Blog

Dirtbag Inspiration at the San Diego 50 Mile Run

February 1, 2025

Another 50 mile run done! As the evening light faded away I crossed the finish line of the San Diego 50 to the cheers of a wonderfully supportive crew of volunteers, race staff and fellow runners. I collected my finisher’s medal, posed for some pictures and then greeted some of my fellow finishers; some folks…

Sitting Pretty Kitty

January 17, 2025

It was getting late in the day and I was finishing up a 12 mile hike in Southern California’s lovely and wild Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve. The coyotes, ubiquitous to this landscape of oak woodlands, grasslands and chaparral were now out in full force. I counted four of them as I worked my way…

More than 2100 miles!

January 9, 2025

2024 was an excellent year for me on the trail despite having a lower mileage year than usual. Not sure how that happened—but I did manage to tally more than 2100 running and hiking miles for the year. But despite the lower overall mileage, I had many big mileage days as I continue to ramp…

Carry On My Wayward Son! Kansas Rails-to-Trails Extravaganza 50 mile Ultra-Run

November 10, 2024

The East and West Coasts have primarily been my stomping grounds. When I committed to run a marathon or ultra-run in all 50 states my main intention was that it would get me to a lot of places I probably wouldn’t have gone to otherwise. And my intention was to actually see and experience those…

Baker Lake 50K

October 20, 2024

Running through a landscape of past explosions with an implosion of new ultra-runners! I’ve longed wanted to run the Baker Lake 50K, but every year on race weekend I was committed to being someplace else! But this year my calendar finally allowed me to sign up—and sign up I did! The race has been going…

Running among the Spuds–Skagit Flats Half Marathon

September 14, 2024

The Skagit Valley has been my home since 2007. My wife and I were lured to the area by its natural beauty, rich agricultural heritage, and easy access to outdoor recreation. We had spent too much time in the big city (although we were both raised in smaller communities) and looked forward to becoming part…

267.7 Miles Hiked and Run and $10,092 Raised!

September 12, 2024

It was another great Hike-a-thon! Wow! As usual, come September 1st I am physically and emotionally drained after putting in some decent miles on the trail in August and spending two months trying to convince you all why you should make a donation to my Hike-a-thon benefiting the Washington Trails Association. Since 2012 I have…

A Hot, Humid and Hilly Homecoming! The Mad Marathon

July 21, 2024

I left Vermont in April of 1989 and headed west to Washington State not knowing where my life would lead me. It was a woman that led me to the Green Mountain state—and it was because of her I left it. Our seven years together had a few highlights. But it was mostly a dysfunctional,…

Feeling the Burn — The Tillamook Burn 50K

May 24, 2024

I started running ultra-marathons six months before turning 50. My goal was to successfully run the White River 50 mile Endurance Run to celebrate my 50th birthday. What I thought would be a short lived phase has turned into a lifestyle. I absolutely love the challenge and excitement of pushing my body on 30-plus mile…

Cooper River Bridge Run — Getting over it in Charleston, South Carolina

April 21, 2024

We couldn’t have asked for a more convenient arrangement when it came to this year’s 47th annual Cooper River Bridge Run. Perhaps only the solar eclipse on April 8th was more perfectly aligned than how our travel plans fell into place on April 6th. I had booked a family vacation to Charleston, Columbia and Savannah…