Finished the first 5K of Jack and Eugene’s World Tour, a virtual race series on the ZRX app. The app has been around since 2012; kickstarted as a fun way to instill motivation for running in a zombie apocalypse. It has morphed into a world-renowned fitness app that encompasses not only zombies, but Marvel superheroes and other stories to help motivate anyone into a fitness lifestyle. They incorporate virtual races twice a year with leaderboards to encapsulate a sense of community. Jack and Eugene’s World Tour came out in 2021 in three parts, first one in their series of virtual races. I finally signed up this year to experience their story.

The first third of their journey reminisces about the first time they met, with Jack gathering the energy to embrace his inner Schwarzenegger with the line to Euguene, “Come with me if you want to live”. I remember hearing that story back in Season 1’s Radio Mode in 2012; and laughing hysterically at its absurdity. Especially given the character’s jokingly funny way of reminiscing about it.

Listening to their first part of the journey reminded me of my first date with Michael in NYC. We went to see Finding Neverland, a wonderful play about the creation of the story of Peter Pan. It was a fortuitously great play for our first date; to recapture that childhood whimsy together. While both of us had radically different traumatic events in childhood with different affects, we were both coping with it in similar ways. Our coping mechanisms are what brought us together. While the details are a bit embarrassing, the feeling of rebuilding a childlike wonder and rediscovering joy is something that will always remain as we continue to build a life together.

I knew in my mind that he was the perfect person for me, though I didn’t know the full picture after the first date, of course. We complement each other with our strengths and help each other overcome our weaknesses. Just like Jack and Eugene.

There was a moment during one of the missions where Eugene was in a state of fearful panic and sadness at an apocalyptic event. Jack helped ground Eugene, telling him to breathe and spoke with uplifting fervor to bring down his anxious feelings. We all need someone that will helps us push through tough moments. As meditation has taught me, moments will always pass as long as we let go. It sometimes feels like we have to hold on to any thought or feeling, as though they would be lost forever. But our mind has a wonderful ability to recall memories and thoughts, especially if we practice building those neural pathways. If we trust that we can recall a good memory, we can let go and bring back to the present moment in order to build new memories.

I am intrigued how Jack and Eugene’s World Tour will continue as the journey to Michael and our small wedding ceremony comes closer.