Running Thoughts

BFC last year was very disappointing. I tore my ATFL ligament in my right ankle at mile 4. It’s been a year long road of recovery and finally felt close to 100% going into this event. Leading up to the race I was nervous. I mentally prepared as much as possible, knowing this race is designed to test you mentally as much as physically. I felt calm but uneasy, but that could have also been the 3:30 alarm and being half asleep affecting me.    I got into the corral with about 7 minutes to go and saw some familiar faces. It was nice to catch up, but before you know it, Laz lit a cigarette, and everyone took off! It’s a short 1/4 mile until we hit the Chimney Top trailhead. I take off at a steady pace, but some people are going all out to get in an ideal position. I don’t think it’s a big deal based on the course (I’ll explain later).    It was an uneventful 2 hours to rat jaw along the chimney top trail and the water tower. I’m settling in as anxiety creeps up wi...

 “Not Your Typical Ultra.” perfectly captures the Midwest States 100. This is a 100-mile race with approximately 5500 ft, located in Nicolet National Forest in North Central Wisconsin. I looked at the stats and the map and thought “I’ve done much harder!” I severely underestimated the difficulty of the course, with participants estimating the course to be approximately 103-105 miles and 11,000 ft of elevation. Everyone runs the same course and expects this race to be much tougher than advertised.   This course is filled primarily with single-track trails along the Ice Age Trails that follow along the glacial line with the low valley going through some marsh and swamp land. It was a mix of single-track trails that I fell in love with in Wisconsin, along with a Tennessee feel going up, down, and around the ridges and Kanes, with some swamps and marshes I grew up as a kid deer hunting, and my experiences of the Florida Trail. The area is filled with such beauty and reminds me...

It’s been a long time since I’ve taken the time to reflect and talk about running. Not just race reports, but the life journey observed and ran through running. The last time I reflected was High Lonesome 100 in July of 2023. This course captured my heart, deep in the Wasatch mountains in Colorado. I was surrounded by great people who became better friends, as they adjusted their summer schedule to support my dreams halfway across the country.   Since then, there have been a lot of trials and tribulations. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I was fortunate early in my running journey not to have serious or lingering injuries. In August 2023, I injured myself during a tune-up race that still has lingering effects. It has been a long journey with highs and lows trying to get my issues properly diagnosed and come up with a treatment plan to fix and address issues while getting to experience unique opportunities.   Originally diagnosed as a sprained...