Doing The Hard Things – October 2025
What’s inside: An update from Todd: The ImpossibleMaking Marji Gesick HistoryMatt Acker Continues to Ride Because He CanThe Power of Grit and DeterminationNew on MADE U.P.Marji Supports 906AT Youth ProgrammingRegistration Dates for 2026 eventsSecret Event Q & AEvents with 906AT Sixteen days ago, we witnessed what some said was impossible. For the first time ever, a woman claimed a Marji Gesick buckle, but she wasn’t alone. Three women took a buckle home. It begs the question. How? Here’s how they did it: 1. Each of them believed it could be done, despite the best effort of those who said it could not. 2. Each woman was willing to dedicate the time, effort, and commitment necessary.3. They worked together. We can all learn from this. Let me be clear, women who went for the buckle in the past believed they would (or could) get it. And they worked their asses off, too. The thing that set these women apart this year is that they set out to do it together, and it wasn’t so much about doing it themselves, but doing it together. The goal was simple: one of us needs to buckle. What they wanted to accomplish for women was more important than what they wanted for themselves. They worked together. In a world that promotes individualism, and rewards social media influencers who promote divisiveness; three women reminded us what can be done when we work together… The impossible. How can we apply this approach to our lives? What are you telling yourself is impossible? What is someone telling you cannot be done? Who could you work with, not against, to create more opportunity for both? Think about it. What can we accomplish together? It’s a great time of year for a little reflection. To Syd, Kristy, Kaitlyn, and Julie. Thank you for this timely reminder. “I don’t know if I’ll have a moment like that again.” “I hope that people can see how many limits are self-imposed or based on what has or hasn’t been done in the past. There was a big mental block because there was this energy that it (a woman earning a buckle) wasn’t possible.” Just days after Marji Gesick 2025, Syd Schulz of Los Alamos, New Mexico reflects on the experience and what got her to the finish line, a buckle and standing next to Katie Boyle and Kristy McBride – as the first three women to buckle the MG100 in event history. “The Marji was a career highlight as a race. I don’t know if I’ll have a moment like that again – even if I have better performances. Being one of the first, the energy of the crowd, AND having a good day on the bike,” she admits it was a lot of training and a fair bit of luck. Syd’s Marji story began in 2024 – riding the MG100 for the first time. She said she knew so little about the event that she was a bit hesitant, not knowing what she was getting into. She finished in just under 13 hours. It was then she realized, buckling – finishing in under 12 hours was doable. The coveted buckle had become, in 2024, a point of contention for many Marji racers. There was a push for Todd Poquette, the event organizer, to give women more time. A woman hadn’t buckled since the race began in 2015 and a growing number of participants felt it simply wasn’t possible. Todd held firm. And Syd felt the pressure. “It felt more like us against the course, than against each other.” Syd knew if she signed up again, it’d be all about the buckle. She didn’t register at first for 2025. She says it took a while to decide if she wanted to make that a goal. “Reading the comments from people last year (2024) on changing the time, I thought this needs to happen soon. I wasn’t at all sure that it could be me, but I thought I could help.” Eventually, she committed. She decided to dedicate a year to training – all while knowing finishing below that 12 hour mark would be close. And she committed, knowing she wasn’t alone. She stresses it was a team effort comprised of herself, Katie, Kristy and Julie Momber. “It became more of a personal quest than a race. It felt more like us against the course than against each other. Marji isn’t a raw fitness race – it’s technical skills, course knowledge, execution – it took all of us working together to figure out how that could happen.” And they did it. Coordinating and discussing everything from tire choice and support to aid spots and crews. Syd says it felt incredible on the trail. The women took turns leading; they felt energized by the crowd and other riders – it was all coming together. She says it took all four of them – buckling wouldn’t have happened without everyone working together. Julie had a bad crash around mile 95 – and was unable to finish – but was an integral part of the historic finish. Syd says she’s never felt anything like that finish. The energy was unparalleled. A great punctuation on the end of a season. A moment that was a long time coming for the race and for the women who showed an entire community what’s possible – glass ceilings are meant to be shattered. By Elizabeth Peterson “There’s just something about when you have a streak going.” Matt Acker is no stranger to Marji Gesick – he’s participated in the MG100 every year since it began. He’s also buckled every year. And to top it all off he earned the MG1,000 buckle this year. He says it’s a cool achievement, but the buckles aren’t what keep him coming back. For him, it’s not about what place he lands – it’s about the ride, the time on the trail, the time spent with friends and the community around Marji. In fact, when asked about a favorite moment over the past ten years –