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...

 Part 1 - Introduction I never planned or anticipated running ultras for 3 consecutive weekends, 2 of which went 100 or more miles. I strongly don't recommend this, but I learned more about myself and the human spirit than I ever expected. I hope those of you that are reading this find something beneficial. I sincerely appreciate all the support and encouragement. I wouldn't have found the strength to persevere through these trials without your encouragement and kind words.  The plan started with the MAD Backyard Ultra on Jan. 21, 2023. My goal was to follow up on my win at Little Dog and attempt to earn a spot in the Ohio Backyard Ultra in March. This year doesn't have any automatic qualifiers into Big's Backyard Ultra, but getting in a Silver Ticket Race is prestigious and provides an outside shot of qualifying at-large for the World Championships in October. Next, I was thrilled to be accepted as a brand ambassador for Run Bum Races. I was fortunate enough to get int...

I apologize for falling behind on updates. Thank you to everyone who reads and supports me. I hope to be able to help you guys accomplish your goals running or otherwise!   ACT I: Cloudland Canyon 50: Not What I Expected Ch. 1 Leadup & Pre-Race In the month following Pinhoti, I’ve enjoyed running, using it as an outlet for stress, and not following a specific plan. I’m relying on my past training and familiarity with the course since I ran the race last year. I felt incredibly burnt out. I encountered anxiety and panic attacks to the point where I considered, dropping from 50 miles to 50k, and even not running at all. Stress built up from work, home buying, and everything else. I decided to focus on enjoying the race and be willing to set aside goals if necessary.   I eagerly looked forward to improving on my time from 2021. I did poorly with a finish of 9:50. I finished 6 th despite all the struggles I had that day I was only 10 minutes out of 2 nd . I hadn’t...