Yesterday would have been my last TE as race director. A beautiful day for it, as close to perfect as it could be. I missed it.
Thank you to all of you who created the spirit of the event. My pleasure was seeing the pleasure it gave you.
The poet Seamus Heaney wrote, ‘A promise we had the power to break but never did.’ That’s how I feel.
—HK
Santa Barbara Tough Enough 
Hart,
Having been a part of the Inside Track team for this run over the past 10 years, your route planning and sage advice were both helpful and entertaining. I get it…time marches on, like it or not. The last few years have brought significant changes to what was a relatively popular event each spring, and the challenges of keeping RUTE going are felt by our group as well. My collection of “rewards” for finishing- the shirts, hats, scarf, blanket, etc.- are fond reminders of those adventurous days on the Tough Enough course. My favorite? TE19 beanie cap- I still wear it most cold mornings. Least favorite? Those blue jeans with the TE logo on the back pocket.
I wish you well in your future endeavors!
Take care,
Joe Buccino
The blankets were a big favorite for many. But I too wear the beanie all the time. I use the scarf/muffler, too. Re the jeans, Kim was ready to kill me, but what other race with a then-$42 entry fee had fitted organic cotton jeans as gear? (A: None.) — Hart