This weekend we celebrated my first born’s seventh birthday. Somehow 7 is so grown up but so little, all at once.

Seven is still the age of princesses and pink and magic.

But she is tall enough to ride all of the rides at the amusement park.

She’s still little enough that she doesn’t care if people see her cry.

But she is old enough to articulate the fact that tomatoes are culinarily a vegetable but botanically a fruit.

It is big enough to ask “can I read the Wizard of Oz for a bit before bed?”

But it’s still little enough that my heart races when I lose sight of her for more than a few seconds at the water park.

She looks so big when she is holding her baby brother’s hand so he stops crying at the end of a long road trip.

Next to her dad though? Shes little enough to be scooped up and carried from the truck to the house.

Her vocabulary is vast and she no longer calls the Golden Arches “Old McDonald’s” but I’m terrified of the day she no longer says “reg-lee-ar.”

She still likes to snuggle in bed but doesn’t need to be tucked in every night.

She’s losing teeth but Santa is still very real.

She’s afraid of the dark but crosses the street to her best friend’s house every afternoon after school… and I don’t even watch anymore.

Tall enough that her head tucks right under my arm pit.

Strong enough to hike miles in the mountains.

Smart enough to read text messages over my shoulder.

Capable of making her own breakfast.

Brave enough to ride roller coasters.

At seven years old she is so very grown up but I don’t think she will ever quit being my baby.

My second half marathon came on the heels of my first half marathon, just over a month later. I was riding the high of my first accomplishment, a race I nearly didn’t attend but scaled several hurdles to make it happen. Less than 36 hours after crossing the finish line, I saw stars as the River Road Half Marathon crossed my screen with a sign up fee of $0. Barely thinking twice, I registered and made the recommended $10 donation and texted my friend from the last race to ask if she was in. Like any sane person, she told me no; but that was okay, because I had already decided I was in.

Hello Imposter Syndrome

37 days after crossing the finish line, I found myself staring at the steering wheel in the parking lot of a tiny school on a community about 15 miles outside of Bozeman, Montana. What had seemed like a great idea after my first half marathon was currently filling me with dread.

Who did I think I was? Signing up for a second half marathon after finishing the last one second from last… Did I think I was a runner or something?

As the other runners pulled in around me I stared at my dollar tree shower caddy on the seat next to me. Filled with fuel, head phones, hair ties and other race day gear, I knew it was time to load my vest and figure out where this shuttle was.

I pushed the cocktail of anxiety and fear from my head and got out.

The “shuttle” was some guy with the run club hosting the event and his truck. He was friendly enough and chatted animatedly with the other riders and I nodded and amiled weakly.

It felt like they all knew eachother and I had a giant flashing sign over my head that read “OUTSIDER”

My Worst Nightmare

When we got to the start line, there was a table with to grab my bib and a tripod with a race timer and a baby playing in the mud. Everyone was chatting and catching up, clearly good friends and I realized what I had somehow missed up until this point:

This was less of a race and more of a Saturday morning run club meet up.

Aka my worst nightmare.

A run club isn’t my worst nightmare because there is anything wrong with them. It’s because I feel like there is something wrong with me. I have a massive case of imposter syndrome and it is the worst when it comes to running. I struggle to feel like I belong in runner spaces: run clubs, race expos, running stores… in all of these spaces that nasty little voice whispers “you don’t belong here.”

But I was here so I had to battle my fear and get on that start line.

Doing It Scared

Standing at that start line was one of the times I have felt most out of place and uncomfortable in my own skin. I had to fight the urge to walk away from the group multiple times.

Finally the race commenced and we took off, running down a dirt road where other runners quickly left me in the dust. Alone on the road is where I was most comfortable so this worked well for me and I settled into my cadence.

The route was an out and back, with the turn around point at a buffalo farm. The only “aid station” was a small folding table with a water cooler perched on it. I thought about turning around no less than 6 times in the first 5 miles. I didn’t.

Truthfully, a morning filled with blue skies, baby goats and buffalos on a flat road make it hard to complain so I won’t.

As other runners began to lap me and we exchanged the typical friendly waves and words of encouragement I have come to now associate with race culture, my discomfort began to melt away. Maybe no one else thought I was as out of place as I felt.

No Medal Doesn’t Mean No Reward

The finish line felt weird because by the time I made it back, most people had finished, packed up and headed home. The remaining group was small and the clapping almost obligatory. But it didn’t matter because I knew I had done something huge for myself. This race was one more opportunity in which I carved out space for myself in the running world.

This race began paving the way for me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit more with each race I attended. It helped build my confidence showing up in this space. And it showed me that I was capable and I belonged.

River Road was entirely free to sign up for and priceless in what it gave back to me with each mile.

My last race: Run to the Pub Half Marathon

Next race: Montana Women’s Run

Check out all my 2026 Races here:

When I signed up for the Missoula Half Marathon there were 3 main reasons:

1. It was in June

2. My husband was actually off work

3. It seemed like a big deal

If you’ve been following along, I set myself a pretty audacious goal after my first half marathon in 2026: run a half marathon each month for an entire year. You can read more about that here. So Missoula checked my June box.

My husband is also a law enforcement officer and in the Army National Guard - lucky me, right? (iykyk) This means that weekends off are a rarity, with him working between 2 and 3 every month and at least once he is out of town between Thursday or Friday and late on Sunday. Somehow, this race fell on one of the golden weekends not given in service so my family could be there at the finish line (a bit scary for me but we are fighting our fears one race at a time this year).

Lastly, this was my first race that was going to be “big.” I didn’t really know what that meant aside from the significantly higher price of race entry, official race photos and a multi-day event with a race expo (whatever that meant?) I thought it could be cool to experience - and I was beyond correct.

Missoula Marathon Weekend was purely magical.

Rain, Rain, Go Away (Or Don’t - The Adversity Teaches Us Invaluable Lessons)

Much like my first half marathon in Bozeman, nothing went according to my original plan. Initially, I planned to run this race by myself, enjoying the beautiful weather in Western Montana that late June brings. Luckily, I am not made out of sugar because I would have melted. Missoula poured rain for the entire race weekend. I also went from being mentally prepared to be on the course alone, to celebrating my niece’s first race with her - in the span of about 3 hours.

My niece and I have planned to run a half marathon together in October and have been enjoying hiking/adventuring together while she has been back in the state for the summer vacation from school. She was going to ride with me to Missoula to pick up my race packet and do the free Friday Beer Run as well as check out the Race Expo. I figured this would be easier than taking my two small kids and give her a taste of a race weekend, dipping her toes in before October.

Before I knew it though, my husband was behind the wheel of the truck, the bed packed with three days of clothes and gear for 2 adults, an infant, a child, and a bonus 13 year old, begging to let her run with me for the 5K the next day and the half marathon on Sunday. I was hesitant. She was wildly undertrained and woefully underprepared as I learned over the next 3 days.

But in the spirit of pushing limits this year, I said yes and signed my 13 year old niece up for 2 days of races.

Wild.

