Most Interesting People 2010 - Katie Spotz
Endurance athlete | 22
Why she’s interesting … She’s already run across the Mojave Desert, swum the length of the Allegheny River and biked across the U.S. And right now, she’s in the ocean, seeking to become the youngest person to row solo across the Atlantic. Her goal? To raise $40,000 for Blue Planet Run, a nonprofit working for safe drinking water for the 1 billion people in need.
Why? … “It’s the mental challenge that brings me back,” she says.
Her motto … “Fears are a heavy burden that I am too lazy to carry around.”
Her fuel … She estimates she’ll need to consume 5,000 calories a day and will still lose 30 pounds during the trip. She packed three-meals-a-day worth of dehydrated foods as well as 500 energy bars (she likes Bumble Bars) and a sprouting kit so that she’ll have some alfalfa and bean sprouts to liven up her freeze-dried meals.
To fight boredom … 100 audio books
Katie vs. Katie … “Before I did my first marathon, I was limited by what I thought I could do. I gave my thoughts too much credit. This challenge is really me against my thoughts.”
On training: “My time is limited. Training is the lowest priority. If I don’t know how to use the satellite link phone, that’s a problem. Endurance comes naturally to me.”
Daily reward … “I think sunsets will be pretty special.”
