Josh Gustafson on Pier to Peak 2003:

This was my fourth year to compete in the Pier to Peak. My first three years were marked by great expectations, inconsistent preparation, exuberant starts, and brutally hard finishes as my legs and lungs fell victim to the relentless grade of the mountain road. During the final four miles of the previous races my ability to control my gate would eventually slow to the point that I was unable to control my forward movement and would find myself walking without ever having the intention to do so.

Friends and family have asked me why I joyfully engage is such a difficult physical challenge. A quick and concise answer continues to elude me, but in the shadows of my conscious an answer is slowly forming. I think I love this test of muscle and will power because of my desire to quiet my own demons that tell me that I am becoming soft and weak. This fear continues to grow in me as I become more imbedded into a middle class lifestyle of creature comforts and office work. Without the deliberate inclusion of difficult physical challenges, I don’t know if I could resist the ubiquitous pull of societal lethargy and personal slothfulness that mark our culture.

On January 1st of this year, I made a promise to myself to have a yearlong celebration of my 30th birthday by getting fit again. As I held my newborn son, Erik, in my arms I knew that it would not due for him to have an out of shape father, with stooping posture, and a growing waistline. He deserved better. Thus began a slow process of running, not as a NAIA collegiate athlete, but as one dedicated to life long fitness. I viewed the Pier to Peak half marathon as the perfect crucible to test the metal of my consistency.

My primary goal was to run the entire way without walking. Secondary I was hoping, but not expecting, to run a personal best (in 2000 and 2001 I think I ran in the mid 2:20s), and my dreamy goal was to run the race at 10 minute pace or 2:11. My wife, Jennifer, and eight month old son, Erik, met me at miles 4, 8, and 10 with Gatorade and encouragement. As the miles went by, my pace remained steady and I began passing people (very rare for me). I then realized that my training, preparation, tapering, hydration and strategy were all working together perfectly. I can think of only two other races in my life (a 16:04, 3 mile in high school and 1:57, 800m in college) where my running felt as effortless, unforced and natural. I eventually crossed the finish line in 43rd place in a time of 2:02 (a personal best by over 20 minutes). At the end of the race, I thanked God for a perfect race and a loving wife and beautiful child to enjoy it with me. It was an experience I will never forget.