The Speed Project (Again!): A Short Update on the Shortest Day of the Year
Disclosures and disclaimers ahead of the return of your favorite ultra-running and exercise newsletter
Happy Winter Solstice! In addition to gaining more sunlight, today marks 100 days until the start of the 2024 TSP 340-mile relay race from the Santa Monica pier through Death Valley to the Las Vegas marquee sign.
This year, I am running The Speed Project again, this time with an all-female team.
Some housekeeping! Originally, this newsletter was under the auspices of The Bulwark as a limited series, but going forward, it is independent! As a result, you may see the occasional paywall (no free feet blister pics). There will also be affiliate links to reading lists where, if you buy a book, I may receive a small commission. Support for this newsletter will go towards funding the many costs incurred while training and traveling to and from the desert.
While The Bulwark provided much-needed technical support with Substack (thank you Catherine!!!) and tremendous editorial assistance and guidance (JVL and Adam are the greatest editors of all time!!!), they did not pay for or reimburse expenses for any aspect of the trip or training. This year will again be self-funded, although our team has reached out to several brands for sponsorship opportunities.
I am still very much with The Bulwark all day, every day, after all, we have a country to save. This newsletter is extracurricular and will likely be produced on the weekends between long runs and hit inboxes hopefully early in the week.
If you find yourself receiving this because you signed up for The Bulwark’s free list and don’t wish to be subjected to my thoughts on running (and much more!) you can update your subscription preferences HERE.
If you do choose to stick around (please don’t leave me), you can look forward to this season’s scheduled programming! (Disclaimer: These are all working titles to pique interest in hopes you will stay and fall in love with me.) Starting off strong with What’s the Deal with Cold Plunging Anyway? and other recovery best practices! Do You Really Need to Spend $250 on Running Shoes? Celebrity Fitness Aesthetics: A Treatise on Singers, and Treadmills. Why You’re Only as Good as Your Stomach! Running in the Panopticon OR Running Under the Influence: Strava, Instagram, and Performance Data. If any of these topics are the least bit intriguing, I hope you will continue reading and running with me!
In addition to those fun topics, I can’t wait to introduce you to this year’s team: the Feral Angels! Returning from team GRIT’s 2022 race are two teammates: Nikki is this year’s Team Captain, and her aunt Darlene, who was Crew Captain in charge of logistics in the desert handling the RV for GRIT and will be a runner this time! Joining us: Lindsey Argo from Baltimore, Sasha Hanway (her TikTok is below!) from Seattle, and Isa DeLeon from Guatemala. Give them all a follow!
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Our team had its unofficial kick-off meeting in November. Since then, I’ve logged a little over 100 training miles, broken my phone, gotten engaged, and written zero (0) poems.
The recommended training plan from TSP headquarters drops in January, and this newsletter will launch again in earnest in the new year. In the meantime, happy holidays! You can relive the magic of the original 2013 Speed Project race here:
Thanks for reading! Like and subscribe! Send to a friend! Be good to each other!
Good Evening Hannah,
I saw the paid invoice come through. Have you written anything on the 2024 race since the December "Short Update?"
Hell yeah more running newsletters