128. RJ Sauer on the 2023 Iditarod Trail Invitational

One of the fringe benefits of doing this podcast is having my guest’s phone numbers. I saw that RJ Sauer was getting ready for the Iditarod Trail invitational, 350-mile race across Alaska, so I reached out to him to wish him luck and to keep the rubber side down.

The next day, I was thinking to myself “Is he in Alaska already?”. When I found out that he was, I figured this would be a great opportunity to talk to RJ. The last time we spoke was back on 002. RJ Sauer - Perseverance Personified.  

This conversation was one for the books and one in which we covered a ton of topics. We talked a little about the Iditarod Trail Invitational but then, as my podcast goes, we took many tangents along the way. We talked about presence, groupthink, the Tour Divide, and selfishness. I asked him about his writing process. We also covered imposter syndrome, storytelling, and what’s your “why”, a hot topic for many endurance athletes and a question we often ask when we’re suffering in an event.

RJ first rode the 1000 mile ITI back in 2001 as a 26 year old Film Maker producing the film, Thin White Line. It was his first bikepacking race and the catalyst for many adventures to come. You can read more about his adventures over at rjsauer.com or on his Instagram page, where he more or less journals his life. You can also track his progress in the ITI 350.

It’s been too long since I last spoke with RJ. I always find our conversations a joy and a great learning experience. His humble nature and willingness to share make for a great conversation and I hope you find some takeaways as well.

Enjoy.