Twenty-four years of February 28ths tell a story of someone who can't sit still, even when life tries to pin them down. Back in 2002, I was bouncing back from overtraining while shredding trails at Brookfield Park. A year later in 2003, winter had me trapped indoors, daydreaming about photography upgrades and eating "extra munchies" on photo walks that were really just excuses to get out.
By 2006, I was getting soaked in double downpours chasing horizons toward Rock Creek, then smashing a phone with a hammer because it died mid-call with Dad. No regrets, apparently, because Big Gear Climbs awaited the next morning. The 2008 version of me discovered that quality wheel companies actually stand behind their products, a lesson learned after hitting a gnarly storm drain.
Then there's 2012, waking up on a couch during taper, questioning everything. By 2014, I'd graduated to fat bike racing with bulletproof coffee and chia seed soup in my kit. The green goggle evolution in 2016 marked something deeper, a relationship milestone disguised as gear nostalgia.
More recently, 2023 found me on Oregon's coast, and 2024 taught me that 3 a.m. neck pain debates can somehow strengthen a partnership. Now in 2025, I'm writing about publishing platforms... still restless, still chasing the next thing, just with better tools.