Day 1: The Race Expo

All 5 of us piled out at the Expo and I was a bit shell shocked. There were thousands of people winding in and out of the vendors. There was a well organized route that we walked backward through, fighting the tide of everyone who read the well posted signage. When we reached the end entrance, there were well organized tables for the 4 events over the weekend and the volunteers were a well oiled machine, ready to scan my QR codes and hand out assigned bib and shirt.

Unfortunately, I was not a well oiled machine. I did have QR codes but I had 2 children’s entries to the kids marathon, 2 for the 5K, and 2 for the Half Marathon. Not to mention the excited 6 year old, awestruck 13 year old geared to wander off, stroller with a toddler and moderately overstimulated and chronically sleep deprived police officer who had worked the previous 2 nights, scanning the massive crowds as he got his bearings.

We collected our bibs and wandered back through the tables and booths with race specific merch, freebies, shoes, shorts, and endless fuels to try. In the bustle of it all, we missed the start of our Beer Run and I had to cross the Big Three challenge off my bucket list for this year. Oh well.

Day 2: Tony Banovich 5K

The next morning was our first race: The Tony Banovich 5K. As with most larger races, the transportation to the event involved a shuttle. Getting 5 people ready in the morning and to the start line on time (especially in the rain) was drastically different than my normal race morning ritual. It was a bit harried and involved a lot of deep breathing but we made it.

My niece and I made our way to the start line and my husband took the kids to the finish line. The energy was already buzzing and I could see it reflected in my niece’s face. It was at this point that I knew I had made the right choice in letting her join me that weekend.

The route was relatively flat with less than 100 ft of elevation gain and took us around the university district. This provided great views of campus as well as an awesome view of the ‘M’ on the hill.

A Note on The Symbolism of the ‘M’ In Montana College Towns

All 3 of Montana’s major university towns have a historic hillside ‘M’ that marks a popular hiking trail with a panoramic overlook.

Missoula’s ‘M’ marks Mount Sentinel and is the oldest of the three. It was originally built in 1908 by Forestry Club members. The students carved a zigzag trail and hauled up rocks to build the original ‘M.’ Sixty years later, the large concrete ‘M’ that we see today was installed up there. This route is about 1.5 miles round trip with 13 switchbacks and 620 feet of elevation gain in the 0.75 miles up.

Next came Butte’s ‘M’ came in 1910, created by about 50 engineering students, and is up on the Big Butte. It is also the only monument that is illuminated by lights and stays lit up after dark, for the whole town to see. The popular Big Butte Loop is an easy 1.3 miles with 134 feet of elevation gain but to go straight up to the ‘M’ is a steep 0.5 miles up with around 300 feet of elevation gain.

The ‘M’ in Bozeman was the last to be erected in 1915. It is on the iconic Bridger Mountains and was built by engineering students from white limestone rocks. There are two distinct routes to reach this ‘M’; a short steep path (0.5 miles up) and a long winding one (1.5 miles up).

Unfortunately for me, there was a photographer right at this spot and I was too busy looking at the ‘M’ and photographing it to see that I was about to have my first real race photos of me with my phone in my hand - embarassing but laughable.

I crossed the finish line and was shocked by the quality of the medal. The copper metal for the 5K was hefty and beautifully done. Undoubtedly the nicest I had in my collection to date. I couldn’t wait to see what the Half Marathon’s medals looked like the next day.

Day 2: Kids Marathon

After reuniting with my family we prepared for the Kids Marathon. Missoula Kids Marathon was such a cute event. It is designed so that participating youth can log 25 miles in the months leading up to the event and then finish the last 1.2 miles during race weekend at a special event, just for them. The swag for this event was these adorable super hero capes and decoratable bibs for the kids. Plus a medal at the finish line.

My husband took my daughter and I took my son, allowing him to start the race running before popping him back in the stroller and then getting out again to run the last 0.10 mile or so. Watching him cross the finish line made my heart swell. It was such a fun event and honestly those capes are still some of the favorite toys in my house 6 weeks later.

Day 3: Half Marathon

Sunday morning brought the normal race day jitters - with a twist! It turns out that I am really committed to my race morning routine. Trying to get to the shuttles before 5:30am with an entire squad of people was a nightmare for me. I was anxious and the potential of being late drove that anxiety through the roof. The idea of missing the last shuttles made me nauseous and when I saw the traffic as we were 15 minutes behind my original schedule, I was nearly sick.

There was no need. We arrived at 5:45 ish and joined the throngs of runners being loaded onto the 15 rotating school busses that took us to the finish line. We found a tree to stand under and took in the sights. Tens of thousands of runners milled about as the club music from the 2010’s bumped. There was probably over 100 portapotties with lines, 6 trailers for gear bag drop and the pacers weaved through the crowd with their little balloon clusters over their heads and neon pink shirts.

I chewed my gum and headed to the middle of the pack for the start line. It was wild to think that this was only a portion of the runners since the full marathon runners had a different starting line that merged with ours several miles in.

When the gun went out, the pack moved as a lump together, slowly picking up speed. My niece was impatient with my initial pace so I shooed her along and she took off; I was curious when I would see her again. The answer was less than 3 miles later when she texted me, asking where I was and discovering she was only a few hundred feet ahead of me.

From that point forward, we stuck together and I got to experience her first half-marathon at her side.

This half marathon was the first where I was never once alone. My niece and I maintained a position in the middle(ish) of the pack; there was always around 5-15 runners clustered around us, both in front of and behind. This kept us going, as well as the vibe of the event. I’ve had spectators at my other races but nothing quite like this. Even with the drizzly weather, the people of Missoula absolutely turn out for this race. After about mile 4, there was never more than a half mile without groups of cheering people with signs, tents, treats, or music. It was basically a 13 mile long party.

My niece started to wear down about mile 10 or 11 but her attitude was great. For someone with almost no training and zero experience running long distances, she killed it. She summoned her last reserves of energy and powered across the finish line; I chose a more mild finish. But in the crowd I spotted my husband and cheering babies as I crossed into the finish and I once again knew that having them there to cheer me on was something I hadn’t known how badly I needed.

TLDR: My Big Takeaways from My Experience at the Missoula Marathon Weekend

Rain is whatever; this race drizzled the whole time but being wet the entire time really did prepare me for my next race where it poured.

I wish the medals from the races were more different; they’re beautiful but nearly identical for the 5K and the Half Marathon.

The whole community turns out; Missoula basically becomes a massive race expo and its as much an event for the spectators as it is for the runners.

The event is so well organized and executed, I was astounded. For this reason alone, it is on the short list for a repeat next year.

Seeing my niece accomplish her first 13.1 at 13 years old was very very cool. I am glad to have running to bond with her over going forward.

My last race: Beaverhead (Half) Marathon

Next race: Skyline Races Half Marathon (Virtual)

Check out all my 2026 Races here:

The Montana Women’s Run was a first for me in many ways. It was my first unplanned run that I signed up for on a whim. The first time I ran with a friend. The first time running without my hydration vest. The first race I did where I did not feel an ounce of competitivity in the air. It was the first time my feelings of fun outweighed my feelings of anxiety.

