Nev Schulman Instagram – As a kid I loved watching GUTS. I always dreamed about being a contestant. My favorite part was the physical challenges, and I knew if given the chance I would absolutely crush it. Sadly I never got the chance to be on the show, but 8 years ago I decided it was time to give myself a real life physical challenge: running a sub 3 hour marathon. It took me 3 tries but I did it, and I’ve had the physical challenge bug since. This year I upped the ante, and decided to really push myself. A 300 mile team relay through the Atacama Desert from sea level to 11,000ft. We ran in shifts without stopping for 43 hours, each logging 50 hot/cold/dry/sweaty/salty/exhausted miles. It was without a doubt the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, and also the most rewarding. I pushed myself past any previous expectations of mental or physical strength and discovered a toughness and determination I didn’t know I had. Being part of a team, seeing their efforts, and having to show up for them was also inspiring in so many ways. As I await my upcoming 40th birthday, I’m more confident than ever that this is just the beginning, and can’t wait to say yes to many more adventures and challenges. Huge thanks to @robertomandje for inviting me to be on the team, and to @uarunning for making it happen. Shout out to @christianbrecheis & @dankingphoto_ for the amazing pics.