Mark Dowdle

In March of 2025, Proc and I sat on a podcast talking about our future plans. Each episode poking at this central idea of how to make our dreams a reality. Those, of course, were how to become pro ultra endurance and trail running athletes.

This very episode captured the moment when my journey to Team USA began. We learned about the process together and what it would take to get here. That night I signed up for summit backyard, which would be the race that’d qualify me for the team.

It’s strange looking back at us talk. We knew today was possible. We didn’t know how long it would take or what exactly it’d look like. But we were willing to go find out.

I’m grateful for all those years of struggling in the unknown. It’s prepared me well for the race I love.