‘Race’ is a Liberal Term For This Event

The Montana Women’s Run was a 5 mile race through downtown Billings, Montana. The course was all pavement and basically flat. With my last two races, I had quickly fallen to the back of the pack, one of the slowest runners on the course. This time, however, I found my friend and myself weaving through groups of leisurely walkers in an effort to find the open road. As a slow runner, I have grown accustomed to running entirely alone after the first few miles. This race I found myself surrounded and at the middle of the pack, nearly the entire time. Don’t worry though: I still got passed by at least 4 strollers, not including those in the first mile. I’d like to note that this is not me complaining; I was just surprised by such a drastic difference in culture. It was more resemblant of the Family Fun Runs I have done than the other races I’ve done, despite being a distance between a 5K and a 10K.

Mindset Shift

From start to finish, this race had a vibe of support and good vibes and fun. Dancing dinosaurs on the downtown street corners. Inspirational signs. Music at aid stations. A final ‘Mimosa Mile’ with a table serving mimosa shots at the last mile marker. I enjoyed starting the race with a friend, despite my long standing fear of running with others. The fun atmosphere shifted my view of running in a way that has carried over into my headspace surrounding race day, going forward.

Running My Own Race

As I write this, 3 months and several races after the Montana Women’s Run, it feels silly to say “races can be fun.” Because duh. But truthfully, I did not start racing with this mindset. For me, the biggest struggle initially was committing to being at the start line, followed by crossing the finish line, knowing there were spectators cheering. This race was a turning point for me because I allowed myself to have fun and truly run my own race. I had fun. I pushed myself. I crossed the finish line. And I realized that as long as I stayed out of my head and in the moment, this was going to be a lot of fun.

My last race: River Road Half Marathon

Next race: Beaverhead Marathon

Check out all my 2026 Races here:

In May I completed my third half marathon and it was not great. Beaverhead Marathon was the first race that I signed up for out of sheer convenience and to “check the box” for my half marathon challenge. I signed up for this race because it was close enough to travel to the morning of and because it was held in May.

I will preface everything I’m about to say with this: the majority of the reason I did not have a great time at this race was entirely avoidable and largely my fault.

I was not excited for this race and it did not get better as the day went on.

There were three main challenges that faced me:

1. I had extremely overtrained.

2. Running on an open course.

3. I underfueled both before and during the race.

Overtrained…

In the weeks leading up to this event, I did everything except for taper. I logged over 80 hours in the 13 days prior to race day. Dumb is a generous way to characterize this choice. Understandably, I was fatigued before I ever even laced up my shoes that morning. I am typically out and moving about 45 minutes to an hour before the start of a race; that day I was in my car until 23 minutes before the gun went off.

I was not in the best headspace and I was not even remotely warmed up. All of these factors together meant that I started off painfully slow. This gave me plenty of time to contemplate on the fact that in the hustle and bustle of getting kids out the door and drive the 1 hour to the race, I had also forgotten to eat and breakfast was going to have to be some energy chews.

This was not off to a strong start.

Open Course…

By Mile 4, I knew I would never sign up for this race again. Designed as an out and back course, the majority of the route was on a windy back road, a completely open course. This meant the slope of the asphalt was at a 30 degree angle on turns, an abundance of semi’s, farm equipment that uses the majority of both lanes, and teenagers driving too fast.

Underfueled…

Knowing it was an out and back helped give me a focal point but I thought about quitting no less than 7 times between mile 2 and 6. I had to give myself a pep talk in the portapotty at mile 3.5 or so. I felt weak. I was nauseous and had lead legs for the majority of the run and in my focus on not quitting, I didn’t fuel like I should. 4 gels and 2 packets of chews on an empty stomach was a wild decision and I paid for it.

But I Finished!

By the time I crossed the finish line I was fully depleted. I staggered to my vehicle and ripped out the post-race food I had packed. I shoveled 2 pickles and a cheese stick into my mouth and inhaled half an uncrustable, downed with a hearty few gulps of Powerade.

I felt myself slowly come back into my body but it took about an hour minutes until I felt comfortable enough to consider driving home. I checked out my “medal”. Instead of a traditional medal, these were embossed leather. Truthfully, when I was no longer in fear of passing out, I was a little bummed. We don’t do it for the swag but I was truthfully hoping for something shinier that day.

The Event Vibe vs My Vibe

This event was a great lesson in the power my mental state has on my experience. This sounds silly and obvious; your attitude is obviously important. But in this case, the energy I brought to the race kept me from being able to access the positive vibes I have come to love about race day, even though I could objectively see them.

The organizers were encouraging and the other participants were friendly. The spectators brought a nice little buzz to the start and finish line. I got my first set of race photos, not “professional” but still - cool. It was a warm day - not overly hot or cold. The road wasn’t great but it was a mostly flat course, offering only around 450 ft of elevation gain.

Takeaways and Areas for Improvement

My biggest lessons from this race were:

1. Overtraining is a fatal flaw and tapering isn’t just a suggestion.

2. This route sucked. Open course on country roads, entirely asphalt course, and minimal views is not the recipe for my dream route.

3. Fueling before, during and after needs to be an intentional area of focus for me.

4. My mindset is the biggest determining factor of my experience.

5. Pickles and Powerade are the ultimate post race combo for me.

This race was, without a doubt, my least favorite but it was filled with valuable lessons for me. I also truly had to dig deep to cross that finish line and the feeling of accomplishment is unrivaled. I wouldn’t do this race again but I don’t regret having done it this year.

My last race: The Montana Women’s Run

Next race: Missoula Marathon Weekend

Check out all my 2026 Races here:

The second race I signed up for in July 2026 was on a whim. It was the Divide Trail Race in Butte, Montana and was also my first ever official trail race. I chose to do this race because the route was tucked away on my Strava Maps (which I use as a route bucket list) and I figured if I was going to do it, what better way than as a pre-mapped event? Prior to this race, I had only done one other trail run with significant elevation (you can read about that here). It was also my longest race to date, at 25K (about 15.5 miles), and I was only 6 days out from my half-marathon in Anchorage. Needless to say, I was a bit nervous. However, if there is one thing to know about me, it’s that I have the willpower to finish anything I put my mind to, and I frequently test those limits. And boy was the Divide 25K a test.

The Route

This exciting event takes place partially on the famous Continental Divide Trail. The entire route, except for two road crossings, is on dirt and gravel. The race starts and finishes near Lower Eagles Nest in Thompson Park, just outside of Butte, Montana, at an elevation of 5,900 feet.

The route worked out to be just over 15.5 miles with around 2400’ of elevation gain. There were three main sections:

1. Thompson Park Trails - Skeebogan, Blacktail Ridge, and CDT

2. Old Milwaukee Road (aka Milwaukee Trail)

3. Orman Camp Loop

Section 1 - Trails: Skeebogan, Blacktail Ridge, and CDT

The race begins with a slight downhill on a Forest Service road for about one mile. At the bottom, you cross Montana Highway 2 to enter the Thompson Park trails. The first trail, Skeebogan, features a steep uphill climb for approximately 1.5 miles, with an elevation gain of about 600 feet. This was by far the most difficult section for me and reinforced for me that I need to start strength training regularly again.

