"She just doesn't know when to quit." I hear my mom in my head every single time I find myself in yet another stupid situation I've dug myself into. This time was no different. I had a quick flashback of 16-year-old me snorting another huge line of meth, knowing I'd likely just stepped into territory I couldn't come back from, but not caring one bit. "She's right. Why is she always right." I cursed myself as I dug into my pack for my phone. I was sixty some odd miles into my latest 100 mile effort. It was pitch black. My headlamp battery had died, my charger wasn't working, and I was fumbling trying to find a light--desperate for anything to help me navigate the rocky technical terrain in this section of the Pinhoti Trail. The next aid station was four miles away. Rookie mistake.
My 5 Most Epic Ultra Fails
I have to be honest with you. I'm sick of social media right now. The whole presentation of "this is my perfectly curated life, and my perfectly executed run" just gets old after awhile. It's not real, guys! It's just not. Most people have a LOT of hard stuff going on in their lives, and …
Until Then…
Fear has never controlled me. In fact, facing and conquering it has always been quite the driving force in my life. Over the course of the last 30 years, this infatuation with fear and its ensuing adrenaline has taken many forms: diving into pools before I could swim, jumping off buildings without any kind of …
Fate and the Missing Half
For the last 8 weeks or so, I've been training to run a half marathon. I know what you're thinking, if someone can run 100 miles, why would they need to prepare for 13.1? Trust me, they are NOT one and the same. Lord have mercy. Ultras I can typically survive with some redbull and …
40 Hours and 1 Minute
Nine Out of 100
I wrote this in 2013, but finally decided to publish today. It took place at the 2013 Pinhoti 100, but it's not a race report. You can learn more about that race HERE. Thanks for reading, and happy trails! I said I'd never do it again, this 100 mile thing. Add that to my list of …
100 Mile FAQs- For the Nonrunner
I get these so often... And if you've ever even attempted a race longer than a marathon, I know you've gotten them too. It's not their fault they don't understand the ultra sickness. Here's an article to toss their way to help clear up any misconceptions. Q.) 100 Miles? Did you know I don't even like …
Transitional Grit
For the past week, I have been in bed battling a nasty bout of Pneumonia. This morning, I finally felt a slight spark of energy to go for a short run. I laced up, dropped my kids at my Mom's, and headed to the nearest trailhead. By the time I got to the park, I …
Get Yourself Out Of That Funk !
Feeling low? Slow, burned out, fatigued? Sick of it, done with it, over it--all of it?! I'm there too. And trust me, I know it's a rough place to be. My mileage is currently the lowest its ever been in my entire running history. Many days I don't even feel like running. I'm currently battling some …
The Pistol Vendetta
It was cold in Alcoa, Tennessee that January day. Really cold for a Georgia girl; fourteen degrees to be exact. I was bundled up tightly in my heavy WeatherEdge jacket, old thermal gloves, and layers of sweats, but nothing could ease the bite of the windchill. I pulled my jacket up a little higher over …