Welcome to the Dark Side of Trail Running!
I have to admit that, once upon a time, I felt apprehensive about steep, gnarly trail races. But I can still recall seeing an iconic photo of my friend Pete Kresock, cresting the hill as he reached The View at the 2021 Hyner Trail Challenge, and feeling a sense of awe as I perused the details of that image. To be able to climb something like
A Few of My Injuries and How I’ve Recovered From Them
February 4, 2023 marked the fifth anniversary of my pelvic fracture, and I originally thought that would be a great time to discuss a few of the injuries I’ve experienced as a runner, as well as how I recovered from them. However, being injured at the time (refer to rolled ankle description below), I felt I was giving too much energy to injuries in general,
The Hidden Cost of Our Running Gear
Introduction As trail runners, we view ourselves as stewards of the Earth, spending countless hours immersed in nature, running through desert, woodland, coastlines, and mountains. We are one with the natural world around us. Indeed, we comprise a critical fabric in the web of nature, though too often in the Global North (includes North America and Europe), we tend to forget that through our choices, we
Winterize Your Run!
It’s still dark and you hear the wind howling outside your window. As you crawl deeper under the covers, you suddenly regret not taking advantage of that Black Friday treadmill sale a few weeks ago. Or the Cyber Monday sale that followed. Even with your eyes closed, you know the snow is blowing sideways at that moment. The forecast for this morning calls for temperatures
If the Shoe Fits…
So many of us find bliss on the trails, and we spend many hours traveling on our own two feet. Our feet are the first point of contact between the ground and our state of euphoria, so naturally it becomes important to consider which shoes you select to carry you on your adventures. When we see other runners who we admire, we may be curious to
Shifting Seasons and Letting Go
I made the decision to wrap up my racing season after running 50 miles at Virgil Crest in early September. I felt complete having successfully mastered that course and having placed second in my GP. Even though I continued to get stronger, I had gradually started to feel a little worn from a season filled with “firsts,” so I made the decision to withdraw from
Social Media and My Running
After years of being a private runner, running solely for my own purpose, in 2020 I suddenly found myself in the position of Brand Ambassador. I applied to represent companies I believed in, not really believing that I would be selected. Well, selected I was, and my number of social media posts increased accordingly. The many posts I posted about all things running as Brand
My First DNF and What It Taught Me
It stung because I was now only 20 miles from the last aid station, and in my own mind, I was in the home stretch. “What do you mean I can’t continue?” was the first thing my mind offered in silent response to the aid station captain informing me that he could not allow me to continue past that point because I had timed out. All I
Too Much Gear
Running, at its foundation, is a minimalist activity. Yet through the choices we make, we are rewriting this narrative. And we are changing the story at the detriment to our environment. At its roots, running is an inexpensive and minimalistic activity. To run, you need your legs and feet…perhaps a pair of comfortable shoes to protect those feet, and for some of us, a sports bra. Yet
Brand Ambassadorships and Remembering Your WHY
Many runners are brand ambassadors these days. With cool perks such as product discounts, free gear, and potential visibility (read: social media fame), all in exchange for helping to advertise a product they already believe in, it’s not surprising to see so many athletes gravitate toward brand ambassadorships. Companies that may use brand ambassadors to help market their products include those selling nutrition, running gear, shoes,