At the top of Skeebogan, the route turns right onto the Blacktail Ridge Trail. This section is more rolling and stays elevated on the ridge. Over the next 3.65 miles, you gain around 500 feet while descending about 160 feet. This area is very open and exposed to the elements - sun, wind, and rain.

After completing Blacktail Ridge, the route takes a right onto the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The route continues on the CDT for 2.5 miles, with a net elevation loss of 500 feet and a couple of switchbacks at the end of the section. Overall, this area is semi-forested around and downhill, which was much needed leading into the second half.

Upon reaching the bottom of the CDT, the route once again crossed Montana Highway 2, bringing me to the fully staffed resupply station at an elevation of 6,500 feet. At this point, I had emptied my 1.5-liter bladder in my pack, assuming there would be water at the station.

Midway Aid Station

As I reached the aid station, I felt three feelings in quick succession: relief, then elation, then dismay.

Relief: I had finally reached the aid station, which meant I’d made it more than halfway and was coming up on the section I was most excited for.

Elation: The aid station was stocked to the brim. Gels. Electrolytes. Fruit. Chips. Candy. Caprisun. Gatorade. It had hands-down the best Gatorade I’ve ever had in my life.

Dismay: I flipped open the cooler and added an electrolyte tab to a bottle of water. As I glanced at the table quickly, I realized that was the only water. There was no canteen cooler as I imagined there would be. No way to refill me pack water. This meant that all I had was my two 16-oz handheld water bottles to get me through 6 or so miles. I grabbed a bottle to go and hit the road.

Section 2 - Old Milwaukee Road

Following the aid station, the route entered the Milwaukee Trail, an old railroad route converted into a trail. This section has a slight downhill grade, all on crushed gravel, losing about 300 feet over three miles.

It was very open and pretty hot at this point. It also felt completely flat, which allowed me to pick up the pace a bit.

This section held a couple of pretty neat sites, including several trestles and train tunnels along the way. The first trestle was high over the road below, a spot I’ve always looked up and wondered how to get to. Finally finding it was a cool little moment for me. Next came the tunnel. I could hear some thunder and got a very light sprinkling as I propped my phone up for a quick photo before entering the dark.

At first, when entering the tunnel, I was in awe; how cool was this? Quickly, the dread rolled in, almost as fast as the dark. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by complete pitch-blackness, with a small point of sunlight marking the end of the tunnel. I turned on the music, but my flashlight wouldn’t turn on, and my phone was overheating. I kept the panic at bay by listening to the music and keeping my eyes trained ahead. The light felt as though it was crawling closer but I didn’t dare move faster. The ground beneath my feet was not flat, filled with large, smooth divots. At the end, I would find out this tunnel was over a half mile long.

I made it out of the tunnel and allowed myself to relax. Shortly though, I came across another tunnel. This one was considerably shorter, the inside was lighter and it was a cool view. The ground was also much flatter. Making it out, I knew I was getting closer to the final stretch and longer than any race I’d done before.

Section 3 - Orman Camp Loop

I turned left onto Orman Camp Loop and headed up. This was the final push! I nearly immediately looked back to the Milwaukee Trail with deep longing. This last segment gains and loses 450 feet over approximately three miles. This was undoubtedly the most challenging section and took some major mental hurdles to finish. Any time advantage I gained on the Milwaukee trail, I rapidly lost. I thought no less than 4 additional times about my need for strength training and more hills as I trudged along this section.

Finally, I hit the top of the 450-ft loop, and the steep, winding switchbacks began. I stumbled my way down, counting down the distance on my watch. Finally, I could see the road through the trees below. After that, the end was a smooth cruise for the last half mile back to the start/finish area.

The Event Vibe

The harder the course, the better the vibes. I’ve heard it from good friends that the vibes are trail races and ultramarathons is unmatched but this was the first time I got to experience it for myself. I could probably write more but truthfully the first sentence sums it up best.

Takeaways and Areas for Improvement

Water dispenser and head lamp. Aside from those two missing items, the day couldn’t be more perfect. This definitely will not be my last trail race.

The Divide 25K was the perfect mix of beautiful views and challenging trails. I pushed myself and was surrounded by supportive strangers who genuinely rooted for my win. For me, racing has been pretty lonely and there is rarely anyone waiting to cheer me on at the finish; this has had its own benefits for me personally but it can be lonely. Trail racing allowed me to truly feel community for the first time and I did it as I tackled high levels of elevation and a significant difference. Finishing feeling tired but strong, with my cup filled, knowing I just pushed my own limits was the best I’ve felt to date at the end of a race. This was no doubt my favorite experience so far all year.

Last race: Skinny Raven Half Marathon

Next race: Smelter City Scamper 10K in Anaconda, Montana

You can check out all my 2026 Races here:

My (first) July Half Marathon was the Skinny Raven Half Marathon, hosted in Anchorage, Alaska. I grew up in Anchorage but, prior to a week ago, had not been back in exactly 10 years; the Skinny Raven Half felt like it was made for me. The race entry was affordable and plane tickets didn’t break the bank so I coordinated the childcare and packed my bags.

A Very Wet and Cold Race Day

I arrived in Anchorage 2 days before race day and the weather was bleak. Summer in Alaska is beautiful with long hours of sunlight but it’s never been quite what I would call warm. Growing up, it was rare to see days above low 70’s. However, this was different; the rain was incessant. In the 5 days I was in town, there was not a single hour that I was completely dry.

Race day morning was no different. When I showed up to the start line, it was already raining heavily and the temperature was in the low 50’s. Within 45 minutes I was soaked through my clothes. I ran through puddles that were up to my ankles, more than once I narrowly avoided the ones that hit me mid shin. There were points during the race that I could even see my own breath in the air; it was that cold. By the time I crossed the finish line, there was not a dry piece of clothing on my body; I had to ask a stranger to use his sweatshirt to dry off my camera to get a photo. It was so wet.

The Route

The race route started in downtown Anchorage and took runners down to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, one of the town’s popular running trails. The Coastal Trail takes runners through the woods alongside Cook Inlet. On a clear day this provides gorgeous views of Mount Susitna (commonly known as “Sleeping Lady”), Denali and downtown Anchorage. Race day it showed a lot of grey and clouds which was a bummer because I was really looking forward to this piece. Then, the trail pops out by the airport and we listened to the roar of airplanes taking off and flying directly overhead before turning around at the halfway mark of the race.

On the trail, I saw my first barefoot runner. Barefoot running is naturally impressive but in this weather I was absolutely awestruck. My feet were wet but warm with crew socks on but this guy was running on dirt trails, through mud and puddles, and beating the pavement for over 13 miles. I wish I could have talked to him but he was speedy and totally smoked me for time.

