent...

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Chris Toepker

Nov 14, 20214 min read

No Limits, Just Steps

Breaking Impossible is all about setting big goals and challenging yourself, then achieving them step by step. These are powerful tools, and

176 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Jul 5, 20213 min read

Got grit?

What is grit? How do you use it? How can it be practiced? Let's see, using kung fu and running as exmples!

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Michael Van Elsberg

May 31, 20212 min read

Social Media Experiment

If you're reading this, you probably know me, or Chris, (or both), or maybe not (please let me know) and you've probably also read a post...

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Chris Toepker

Feb 9, 20212 min read

Still here, still going

Team, It's been a long while since Michael & I provided updates. Please accept our apologies! And thanks to the many of you that reached...

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Chris Toepker

Aug 13, 20205 min read

Let's have adventures!

What makes a good adventure? Good weather? Good friends? Something more? Let's find out!

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Chris Toepker

May 12, 20203 min read

Its Quiet. Too Quiet!

The past few weeks have been quiet ones, like with many of you I’m sure. While I had been taking advantage of the exceptions for outdoor...

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Michael Van Elsberg

May 11, 20205 min read

Breaking Obstacles

I have practiced martial arts since I was nine-years old starting at one of Ed Parker’s (Tracy’s) Kenpo schools before the Bruce Lee...

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Michael Van Elsberg

Apr 4, 20203 min read

The MacLehose Trail Part Two

The MacLehose trail is the longest trail in Hong Kong and it covers most of the highest peaks from one side of the New Territories to the...

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Chris Toepker

Apr 2, 20208 min read

Real Challenges Require Standards

Without standards, without the chance to clearly fail, it is too easy to spin into self-doubt and time wasting.

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Michael Van Elsberg

Mar 28, 20203 min read

Lantau Island

At the beginning of my second trip to Hong Kong in February I stayed in Tung Chung for several days and got my first taste of the Lantau...

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Chris Toepker

Mar 22, 20203 min read

Microadventuring

I have been out microadventuering - getting a bit of challenge, difference & outing into everyday life. Here's a summary of 8-week attempt.

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Chris Toepker

Mar 1, 20204 min read

Tech Sabbatical: Keeping it Real

What is wrong with tech? Should we abolish it in order to recover? We should use it as the tool it is, being neither hamstrung nor reliant.

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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...

151 views0 comments

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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Chris Toepker

Dec 15, 20194 min read

Incrementally Yours

Get where you're going incrementally. Seemingly small accomplishments add up. Get started, keep going, don't stop. Step by step.

129 views0 comments

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...

382 views0 comments

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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