Go Carpe Diem Now

Live Your Dream

"Your greatest regrets in life will be the things you didn’t do, not what you did do."
- Mark Twain

This website and its affiliated “Carpe Diem: Live Your Dream” podcast, have the goal of inspiring you to bust out of your daily routine and add some spice to your life by pursuing an ambitious dream adventure. Read on to recognize your own potential to rise, strive, and achieve your dream.

Adventure Stories

An ever-growing library of stories by people who have pursued and achieved a cool outdoor adventure.

Inspiration

Everyone needs some inspiration and tips and tricks for motivation now and again. Find yours here.

Podcast

See a summary of all the "Carpe Diem: Live Your Dream" podcast episodes, and the links to listen.

Resources

Need ideas for an adventure, or guidance for how to achieve yours? Here's a curated list of resources to help.

Will topping out on his ice climb up Niagara Falls

Other Adventures

Ice Climbing Niagara Falls

Here's a serial adventurer who specializes in ice climbing, including the first ice climbing ascent of Niagara Falls. And he keeps doing other unique endeavors. Ever hear of vol-biv?...

Placing my last sticker for completing the minimum 220 miles

Running / Hiking

The Pilgrimage 220 Mile Ultra-Marathon

This post is about my recent 220 mile ultra-marathon called The Pilgrimage. To hear more about the race from my perspective, from the race director, and from several of the participants...

Johan and Hanna at the Otillo world championship finish line

Other Adventures

Life as Otillo World Champions

Achieving world champion status at anything can be challenging enough. But then to achieve it as a husband / wife team, all while balancing the demands of jobs, life, and 4 young children...

Other Adventures

The Grandmaster of Snow Art

A full day of fresh winter mountain air, beautiful scenery, 50,000 steps, and an amazing work of art left behind in the snow. That's what Simon Beck has done nearly 700 times, making...

Paddling

Camp Menogyn Teens in the Arctic

We see kids growing up glued to their screens, stressed by the influences of social media, and unfamiliar with the joys that exercise and time in nature can provide. Well, problem solved....

Other Adventures

Solo and Unsupported to the South Pole

Here's an uber-adventurer, Andrea "Andy" Dorantes who just returned from a solo, unsupported 700 mile and 55 day ski expedition to the South Pole. You can hear all about Andy's adventure,...

A clock with wings (image of time flying)

Why Time Flies

Why does time seem to speed up...

A cold, foggy, and windy day atop Mt. Fuji

Type 2 Adventures

Do you know what a Type 2 adventure...

Mindfulness and the Sundial

There's nothing like a big physical...

Podcast

Filming Inside Monster Waves

A surfer approaching you at 30 mph while a 3-story wall of water comes down from above… how do you hold the camera steady to get that shot of a life time. Hear from Tim Bonython, the preeminent cinematographer in big wave surfing, on what it’s like to be out in the surf filming at places like Nazare in Portugal, Jaws in Hawaii, and Teahupo’o in Tahiti. And be sure to check out his YouTube channel, Surfing Visions, to see the magic.

Listen on:

My 220 Mile Pilgrimage Race Results

Did I complete the minimum 220 miles in The Pilgrimage ultra-marathon? Or did I DNF? Tune in to hear the results of my first 200+ mile ultra, as well as words from other participants on the trail that explain why such an endeavor is worth it. If you haven’t yet listened to Episode #76, it covers my pre-race thoughts and an interview with the race director.

Listen on:

Your Host Doubles Down on His Hundo

I completed my first 100 mile ultra 9 months ago (listen to Episode #40 from August, 2025). Now I look to more than double it in my new longest race. The outcome of this episode is still unknown as your host soon embarks on a 220 mile running (and lots of walking) race — double his first 100 miler nearly a year ago. This episode describes the ultra marathon called The Pilgrimage and includes my pre-race thoughts and a discussion with the race director about this inaugural running of the most creative ultra format I have ever heard of. Tune into the next episode to hear my Pilgrimage results and insights from the trail with several of the other participants.

Listen on:

Otillo World Champion Couple

The Otillo swim/run race format is a unique one, better known in Europe than in the U.S. Here’s a married couple who won the World Championship describing how they train and race together at the highest level of competition, all while maintaining their “normal” lives with work and four young children. It’s quite the balancing act.

Listen on: