As I write this post, I'm having a hard time believing that it's been four years since I first ran the Paris Mountain 50K (now the Paris Mountain 50K / North Lake 25K) . We've now lived in South Carolina (again) long enough for me to have run a race, but completely forgotten what the course was like. Time flies when you run - a lot. In 2015, fresh to the Carolinas, Geoff and I headed Continue reading →
Revenge of Stede Bonnet Trail Race – 2019 Recap
Preface: This post is disproportionally long compared to the actual distance ran. Clearly, it's been a while since my last race report, so I make no apologies for my need to tell stories. Further, the photos are blurry, as it was a night race and my camera is crap. I'm sure I've sold this blog, grabbed your attention, and you simply can't wait to read on (said in my best sarcastic tone). So Continue reading →
2019 SunBare Whispering Clothing Optional 5K Review
"Third time's a charm" is not a sentence I ever imagined I'd be muttering about running a naked 5K, but here we are. The 2019 SunBare Whispering Clothing Optional 5K was the third (official - don't ask) time Geoff and I have run a clothing optional 5K. Yes, you are reading that right. "Clothing optional 5K" as in, you can run naked, nude, in your birthday suit. It's a real thing, and Continue reading →
2019 Hell Hole Hundred 50K/50mile Recap
The 2019 Hell Hole Hundred weekend would be my fifth Hell Hole experience. I've got two previous Frozen Hell Holes (100K and 100 mile respectively) and two previous summer Hell Holes (once as crew and one 45 ish mile DNF) on my resume. I've covered this 16.3 mile looped course 13+ times. I feel like I could run it in my sleep. Therefore, as a previous chicken bell ringer, make no mistake: I Continue reading →
2019 Georgia Death Race Recap
When I first started running back in 2008, I printed out a handful of motivational pictures and hung them on a bulletin board near my treadmill. This was obviously before Pinterest, back when you actually, literally, had to "pin" something to the wall. One of the pictures was a Nike advertisement featuring a traffic sign that said "Running never takes more than it gives back". I liked the Continue reading →
2019 Conquer the Rock Foothills 50K Race Recap
"On the first loop, don't be stupid. On the second loop, don't be a wimp." It was a chilly, foggy Saturday morning, and I was huddled at the top of a paved hill with about 30 other runners, getting ready to start the 2019 "Foothills 50K", a part of the "Conquer the Rock" race weekend. For whatever reason, I was a nervous wreck, which isn't like me at all. Especially for an event that was Continue reading →
2019 Almost 9 Miler – with Kids – Recap
Every month, on the 15th day, thirty dollars is automatically drafted out of my bank account for my membership to the Eagle Endurance "$30 Club". The premise is this: sign up for one year of monthly $30 payments, race any (or all, in our case) of Eagle Endurance's race for no additional cost. When you look at the rising cost of ultras these days, and then figure $360 can get you, in theory, 9 Continue reading →
2019 Hallucination 6/12/24 Recap
14 years ago this month, I "ran" my first half marathon. I use the term "ran" loosely, because it was more like a 13.1 mile jog/walk/shuffle where I was entirely out of my element, questioned what the hell I was doing with every painful step, and wondered why I hadn't opted to just cheer on my sister at the finish line from the beer tent instead of trailing along behind her down the streets of Continue reading →
2019 Retreat Repeat Recap
I don't remember the exact context of the conversation. We were about 25 miles in to our run, and my friend Raquel was discussing parties. "I don't go to parties anymore, I'm too old and tired for that" I quipped. "Unless...does this count? Friends, music, junk food, beer, and fun...well at least my kind of fun? That's a party, right?" It was around 2:00 in the afternoon, and Raquel, Geoff, Continue reading →
2018 Last Chance 50K – Race Recap
If the world is about to end, the most logical thing to do is go for a run, right? That is...well, was...the premise of the Last Chance 25 & 50K, put on by Eagle Endurance in Huger, SC. The very first running of this event, 6 years ago, was held on the day the world was supposed to end according to the Mayan Calendar. The good news is that the world did NOT end on that fateful day Continue reading →
2018 Hairy Bison 15K/30K Recap
One of my favorite things about the trail and ultra running community is the easy-going, welcoming, and supportive attitude exuded by almost everyone involved. Despite the fact that most undertakings in this group of runners are huge - we're talking difficult, technical trails, running upwards of 50 to 100 miles or more, muddy trails, sleepless nights, and other insane feats of human athleticism Continue reading →
