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Anita Ortiz: The Humble Champion
Anita Ortiz ran her first 100 mile trail race at the 2009 Western States Endurance Run. She won. By more than an hour. At 50 years old, she ran her way back into the 2015 WSER through an extremely...
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2015 Zion 100: Ultra Running 101
This was my fourth running of the Zion 100, and the fourth iteration of the course. I really enjoy this race, but that's not why I keep coming back. I return every year because I've never run this race...
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Spruce Woods 100: What Happened in Manitoba?
"Eventually, competition and adventure wane, and I enter my ibuprofen phase. Tweaky hamstrings and achy knees restrict mileage, but I continue running for health, sanity, and the ritual of a Sunday...
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Grand Canyon 50k: Injury? What Injury?
The week leading up to this race, I wasn't sure if I was heading to the Grand Canyon to run a 50k, or if I would be making the drive to work the race as a volunteer. The previous weekend, I was forced...
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Bryce Canyon 50k: Classic Ultra Tourism
If you're a trail runner AND you live anywhere in Utah...congratulations! You're living a charmed existence! The epic trails, diverse landscapes and the general trail running community is what...
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2015 Western States 100: My Back of the Pack Experience
In all the years that I lost myself in dramatic fantasies about finally running the Western States Endurance Run, I never fathomed it would turn out the way it did. I imagined flying down the trail...
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2015 Vermont 100: Because it's Part of the Slam
I ran the Vermont 100 back in 2012, where I finished, grabbed my buckle, and promptly proclaimed that I would never run THAT stupid race again. EVER.Then, along came the Grand Slam. I agonized over my...
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2015 Wasatch Front 100: Going Down Fighting
Looking back on my Grand Slam effort over the summer, I've tried to find some depth to the experience that would incite strong emotions now that it's over. Especially because I failed to complete it....
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2015 Cajun Coyote 100: Louisiana Swamp Stompin'
It's been about 6 weeks since I've done this blog thing, so let's see how it goes.2015 has been a tumultuous running season. I've ranted a bit about how awful things have been, and that's not really...
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2016 Behind the Rocks 30k: Yes…I ran a 30k
Sometimes the best thing for my recovery after a high intensity 100 mile race, is a nice long run in variable terrain. And then again, sometimes it's just a really stupid idea. This story is about one...
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2016 Zion 100: Mesas, Mud and Merriment
For me, running the Zion 100 has evolved into a tradition, rather than a competitive endeavor. As a brand new, inexperienced ultra runner, I lined up for the inaugural Zion 100 and it taught me a lot...
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2016 Hardrock 100: Savage Beauty in the San Juans
I don't yet know how I feel about Hardrock. But I know I still hurt. A lot. And that's something.If you're reading this report, you probably already know a thing or two about this race, its history,...
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2017 Brazil 135: And Then Some
Forty miles into the Brazil 135, I was sitting on the side of the trail, in the dark, vomiting water and banana into a messy pile between my feet. The race had barely started and I was already tapping...
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2017 Hideaway 50k: Making My Way Back
I've been really struggling with my running since finishing Hardrock last year. The struggle is both physical and mental, but the mental aspect has prevented me from caring enough to do anything about...
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Brazil 135+: Vomit early and often
It's difficult to write about an adventure of this magnitude, while really being able to properly convey how incredible it is. While I had a terrible race myself, it still stands as one of the most...
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2014 Zion 100: Bouncing Back From the Dead
"Curiosity is gluttony. To see is to devour."- Victor HugoGluttony. A term that is largely tied to habitual overeating, but that's largely because we're a nation of habitual over eaters. Gluttony can...
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Grand Canyon 100....Uhhhh....50k
2014 seems to be a year of incredible highs and devastating lows for me. That reality is particularly painful when I'm anticipating a high that turns into a soul crushing low. That's pretty much my...
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2014 Comrades Marathon: On the Road to Durban
"Comrades is a great 5k. The problem is the two marathons you have to run to get to the starting line" - UnknownI don't know the origin of that quote, but I can wholeheartedly agree. For those that are...
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2014 Leadville Silver Rush 50: Regaining Perspective
"You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing for you."- Walt DisneyThe mental evolution of my running career is something that I completely overlooked until I...
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2014 Jupiter Peak Steeplechase: How to Make a Long Day Out of a Short Run
Stee-ple-chase noun: a race in which people riding horses jump over fences, water, etc.: a race in which runners jump over fences or water.I just want to be very clear about this...the Jupiter Peak...
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Wasatch Front 100: An Abundance of Vert and Hurt
Getting into the Wasatch Front 100 lottery is typically followed by two conflicting, and immediate, responses:1. "WooHoo!!! I got in!!!"Then, only moments later...2. "Oh no!! I got in!"Please allow me...
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2014 Bear 100: The Anatomy of a DNF
Less than four years ago, my greatest athletic aspiration was to finish my first marathon. This was well before I knew anything of substance about trail running and I knew even less about ultra...
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2014 Moab Trail Marathon: Third Time's a Charm
This is my third year running the Moab Trail Marathon, and after each of those years, I vowed to never return. This vow didn't originate from some deep hatred for the race or dissatisfaction with the...
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The World Needs More Traci Falbo
Like a lot of us, Traci Falbo used running as a tool to lose, and later, manage weight. After losing 80 pounds, she set her sights on running her first marathon. Since that time, Traci has gone on to...
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Brazos Bend 100: Running With The Gators
I had the ambitious plan to travel to Louisiana and run the Cajun Coyote 100, then Jo and I would meander our way to Houston Texas and run the Brazos Bend 100 on the following weekend. Seems simple...
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