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Adventures in Breaking Impossible

We're all about ordinary people overcoming big, difficult challenges!

Join Chris and Michael as we train, travel and, step by step, build up to The Big One(s)

Previously we walked around Lake Washington (in 24 hours), ran marathons (and ultra-marathons), flipped a tire for a mile (twice), all to prepare for our biggest, most difficult challenge yet . . .

the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge

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Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge

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Heroic running advice, without questions

Chris Toepker

Jun 1
5 min

Heroic running advice, without questions

Defeat is a crucial ingredient to heroics, see how we put it to work here at Breaking Impossible - with hope, and imagination.

67 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Nov 12, 2022
8 min

Breaking Impossible: Method Me Up!

“You’re on the same road, I’m just a little further ahead” my kung fu brother Ben Hunter once said. He was referring to how he’d met Lam,...

100 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Jul 8, 2022
1 min

Servant Leadership in the Wild

If you're like me, you often hear about servant leadership. What might it really look like? I was lucky enough to spot an excellent...

30 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Nov 14, 2021
4 min

No Limits, Just Steps

Breaking Impossible is all about setting big goals and challenging yourself, then achieving them step by step. These are powerful tools, and

176 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Jul 5, 2021
3 min

Got grit?

What is grit? How do you use it? How can it be practiced? Let's see, using kung fu and running as exmples!

95 views0 comments

Michael Van Elsberg

May 31, 2021
2 min

Social Media Experiment

If you're reading this, you probably know me, or Chris, (or both), or maybe not (please let me know) and you've probably also read a post...

84 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Feb 9, 2021
2 min

Still here, still going

Team, It's been a long while since Michael & I provided updates. Please accept our apologies! And thanks to the many of you that reached...

23 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Aug 13, 2020
5 min

Let's have adventures!

What makes a good adventure? Good weather? Good friends? Something more? Let's find out!

129 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

May 12, 2020
3 min

Its Quiet. Too Quiet!

The past few weeks have been quiet ones, like with many of you I’m sure. While I had been taking advantage of the exceptions for outdoor...

38 views0 comments

Michael Van Elsberg

May 11, 2020
5 min

Breaking Obstacles

I have practiced martial arts since I was nine-years old starting at one of Ed Parker’s (Tracy’s) Kenpo schools before the Bruce Lee...

409 views0 comments

Michael Van Elsberg

Apr 4, 2020
3 min

The MacLehose Trail Part Two

The MacLehose trail is the longest trail in Hong Kong and it covers most of the highest peaks from one side of the New Territories to the...

170 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Apr 2, 2020
8 min

Real Challenges Require Standards

Without standards, without the chance to clearly fail, it is too easy to spin into self-doubt and time wasting.

46 views0 comments

Michael Van Elsberg

Mar 28, 2020
3 min

Lantau Island

At the beginning of my second trip to Hong Kong in February I stayed in Tung Chung for several days and got my first taste of the Lantau...

227 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Mar 22, 2020
3 min

Microadventuring

I have been out microadventuering - getting a bit of challenge, difference & outing into everyday life. Here's a summary of 8-week attempt.

46 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Mar 1, 2020
4 min

Tech Sabbatical: Keeping it Real

What is wrong with tech? Should we abolish it in order to recover? We should use it as the tool it is, being neither hamstrung nor reliant.

48 views0 comments

Michael Van Elsberg

Jan 9, 2020
3 min

The MacLehose Trail

I'm going back to Hong Kong in about a week to face the MacLehose trail for my third time. It's a daunting prospect. The Mac is the...

151 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Dec 30, 2019
3 min

2020: Must We Resolve? (We Must)

Set a goal, it'll niggle just enough to move you along. Small wins add up. Soon, those goals are astonishing!

20 views0 comments

Chris Toepker

Dec 15, 2019
4 min

Incrementally Yours

Get where you're going incrementally. Seemingly small accomplishments add up. Get started, keep going, don't stop. Step by step.

85 views0 comments

Michael Van Elsberg

Dec 12, 2019
3 min

Hong Kong

I fell in love with Hong Kong when I made my first trip there in November to train for the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (and get...

378 views0 comments

Michael Van Elsberg

Oct 11, 2019
2 min

Secret Beach Lessons

So, Chris and I agreed that the Secret Beach run at Gold Beach, Oregon, would be a "training run" and a "nice day on the beach" if...

77 views0 comments

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