There were moderate hills built in throughout the race, for a total elevation gain of about 700 feet. The most significant was at the very end of the race. You came off the trail and ran right up this hill gaining 75feet in the last quarter of a mile. It was a killer burnout, especially in swampy shoes.

The Event Vibe

Every race event has a different energy and vibe, in part because of the people who organize it and in part because of the people who show up on race day. Something notable about The Skinny Raven Half Marathon was the effort for a culture of inclusivity. For one, this race is the first that I have participated in that offered two different start times: the regular start and a 1 hour head start for participants planning to take more than 3.5 hours to finish. Because of this, I saw a wider variety of ages, sizes, and experience levels than I have seen so far. That was very cool.

The other notable choice was to have volunteers to run the final half mile and burnout hill with people. This race is also the first that I have experienced with anything like this. As someone who runs alone and often without anyone to meet me at the finish line, this was very cool to see. The organizers of the Skinny Raven Half Marathon ensured no runner finished alone, which I think is beautiful.

Takeaways and Areas for Improvement

There is always a way to grow and get better and this race was no different for me. Running at sea level after training in the mountains gave me a natural advantage but this hilly course made it hard to ignore that I have been avoiding any kind of hill training. Going forward, I am going to be more intentional with my training in this area.

I also made a poor choice and fueled poorly. Fueling has consistently been a weakness for me; I struggle to eat before and don’t fuel often enough during. This time, I was underprepared and didn’t bring enough gels. Luckily, they gave me two at the mile 8ish aid station but if they hadn’t I would have been very sorry by about mile 10.5 or 11. This was a good reminder to keep an extra 2 or 3 in my pack.

Lastly, I sadly left my race bib in my rental car which was such a bummer. Luckily, I have my medal but I’d be lying if I said I am not super disappointed by that. In addition to this, I missed collecting my finisher glass at the end of race expo. The organizers said they will mail it but if I had to give any feedback it would have been to have them with medals, not at a separate tent that was not well marked.

Overall, the Skinny Raven Half Marathon was a fun way to experience the town I grew up in. I don’t think I would shell out the money to do this exact race again but I hope to make it back to do another in Alaska. Hopefully in weather that is a little more sunny and a lot less wet!

Last Race: Skyline Races Half Marathon (Virtual)

Next race: The Divide Trail Race - 25K

You can check out all my 2026 Races here:

A couple weeks ago I added a new challenge to my goals for July. It just said: ‘run to the lady.’ I discovered it was possible when members of the local run club that I follow on Strava logged their semi-annual club run up there. Upon further research, I discovered the Continental Divide Trail was accessible from there and then connected with a popular local trail that I’ve never seen the top of: Maud S. Canyon. I was officially committed. I mapped my Strava route, carved out a day on my calendar and packed my gels. I was ready.

The Plan

I decided to map a route up the access road to see our lady of the Rockies, over the continental divide trail and down Maude s canyon. The route had a total of just over 13 miles distance with around 2500’ of elevation gain. The easiest way to conceptualize this is in 3 parts:

1. Access Road to Our Lady of the Rockies Viewpoint

2. Continental Divide Trail Connector

3. Maude S Canyon Trail - Top to Bottom

Section 1: Access Road to Our Lady of the Rockies Viewpoint: 6 miles and 1950’ of vert

The first section of this trek was just up the access road taken by the shuttle bus to transport visitors. I have taken this tour one time and I remembre the ride being agonizing. It was slow and bumpy and someone thought it’d be a nice trip with my 3 week old baby. I would never recommend that to anyone

Nearly all of the elevation gained was during this section of the trek. It felt as though I was power hiking uphill the entire time and there was definitely more than one point where I questioned my sanity in this decision.

The shuttle passed me twice in this upbound section, both going up to see the Lady and coming back down. This exercise in humiliation saved me $35 since that is the cost of a tour for any interested adult. This also meant I had to scramble over the third gate since it was locked - what a rebel.

This section of my trek was about 6 miles long and 2000’ of elevation gain. It definitely left me questioning my choices.

At the top though, the view was worth it. The Viewpoint of Our Lady of the Rockies has a couple things to see.

View Point

First, there is of course, The Lady. Our Lady of the Rockies is the 4th tallest statue in the United States and stands 90 feet tall, and 48 feet at her widest point, weighing 425 tons (850,000 lbs). She stands at 8510 feet above sea level. It took 6 years for her to be built from 1979-1985. Imagining the manpower it took to build her is worth considering once you get over the breathtaking view.

About Our Lady of the Rockies

Our Lady of the Rockies is one of the most well known landmarks of Butte, Montana. A massive, white statue on the east ridge illuminated by spotlights so she can be seen from anywhere in butte at anytime of day, She is magnificent. But knowing her story, she gets even cooler.

Her story, as told on the foundation website is, as follows:

“In the late 1970s, Joyce O’Bill was sick with cancer. Her husband, scared he would lose her, made a promise. If she survived, he would create a monument in her honor.

Joyce made a full recovery and Bob made good on his promise. What started as a small act of love now stands before you as the fourth tallest statue in the United States.

The culmination of six years of hard work and undying faith placed Our Lady of the Rockies atop the Continental Divide. Construction of the statue started in 1979. The people of Butte, MT, from all demographics, volunteered their time. As well as building the statue, they created the access road that visitors arrive on. Meanwhile, volunteers were working to raise needed funds through memorials and other projects. They poured the 400-ton concrete base in September of 1985, and on December 17, 1985, the statue was ready to be airlifted. Thousands watched as the Nevada Army National Guard, the Montana National Guard, the US Army Reserve from Butte, and teams of civilian workers all moved the statue to the mountain in four sections.

For the community who contributed to the project, a dream had finally become reality. Our Lady of the Rockies is entirely nondenominational and a tribute to women and mothers everywhere. Built in the likeness of Mary, Mother of Jesus, she draws visitors from all over the world to honor, remember, and send love to the women in their own lives.”

The Valley Overlook

There is also the view of the valley below. Butte, MT is known as “the richest hill on earth” because of its historical role as the major copper producer in the United States during the 19th century. The greatest landmark is the Berkeley Pit, once an open pit copper mine, it is now one of the largest Superfund sites in the United States. The pit is an acidic pond that is beautiful to look at but incredibly toxic to plants, animals, and people. But it sure is pretty.

The Memorial Wall

Additionally, around the base of the observatory on the mountain is a wall covered with the names of over 13,000 women who have died around the world. For $25, you can purchase a plaque to have the name of a loved one added to this

Section 2: Continental Divide Trail Connector - 4.5 miles and 500’ of vert

After enjoying the sights at the top, it was time to locate the CDT. I’m not gonna lie: it took a minute. The entrance to the CDT is down from the memorial and off to the side, not amongst the side road that seemed to be going in the same direction before ending abruptly.

Very quickly I realized the CDT was going to be very different and much more rugged than anything I have run on in years.

I’m not a road runner but I have stuck to mostly paved trails this year the CDT is… wilderness. I loved it. I’m talking lots of rocks and fallen trees to climb over. Massive rock formations to look at and not a soul in sight. It was glorious.

