I often run off to play in the mountains with an amazing group of women. They’re all accomplished, funny, supportive, badass ladies who enjoy running through sand, mud, and snow to reach scenic vistas that inspire and invigorate our souls. These excursions can be as short as an hour, or as long as a few…
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5 Strategies to Keep Wanderlust (and Instagram) from Ruining Your Life
Read moreDo you ever have that moment when you compare your own seemingly mundane existence to the perfect photos on Instagram, and ask yourself what the hell you’re doing with your life? Me too. It’s hard to remember those photos are often staged and edited, and not a true representation of what actually happened. How can we…
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The Challenge for an Injured Runner: Patience or Persistence?
Read moreRunning injuries are interesting (in an abstract sort of way) in how they so easily can throw off an athlete. I don’t think I’m alone in this, but when I’m dealing with an injury, I feel off-balance. Like a table missing a leg. As a strong, determined woman of action, my response is to fix…
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Harry’s Ridge Trail: Solitude and Wildflowers at Mount St. Helens
Read moreI recently had an extra day off during the week and decided to put it to good use with a mini solo adventure to a new (to me) place. As I’m still recovering from a mysterious yet persistent knee injury, I couldn’t do massive miles out on the trails….so I chose to visit Mount St.…
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The Emotions of Injury: My Internal Dialogue
Read moreI think every runner knows the feeling. You’re running merrily along and all of a sudden you feel a zing of pain. It might be in your knee, ankle, shin, hip, whatever. You think, at first, huh, that’s weird. I’m sure that was an anomaly. Must have stepped wrong. Then you continue on and the pain…
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Nothing Dignified About Running 100 Miles: My Story on the Boldly Went Podcast!
Read moreBack in January, I attended a Boldly Went live storytelling event here in Seattle. These fun shows are for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes of all kinds. You can just listen or be prepared to share your own story. It’s a great way to hear other people’s adventures – whether they are life-changing events or entertaining…
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Taking the Leap: From Half Marathons to Ultramarathons
Read moreI’ve often been asked, why (and how) did I make the leap from half marathons to ultramarathons? After I respond, the person’s follow up comment usually is, “I could never do that.” Guess what? You totally can! I’m an average runner (with occasional delusions of grandeur), so if I can do it, you can too. If…
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2017 in Review – 2018 in Preview
Read moreWhat. A. Year. Let’s do the numbers. <cue Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal music> 1,910 miles run (a new PR!) One 100 miler completed (Javelina Jundred race report) One 100 miler DNF’d (Mountain Lakes 100 report) One 100K completed (Sun Mountain race report) Two self-supported runs completed (UPWC 36 mile Owyhigh Lakes Loop, Image Lake to Miner’s…
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A Lovely Little Run at Deception Pass State Park
Read moreIt’s been a few weeks since my last post, and like many people, I’ve been swept up in all of the insanity extra things that the holiday season brings. More fun social events, more obligations, more excuses to eat cookies, less daylight, and the slightly dazed feeling that you’re on a sparkly, carol-blasting, cookie-driven ride…
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Reflections and What’s Next?
Read moreTypically, my blog posts have been race/trip reports with lots of pictures, and a smattering of posts are about tasting whisky. Today I’m mixing it up with a more personal narrative. It’s been just about a month (!) since my Javelina Jundred, and I’ve had some time to reflect on my experience. I wanted to…
