Please join me in a long overdue congratulations to JD for outrunning me in September. JD crewed and paced me for both my 100 mile races. He is a fantastic storyteller and a gifted singer which helps the nighttime miles fly by during a long run. I mean, sure he got me lost at one point during Vermont 100, but he did sprint back the way we came to save me from having to double-check.

He has a light, gazelle-like running stride and a contagious smile. He's also sharp-witted and an agressive trash talker. One of my favorite JD moments came when a large group of us were crewing him for the Ozark Trail 100. He pre-made soup and asked us to warm it up for him at the Hazel Creek Aid Station. We cranked up the stove, warmed up the soup and put it in a thermos, apparently a little too early and didn't bother to check it before handing it to JD. He ate some of the soup, arose to leave the aid station and very politely said, "Next time, could the soup be warm please?" We screwed up, and he was so friendly and polite.

Like so many of us, 2020 has been an off year for JD. He didn't run much over the summer and early fall, so when September started he committed to 4-5 runs a week usually at 6 miles or more a pop. He also decided never to check on my mileage. He was going to run what he could and see if that was enough. I used that to my advantage a few times making it sound like I was right on his tail.

Congratulations to JD for having such a successful month, and thanks for always making me laugh with a funny story or making me smile with a quick song. He is a badass. True.