A whole lotta PHUNT50k

Super PHUNT day with friends in the woods! It was cold and windy but 30° warmer than last year and my hydration pack did not leak and freeze on my back. I enjoyed the trails, the conversations, the PHREAKIN’ amazing volunteers and their themed aide stations, apple cider rice krispie treats, dark chocolate dipped clementine slices with sea salt, perogies, and vegan lentil soup. Not much feels better than a PHANTASTIC redemption run 🤘🏼

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Bull Run Run 50-miler

Official Time: 12:31:31 ( a 50-miler PR) I did it. I’m not sure how, but I crossed the finish line yesterday of the Bull Run Run 50-miler. It had been an intimidating race from the moment I shared with others who had run it in the past. I heard all sorts of stories - the infamous Do Loop, the rolling hills, the unpredictable weather, the tough cutoff, the rocky sections that might trip you up later on. I also heard about how it was one of the most beautiful races with the BEST volunteers. I chose to keep the latter in my mind! Although the “BRR” makes me think of cold weather, and years past it has snowed and stormed and apparently gone through all 4 seasons in a day one year, yesterday’s weather was not what anybody was prepared for. It was hot and humid with cloud coverage most of the day … until the sun came out at 3:30pm and scorched your left side as you ran along the waterline of Occoquan River. It being early April, I was not acclimated to 90% humidity. For a few mile...

A Day in the Canyon

Find friends who say YES! “For a little while we are again able to see, as the child sees, a world of marvels. For a few moments we discover that nothing can be taken for granted, for if this ring of stone is marvelous, then all which shaped it is marvelous, and our journey here on Earth, able to see and touch and hear in the midst of tangible and mysterious things-in-themselves, is the most strange and daring of all adventures.” -Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire A bucket list National Park, a bucket list trail adventure, and some of the best kind of peer pressure led my dear friends, Lori and Karen, and I to reach out to another amazing strong friend, Amy, who had just completed this with her sister. And the planning begun… Our original plan was to conquer the infamous Rim to Rim to Rim hike in two days. We would hike down from the South Rim, across the base of the Canyon, and then hike up to the North Rim to stay a night at the North Rim Lodge. The North Rim is an isolated, landma...

Redemption at CAT50k a year later

“Be brave. Be patient. Believe.” ~Courtney Dauwalter from WSER100 After last year’s DNF in torrential downpours that turned the trail into a river, I said never again. Well that was stupid, because of course I’d have to try again to get my CAT Card, I’m not a f’in quitter (and I’m quite stupid)!! This year, it was a typical CAT - hot, humid, rocky, hilly, and the leading 20 runners ran off course in the first mile to confuse us all as they ran up from behind us a couple miles into the race. Here’s what I learned: 🦄 Just because someone faster than you says you can’t make the cutoff, doesn’t mean you can’t. 🐝 The worse encounter is one that’s unplanned, like hornets. ⚡️Save some energy for the end. ⛰️ What goes up, goes down. And is more painful. 🧛🏻‍♂️ Never have a single song stuck in your head if you want to enjoy it again. (Like Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo.) ✌🏼 Feed or ditch the energy that surrounds you. ⏰ Know the cutoffs like the back of your hand. Or write them on the ba...

Michelle Runs With It

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