(originally appeared in Huffington Post) In my early twenties, while working in publishing and pursuing my first graduate degree, I discovered running. At first, two miles was as far as I ventured. I ran the twenty blocks from my apartment on Manhattan’s upper east side up to 90th street and 3rd avenue and back. I loved the feeling of passing…
Tag: ultra running
Temporary Solutions: meditations from a 100-mile journey
(originally appeared in Huffington Post) A day after landing in Florida upon completing Badwater 135 this past July, my cat and I boarded a plane to start our next chapter in Washington, D.C. A day after that, I started my new job and I haven’t had a minute to look back. Everything has been new, different, and nonstop without much…
Keys 100 – 2017: The Way Back
Looking Back For the past few decades, Key West has signified a starting point and an ending point in my life. So much of my history is wrapped up in the Keys. My first venture to Key West was about Ernest Hemingway, whose writings and life I devoted almost a decade of graduate school to exploring. There was the Key…
You Have to Want It: The Power of Commitment, Planning, & Adaptation
Last weekend I was reminded of something that I already knew: when you set out to accomplish a new and/or challenging feat, you have to really want to achieve it in order for it to become a reality. Beyond that, you need to have a plan and be committed to execute the plan, while cultivating open-mindedness so that you may…
Ancient Oaks 100: The Little Engine That Could – 12/16
Stu Gleman’s vision It is hard to imagine that this was my fourth time running Ancient Oaks 100. The thing about traditions is that they form, often without our realizing it. Ancient Oaks, founded by the late Stu Gleman, represents all things end-of-year and holiday to me. It’s a time to reflect over all that the year has been—and what…
Running Around the Clock: Halloween Javelina Jundred Style
If you’re an ultrarunner or aspire to be one, Halloween likely evokes thoughts of the Javelina Jundred (JJ100) out in the Sonoran Desert, in Fountain Hills, Arizona, where for the last 14 years the best costumed trail-run party in the nation has occurred. Howling coyotes, baby tarantulas, and rattlesnakes come out for the celebration, but mostly, it is the 600+…
Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd – October 14-16 2016
It starts with a hectic week – teaching, meetings, then a rush to the airport, delayed flights, and landing in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 1:00 am in the morning on Friday, checking into an airport hotel, desperate for a few hours of rest before the endeavor ahead. The story is not new; rather, it’s a depiction of the typical pre-race scenario…
Smart Bottle is a Smart Choice for Hydration
Living and training in South Florida and competing in ultramarathons across the nation, hydration is always an issue for me. There are repercussions attached to drinking too much water, and too little, as many of us learn. Typically, water intake and electrolyte balance is something that most of us—athletes and weekend warriors alike—manage by feel and a bit of guess…
Ultrarunning Tips that have helped me weather the journey both on and off the race course
The miles are the miles. They don’t get shorter, but if we don’t fixate on them, they pass quicker. Remember that you are never running 100 miles; you are running small, sustainable sections from aid station to aid station. When you begin to fall apart and struggle, the email you forgot to send at work, the item you need to…
The Metamorphosis – Badwater 135 – July 2016
I’ve always been fascinated by the behind the scenes aspect of life. We show up at races full of smiles, good cheer, and nervous excitement. What is not visible is the endless hours, weeks, and months of training that propels us to the start lines; the endless coordinating and organizing, check lists, packing, and logistics that commence long before race…