For the next 4.5 miles I traversed the rugged trail through the woods and soaked in the views, only gaining about 500 feet of elevation before reaching the top of one of Butte’s most popular trails: Maud S.

Section 3: Maude S Canyon Trail - 3 miles, all downhill

You’d think after all the elevation gain, I’d be grateful for the downhill. And to a degree, I was. But I would also say this section felt the longest and like it dragged on forever.

It felt as though town never seemed to get any closer whenever I peered through the trees. It was filled with switchbacks and surrounded by fallen trees as it went steadily downhill.

Finally the trail popped out into a beautiful meadow area with the choice of a fork. I took the right fork through a grassy and flowered winding route, finally entering familiar territory. It was beautiful and picked up speed as well as brought a couple mountain bikers. I jogged the final stretch from the tracks down to the parking lot, ending on a high note after a very long day.

Final Thoughts…

This was probably my 7th real trail run ever and my 1st with significant distance. I spent about 6 hours out that day but I’m not sure how much of that was taking in the sights at the viewpoint. I used about 8 gels and drank 1.5 liters of water. And two days later, my calves and my glutes were wrecked. All in all, it was a success.

I plan on running this again before the end of the year, and hiking it at least once with my family. My next trail run though will actually be The Divide 25K, I was inspired to sign up by this experience. There isn’t as much elevation but it’s in the same area.

Here is to my next adventure!

Last race: Missoula Marathon Weekend

Next race: Skinny Raven Half Marathon

You can check out all my 2026 Races here:

“Can I post this photo of you?”

She flopped down beside me and immediately slipped into her comfortable spots. With her sharp little chin nestled into my clavicle, she peered at the phone in my hand; her fleshy little hand wrapped on my waist, and her smooth legs intertwined with mine as little kids always seem to do. She smiled at the FaceTime screen grab and seemed to contemplate it for a second. Then she said, “yeah, that’s a good one; you can share it.” She quickly unentangled herself and went back to jumping, jostling me on the hot trampoline.

It felt awkward, but also right in a way hard to describe.

She is only seven and already seven, all at once. We teach her to ask before hugging and to tell people if they’re making her uncomfortable. She knows her body is hers and that her voice matters. We talk to her both explicitly and non explicitly about consent.

So why does consent not extend to others sharing her photos and memories with the world?

This is one of the hard questions I asked myself about 6 months ago as I was considering the role of social media in my own life. Ultimately, I decided to scale back the photos I share of my children (for a multitude of reasons). Then I deactivated nearly all my social media anyway.

However, I still frequently consider this question and can’t say I am confident in the “right” choice. I’m sure my opinion will continue to evolve. But in the meantime, the bare minimum feels like asking before I share.

And honestly? I’m still not sure if I will post that photo, but now I have permission to if I decide to.

One of the things I considered while planning my race line-up was how to keep myself engaged and on track. I knew that, for me, this meant challenging races and beautiful locations.

I started by browsing RunSignUp and noting every race that looked fun or interesting locally, then expanded my radius. I created a spreadsheet with dates, races, distances, costs, locations, causes, and cutoff times. I then worked through my list, ruling out the ones that didn’t work before selecting my final choice. In addition to my initial list, I have had friends reach out, and opportunities have arisen that I haven’t been able to turn down.

The Final Line Up

In the end, I ended up with far more than 12 races, a mix of distances and locations, as well as novelty, challenge, and beauty. Below is a breakdown of the races I chose each month, where they are, and why they made the list. As the year goes on and I complete races, I will tag the recaps as well. [As a note: when counting races, I have not assigned numbers to Fun Runs]

March 2026

Run to the Pub Half Marathon - Bozeman, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #1]

This half-marathon was chosen to complete with a group of friends, so that I had made a promise to someone other than just myself.

April 2026

River Road Half Marathon - Gallatin Gateway, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #2]

I chose this half-marathon because it was the next one available to me and FREE. The local running club hosted it and was the first time I ran with a longtime friend.

May 2026

Montana Women’s Run - Billings, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #3]

This 5-mile race wasn’t originally on the docket, but a friend who had moved away reached out to say she was coming back to run it for her first race, and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to connect and experience it together.

Beaverhead Half Marathon - Dillon, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #4]

This half-marathon checked the box and kept my travel budget low. It also came with a neat corduroy hat instead of a race shirt and an embossed leather finisher “medal”

Billings Skyline Races - Billings, Montana Virtual
[2026 Challenge Reflection #6]

I signed up for this inaugural race, excited for the course, a brand-new addition to a running path I loved years ago. Unfortunately, my child care fell through, and I had to change to a virtual option; I completed my half-marathon by tackling a local route with over 2400’ of elevation gain. This one was way outside of my comfort zone, but a great challenge.'

June 2026

Missoula Marathon Weekend - Missoula, Montana:
[2026 Challenge Reflection #5]

• Tony Banovich 5K - this marked my 13-year-old niece’s first-ever race, and I got to complete it alongside her.

• Missoula Kids Marathon - both my kids ran this one and received a medal; my one-year-old even crossed the finish line on his own two feet, and it was very, very cute. The opportunity to include them in this sport I love is on my high list of priorities.

• Missoula Half Marathon - the Missoula Half Marathon was my first BIG race event, with an entire expo, official marathon photos, and an entire city-wide celebration. This experience was what first prompted me to sign up, and I do not regret it.

July 2026

Skinny Raven Half Marathon - Anchorage, Alaska
[2026 Challenge Reflection #7]

This race is my first out-of-state race and also my first time returning to the place I was raised in 10 years.

The Divide Trail Race 25K - Butte, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #8]

This one is my first technical trail race as well as my first distance greater than a half-marathon. It will be 25K and somewhere around 2100’ of elevation gain.

Smelter City Scamper 10K - Anaconda, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #9]

The Smelter City Scamper is a race I was too afraid to sign up for 5 years ago, so I am doing it for my younger self. It also makes a great B-race to run with my niece as we prepare for Cape Fear in October.

The fires and poor air quality resulted in me scrapping this race. I woke up to an AQI (air quality index) of 323 and decided that it was not smart or safe to commit to running over 6 miles in this weather.

Double Race Weekend - Washington State:

• Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon - Tacoma, Washington
  [2026 Challenge Reflection #10]

  This half-marathon will be the first for the friend who came for the Montana Women’s Run, and I am beyond honored to run it with her.

• Iron Horse Half Marathon - North Bend, Washington
  [2026 Challenge Reflection #11]
  This race came up as I was registering for the Tacoma Narrows, and the idea of the challenge excited me, so the proximity made it hard to pass up. I’m already paying to travel there, so I might as well get as much bang for my buck by squeezing in 2 half marathons back-to-back.

September 2026

Carpe Diem/Carpe Noctem (Double Half Marathon) - Virtual
[2026 Challenge Reflection #12]

I would have loved to travel to North Carolina to complete this race, and it is now on my bucket list. However, I could not pass up the challenge of running 2 half marathons in 1 day. It also comes with a very cool interlocking medal - one for the day and one for the night. I intend to mirror the in-person event schedule by running the Carpe Diem at 6:30 am and the Carpe Noctem at 4:30 pm. I will use this opportunity to run along the Skyline Trail in Billings for at least part of it.

