Imagine someone who: chooses to run 27+ hours without sleep; wears short shorts on a trail full of nettles or cacti; gleefully consumes pickle juice followed by salted watermelon; and shamelessly applies anti-chafe cream to delicate regions in broad daylight. That person’s life choices seem questionable at best, and hardly useful during a pandemic. However,…
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Javelina Jundred 100 Mile Race Report – 2019
The sun was beating down, and I dodged a spikey cholla cactus ball hiding in the rocks. I still had 70 miles to go and thought, what am I DOING out here?? I had nostalgically told the story of my first Javelina finish to anyone who would listen. The beauty and vibe of the race…
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10 to 100 Miles: What Does it Take?
You’re at mile 71 of 100. It’s the middle of the night, your feet feel like throbbing lumps of wood, and you’re gamely trying to stay awake because you’ve still got more than a marathon to go until you can finally stop moving. You’ve got a mouthful of something from an aid station, and swallowing…
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Four Responses to “When’s Your Next Race?”
You’ve just finished regaling your family and friends with the story of your ultramarathon, complete with glorious mountain views, gastrointestinal pyrotechnics, battles with the local flora and fauna, aid station food bliss, and your tears and high fives at the finish line. You’ve relived every moment and are basking in the glory of finishing a…
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Highland Fling Race Report 2019 (53 miles)
Standing at an aid station, completely drenched and cold, and with many miles still ahead of us on the trail, I apologized to Adam. “I’m really sorry. This… kinda sucks right now.” He laughed, “For what? The rain isn’t your fault.” Three years ago we ran the Highland Fling for the first time, and I…
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Badger Mountain Challenge 50K Race Report
This was my first ultra in nearly a year following an injury. Ultras are about exploring the nooks and crannies of your physical and mental self, and I had seriously missed it. So one could say that I was excited to be back out there and decidedly nervous because finishing an ultramarathon is never a…
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Ode to the Ultra(marathon) Spouse
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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Javelina Jundred 100 Miler Race Report
I finished my first 100 miler!!! I can’t believe it. It feels incredibly surreal. After my disappointing DNF a month ago at Mountain Lakes 100, I decided to get right back on the horse and try again. My coach recommended the Javelina Jundred (not a snowflake in sight!), and it turned out to be the perfect…