Jalynn Reeter English 101 Interview Essay November 8, 2016 The Project that Never Ends
Imagine being on a mountain with only a few other people on top of it, exhaustion setting in from all of the climbing and the sight appearing unbelievably surreal. This is what Jeffrey Binney experienced as he attempted the most strenuous feat he had ever imagined. He has overcome a loss, yet he is still able to work towards becoming the next successful comedian. Binney is an inspirational man who follows his dreams, runs ultra marathons, and over time, he still knows what is important. Throughout Binney’s life, he has been an inspiration to many people that he met during his journey. After losing his mother to obesity, he made a big change in his life. Binney lives by the saying “you never know what will happen in life, so live it to the fullest.” He believes that to the fullest extent; because after seeing his mother pass before her time gave him the inspiration he needed to accomplish his dreams. Binney explains his life motto: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” He believes the world is for whoever wants it, so someone needs to take it while the chance is still there. Students asked about his life motto and he said, “It’s all about just doing it now.” His inspiring quotes are why many people follow him along his journey. Binney has been an inspiration through his life with lessons of open mindedness because he is still following his dreams. He started out wanting to pursue theater, but after his mother passed he realized that was not for him. He did not want to follow what another writer had written for him; he wanted the freedom of writing and saying his own thoughts. With that in mind, he stated, “Don’t be married to what you think you want right now, don’t be hooked on that.” For Binney, he thought he knew what he wanted to do, but plans ended up changing for him after few years. As well as those statements, he gave some wise words directed for high school seniors: “In ten years you might want pursue something different, and that’s okay. Go get it.” Binney’s projects are never ending, so he believes that no person should limit his or her dreams either. A dream that Binney worked to achieve was one of the toughest ultramarathons in the United States: the Leadville 100. The Leadville 100 is a timed 100 mile trail through some of the most rugged terrain in Colorado. Binney decided to run this race to get in better shape after his mother passed. If the race is finished within the time limits, the runner wins either a silver or gold belt buckle. Binney explains how tough an athlete has to be to do this race, “Everything hurts, your body is literally falling apart… and you get a belt buckle.. You need to have solid reasons for doing this.” This race is not only about the physical challenges but also about the mental. Time being mentioned being a factor before, Binney adds that “If you are behind at mile 43, they aren’t gonna wait three days for you to cross the finish line.” Most people wouldn’t even think about doing this race, but Binney did think about it. Even though he didn’t finish, he attempted the race and is satisfied with what he accomplished. After all his accomplishments, Binney still knows what is important. After losing his mother, he realized a few details about himself that he had not noticed before. He relays, “I think self-awareness is important.” His mother died from being overweight. Binney knew his life would go in the same direction if he didn’t make some life changes. He was aware of that, and it helped him substantially. While being a comedian, he needed to find the funny times in his life throughout all the heartbreak. According to Binney, “The most important thing is to have experiences and opinions about things, and then find the funny things.” Throughout it all Binney knows what is important to him. Most can only imagine being on a mountain, crowded from other climbers, and fatigue setting in from all of the climbing. The view looking out being so dreamlike, but that image is a real encounter from Jeffrey Binney’s life. Binney is a man full of inspiration and follows his ambitions. He has embarked in 100 mile marathon; however, he still knows that self-awareness and his experiences are important.
Works Cited Rice, Mary Grace et al. “Jeff Binney Interview.” 25 Oct. 2016.