Bozeman 10K - Bozeman, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #13]

The Bozeman 10K was the 1st official race I ever did, back in 2015, when they still offered a 5K. Returning to my roots and getting a bottle opener medal to celebrate the achievement? Sign me up.

Montana Marathon Weekend - Billings, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #14]

• Little Buzz Run

  Another opportunity to share this hobby with my littles and another finisher medal to add to their collection, as well as a 1-mile shakeout for me before I tackle my biggest race yet.

• Montana Marathon - Half

  I signed up for the full marathon as a challenge to myself; I decided in July this is not when I wanted to complete my first marathon. I did not feel prepared so I dropped down to a half-marathon. This will also mark nearly exactly 6 months since I completed my first half-marathon.

October 2026

Cape Fear Half Marathon - Bald Head Island, North Carolina
[2026 Challenge Reflection #15]

With family in the area and having read David Goggins’ memoir no less than 4 times, I could not turn down an opportunity to run a race put on by Badwater. Maybe one day I will tackle the Badwater 135, but Cape Fear seems like a good compromise for this year.

Summer and Fall Virtual Races
[2026 Challenge Reflection #16]

Between the beginning of July and the end of October I have signed up for 7 virtual races. These include:

• Christmas in July Half Marathon

• The Alaska Distance Classic Double Up (5K & 10K)

• Skinny Raven Oktoberfest 10K

• Orca Half Marathon

• Lake Washington Half Marathon

• Skinny Raven Frightening 5K

• Hot Cider Hustle 10K

I will recap all 7 of these runs in one post, adding them as two 5Ks, three 10Ks, and three half-marathons to my year count.

November 2026

Harrisburg Half Marathon - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
[2026 Challenge Reflection #17]

I will already be in the area for work, and what better way to check off my November half-marathon than to find one in the area I am already traveling to. It was rad to find a half-marathon that aligned so nicely with my travel plans.

Skinny Raven Turkey Trot 5K - Virtual
[2026 Challenge Reflection #18]

There is no better way to reflect on a year of gratitude than a guaranteed 5K run on Turkey Day.

December 2026

Honolulu Marathon Weekend - Honolulu, Hawaii:
[2026 Challenge Reflection #19]

• Kalakaua Merrie Mile

  This race will be a 1-mile race that I will do with just my daughter. After completing 4 others this year, she will be more than ready to push herself and truly earn the medal.

• Honolulu Marathon

  Honolulu Marathon is an untimed marathon in Hawaii, the ideal first marathon, and was the perfect addition to our winter family vacation. I bet the views will be absolutely unmatched.

A Year of Fun Runs
[2026 Challenge Reflection #20]

Recap of all the family fun runs completed in 2026. This includes:

• Butte St. Patrick’s Day Color Run

• YMCA Color Fun Run

• Missoula Kids Marathon

• Little Buzz Run

• Kalakaua Merrie Mile

Goodbye 2026, Hello 2027

New Year’s Double Double - Virtual
[2026 Challenge Reflection #21]

This felt like the perfect way to ring in the new year: a 5K AND a half-marathon on New Year’s Eve, followed by a 5K AND a half-marathon on New Year’s Day. I cannot travel to Texas, but I do like that I have to submit proof of tracking and dates to receive my medal for this set of virtual races.

Run the Edge 2026
[2026 Challenge Reflection #22]

This will be a recap of the Run the Edge virtual challenges I completed in 2026. This includes:

• Run the Year 2026 is a challenge to see how many intentional miles I’ve completed in 2026. This means that the only miles counted include running, walking, or hiking - not daily steps. It would be cool to complete the full 2026 miles.

• Amerithon: this challenge is a challenge to do the distance it takes to cross North America. I’ve completed this challenge once before but it took 31 months. For this challenge, I am including daily steps as well as intentional miles. I don’t anticipate finishing before January 1 but will be documenting the progress I have made.

• North Amerithon: Much like Amerithon but more miles to complete and starting later, only counting intentional miles.

Virtual Distance Challenges
[2026 Challenge Reflection #23]

This will be a recap of the adventure virtual challenge series I completed in 2026. These include challenges through several companies:

• Conqueror Virtual Challenges

• Pacer Virtual Challenges

January 2027

SnoFlinga 5K - Butte, MT
[2026 Challenge Reflection #24]

This will be a fun festival 5K that is free and perfect for the whole family.

Sorry ‘Bout That Half Marathon - Polson, Montana (part 1 of the Frozen Fool Challenge)
[2026 Challenge Reflection #25]

Another 2-part challenge? Surprise, surprise. It is also nearly impossible to find a half-marathon in Montana in January, so this was the pick.

February 2027

RunSedona Half Marathon - Sedona, Arizona
[2026 Challenge Reflection #26]

Falling the day before my birthday and marking my 12th consecutive month of half marathons, this race felt like it was made for me. My husband and I have also planned it as a couples trip, celebrating my birthday and leaving the kids with family for the weekend for the first time.

Snow Joke Half Marathon - Seeley Lake, Montana (part 2 of the Frozen Fool Challenge)
[2026 Challenge Reflection #27]

This was the 2nd part of the Frozen Fool Challenge, so there is no way I was leaving this box unchecked.

March 2027 (Bonus Month)

Run to the Pub Half Marathon - Bozeman, Montana
[2026 Challenge Reflection #30]

This will be an opportunity to see how much I have achieved in a full year since running my first Run to the Pub. I can’t wait to absolutely demolish my performance from 2026 and taste the win.

Cool Factor

This challenge feels super cool just for the accomplishment. To say I completed at least 1 half marathon per month for 12 consecutive months is pretty rad. However, there are more accomplishments I feel add to the cool factor of the entire experience.

My Top 3 Fun Facts:

1. My 20th Half Marathon will be Run to the Pub in March 2027, bringing me full circle from my very first (even though it does not fall within the 12 months)

2. My 31st race will be the day before my 32nd birthday. This will mark my 12th consecutive month of half marathons. You truly cannot beat that for serendipity.

3. My half-marathon-per-month promise is not fulfilled by running full marathons. Even in the months I run a marathon, I have stayed committed to my promise to myself of a half that month.

Total: 51 Races, Events, and Experiences

• 1 full marathon

• 22 half marathons

• 13 other distances - 4K, 5K, 10K, 25K or somewhere in between

• 5 family races

• 10 virtual distance challenges

Locations:

• Races in 8 Cities in Montana: Bozeman, Butte, Dillon, Missoula, Anaconda, Billings, Seeley Lake, and Polson

• Half Marathons in 7 States: Montana, Alaska, Washington, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Arizona

• Half Marathons on both East and West coasts: Washington & Pennsylvania

• Half Marathons in both states outside the continental United States: Alaska & Hawaii

Cost

• My least expensive race was the River Road Half Marathon at $0

• My most expensive race was the Cape Fear Half Marathon at $169

• The total of race registrations was (don’t tell my parents or my husband) just over $3000, including those purchased for family and friends who joined in the fun but not including race insurance that I purchased.

