The moment you step into an adventure, there is a string of events that will inevitably take place. With them can come moments of challenge, exhaustion, and sometimes despair. But if you look hard enough, below the surface lie the hidden gems that make the struggle all worthwhile. Those little moments that say: ‘Hey outside!... Continue Reading →
Of Injury and Inquiry: The Value of Untraining
Earlier this week I came across an entry by a fellow blogger that has stuck with me ever since. It is the truthful yet beautiful description of completing a task while recalling the steps it took to get there. While I advocate the read, in a nutshell, one simple exercise of retrieving a notebook turned... Continue Reading →
Of Mileage and Mindset: The Squamish 50 and a Search for Failure
The seconds continue to tick by, each one bringing me closer to a decision I wish I didn’t have to make at all. At 10:00 am EST tomorrow morning, registration for the Squamish 50 ultramarathon will open. As one of the most sought-after races in Canada with increasing popularity throughout the Pacific Northwest, spots will... Continue Reading →
Of Race Bibs and Beacons: A Conclusion to Cloudsplitter
The half-eaten package of citrus Clif Bloks in the bottom of my purse; the muddy trail runners sitting forlorn in the doorway; the trekking poles left collapsed in the hatch of my car... It has been over two weeks, and yet I continue to stumble across objects from my pre-Cloudsplitter days with a sigh of... Continue Reading →
Race Review: Cloudsplitter100
Time and Place In 2017, the Cloudsplitter100 was held early October in the Jefferson National Forest with a start and finish in Norton, Virginia. In previous years, however, the race took place on the trails of Kentucky’s Pine Mountain (more on that later). Race Distances Moderate to Ultramarathon: 25 km; 50 km; 100 km; 100... Continue Reading →
Of Training and Triumph: A Countdown to Cloudsplitter
When registering for my first ultramarathon this past winter, there was no way of predicting the season that lay before me. I had imagined how the training would affect my body, but had no concept of how it would impact my mind or perspective; had no idea how it would shape my relationships; and no... Continue Reading →
Race Review: Sulphur Springs Trail Race
Time and Place Sulphur Springs is organized by the Burlington Runners Club and is held late May in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area, Ancaster, Ontario. Distances Moderate to Ultramarathon: 10 km; 25 km; 50 km; 50 miles; 100 km; 100 miles; 100 mile relay Note: 2017 had a 200-mile option but was added specifically to commemorate its 25th anniversary. To my knowledge,... Continue Reading →
In Training: Woes of a Commitaphobe
When signing up for October’s ultramarathon, I quickly realized I had no idea how to train for such a thing. To attempt setting the stage for success, I signed myself up for a number of smaller races and challenges to help get me there. As part of this mini-goal series, this past weekend I participated... Continue Reading →
In Training: The Great Range Traverse
8:16pm: From the summit of Lower Wolf Jaw, I watched the glowing red sphere of evening sun sink behind the far away High Peaks of the Adirondacks. Since the sun had started its descent, my spirits had followed. To be out by dusk, I had timed our hike around a 17-hour finish, but it was... Continue Reading →