Although it broke my heart to leave the Dolomites after only 4 days, I wanted to show Fritz Chamonix, which so captured my heart five years earlier. My reward for recovering from my first FAI surgery was a 2-week trip to Chamonix to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc. It was my first solo trip…
Trail Running Mountains
2017 Euro-Adventure Stop 2 – Val Gardena, Italy
I had been staring at photos of the Val Gardena area for the past year, so to be there felt absolutely surreal. My first two trips to the Dolomites centered around exploring Cortina, Alta Badia, and Tre Cime de Laverado, but HOLY WOW, who knew the real jewel was Val Gardena?!? Day 1 Val Gardena…
Running Wyoming’s Cirque of the Towers
I’ve been lusting after this run for years and it only took the Great American Eclipse to get me out there. I had backpacked into Wyoming’s Wind River Range about 8 or 9 years ago and was absolutely devoured by mosquitoes. Albeit beautiful, that trip was one of the most miserable experiences of my life…
Speedgoat or Bust!
Can one rely on muscle memory for 32 miles? Uh, I guess we will see. I have psychological issues with racing and with well heat and with not being able to eat solid food and uh maybe life in general. It has been ELEVEN DAYS since I have had a sandwich, and make that ten days…
The Half Bear 100: Thoughts on My First Hundred Mile Attempt
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. ~W.H. Murray A certain someone in my life…
My Cortina Trail 2016 Race Report
As I made the final turn onto the cobblestone path that led to the Cortina Town Center, Juan from Espagna ran up from behind me, grabbed my hand and started sprinting at 400 meter pace dragging me screaming, laughing, and flailing all the way to the finish line. Thirty miles, 9,000 feet of climbing, about…
From Three Hip Scopes to Stoke!
When I first asked my hip surgeon if I would ever run again he said, “Yes!” to which I of course was thrilled to hear. And then he followed with a “but it’s not like you’ll ever be able to run the Wasatch 100.” Well turns out I won’t be able to run the Wasatch…
100 Photos Per Mile Pace
Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more. ~Mother Teresa Road runners measure their runs by per mile pace, trail runners by time typically in hours, and wanderers in epicness of sunrises, number of beers carried into the wilderness, and photos taken per outing. I’m a trail runner…
The Rut 50K-Razy Race Report
“And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet, and learn to be at home. ” — Wendell Berry About six…
The Rut: From Zero to 50K in 5 Weeks?!?
“If you build the guts to do something, anything, then you better save enough to face the consequences.” ~Criss Jami “You made it into the Rut 50K! Immediate Reply Needed,” screamed a new email in my inbox. “Yeah right, very funny!” was my immediate thought as I pondered my pathetic, broken, out-of-shape self. Fast forward…