3-2-1 Challenges:

• 3 back-to-back race events with double half marathons

• 2 race weekends with multiple days of events

• 1 event with 2 races in one day

At the end of the year, I will provide an update on how everything went [2026 Challenge Reflection #30]. But in the meantime, I will post notes with my 6 favorite pictures from each race day. Thanks for your support, I might need it.

How We Got Here

In December 2025 I had a crazy idea. After roughly 18 months of minimal movement I was going to start running again. And to motivate myself and keep myself on track I was going to sign up to complete my first half marathon… 10 weeks into the new year.

Less than 36 hours after finishing my first half marathon I signed up for my second… one month later. And 2 weeks after that decision I signed up for 5 more races, including my first full marathon 6 months later.

By this point I had put in around 365 miles since January 1 so I was clearly committed to running. But the few people I shared this with thought my race schedule was a little ambitious.

So naturally, I set my sights on an even loftier goal: 12 half marathons in the next 12 months.

Not eager to hear the naysayers I kept this little plan to myself and began to research and plan races.

The Reality of Coordinating

I am not a 22 year old with minimal obligations nor am I an independently wealthy retiree. I have a full time job. My husband has a primary job that has a rotating schedule as well as a second job that pulls him away for atleast a weekend each month. Plus we have 2 small children and unfortunately not a huge circle that is willing or able to drop everything to care for them. Oh, and we live in rural Montana. The logistics of it nearly killed me but I was determined.

As I began to plan my roster I considered a few things:

• Schedules - my job, my husband’s schedule, school events, sports, social obligations, and childcare definitely left my head spinning at times.

• Cost - race registration can get pricey but there are other factors to consider as well such as gas, other transportation (like flights and rental cars), lodging, and food.

• Location - living in rural Montana has its perks… and abundance of close races is not one of them. I found a lot of opportunities around the state but 3+ hours of travel is pretty standard for consideration. Also: might as well take advantage of opportunities to see good friends and check out cool experiences while I’m at it.

• Cool factor - if I’m going to pay to run, I’d like to find some cool opportunities. Destination runs aren’t always in my budget but I sought out views and challenges to keep myself interested throughout the year

Final Race Registration Count:

49 Events with 19 half marathons, 1 full marathon (and a smattering of other events)

You can read about the races I chose and why I chose them here:

The Journey So Far…

So far, I have completed 10 events; this includes five half marathons, two 5Ks, one 5 miler, and three family “fun” runs.

In training, I have logged 842.5 miles of running this year and have spent a shocking amount of money on race registrations. I also now own 4 pairs of running shoes, have discovered the joy of open ear headphones, and 20% of my diet is comprised of Gu gels.

These last four months have been some of the most rewarding and challenging in recent years. They have definitely been the most dedicated I have been to myself and some people would even say the most selfish. But I’ve never felt more secure and confident and stable.

“You’re so unhappy”

Don’t get me wrong: I’m incredibly grateful. But I have a horrid little creature that creeps in, especially late at night.

I’m disgusted with My Discontentment. I try to close doors on it by doing things like deleting social media and running until my big toes feel like they will fall off but it always thrusts its ugly head back in through the cracks. Cracks of frustration and overwhelm. Cracks of exhaustion. Cracks formed by feelings of inadequacy.

My Discontentment is an expert at exploiting the chaos and has the patience of a saint. She slips in between the dirty diapers and the ceaseless sound of pings from Microsoft Teams. Slithers amongst the 5 schedules I constantly juggle, afraid I am forgetting something.

My Discontentment worms her way in and stares at me with big unblinking eyes, daring me to acknowledge her. Daring me to do something about her.

And lately, I haven’t.

Instead I just ignore her and browse RunSignUp, searching for another half marathon even though I know I have looked at every race and filled every available weekend.

But I do it anyway.

And My Discontentment, bored with me, slips away for the evening.

And I sigh a shallow breath of relief as I close the browser and open Substack.

I win. Again.

As much as people want to talk about how “different” it is than social media, it’s still social media.

Is it the lack of endless videos?

Is it the completely formed thoughts?

Is it the vulnerability that feels (even if it’s just slightly) less performative?

All of these things have been a bit of a breath of fresh air after over a decade of Instagram’s increasingly monopolistic grip on my attention.

But it’s more.

It’s the lack of “likes” and followers. It’s the anonymity. It’s the fact that no one knows me or is watching me or really gives a damn about what I’m saying.

Not once have I thought about what the ambiguous “they” will think about what I’m posting.

Or wondered if “they” saw my post.

I haven’t considered the silent quid pro quo of liking something since I downloaded Substack.

Or felt that twinge as I wondered why “they” saw my reposted post on my story and still didn’t like it.

I don’t agonize over whether my caption is the right degree of interesting and informative but also nonchalant.

Or what story the order of the pictures in the carousel was telling.

Or whether the spacing of the song on my reel is *just* perfect.

Substack is just me and my thoughts and what I feel inspired to share, when I feel inspired to share it.

It’s just me and my iced chai and breakfast sandwiches enjoying the perfect 70 degree weather.

Will it always be like this?

I can’t be sure but, honestly? I don’t really care. This is what it feels like right now.

And that’s really what is freeing.

What I brought:

The recommendation for fueling is about 60-90g of carbs per hour but that feels like a lot for me. However running for 6-10 miles on 3 gels and vibes just isn’t cutting it anymore either.

What I used:

My run today was roughly 3 hours and I fueled with 137 g of carbs and 585 calories. I drank about 72 oz of water. I had a scoop of preworkout and a protein shake about 45 minutes before heading out as well.

Next Time:

Overall, I felt pretty good and wasn’t nearly as gassed by the end of the run like I have been. I also didn’t sweat salt like I have been on my previous long runs.

Based on recommendations I should be consuming 180-270 g of carbs on 3 hour runs. Next time I will try about 50g more carbs and 2 electrolyte mixes instead of 1 and this should place me right in the correct range.

Several years ago I started setting goals on a quarterly basis rather than annually and found it so much easier to stick to them and stay focused. However I am not great at going back and reflecting on my wins. So this year I am doing things a bit different.

At the beginning of 2026 I sat down and wrote out some goals and intentions for the quarter and last week I made a note of some of the wins for the first three months of the year.

And let me tell you… 2026 has been good to our family so far.

Here are our wins:

☑️I completed my first half marathon event

☑️I lost 20 pounds

☑️I intentionally Ran/Walked 422.8 miles

☑️I established a skincare routine (and stuck to it!!)

☑️G ran her first race (on her own 2 feet)

☑️We celebrated R’s first birthday

☑️R has chosen his first (clear) word: “hi”

☑️N started back with the department (and accomplished it within a year of moving back, as we intended to)

☑️N earned a promotion and a new unit

I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish with the next three months!