I began climbing mountains when I was 13 and climbed my first 14er, Longs Peak, at age 15. I climbed all the 14ers after moving to Colorado to work as the outdoors writer for the Greeley Tribune. I finished them in 2005, when my son was born. My twin girls were born in 2007, and by then I’d decided to start running because it was safer than the peaks (I’d almost died twice and figured the third time wasn’t the charm). 

I ran my first marathon in 2010 and actually enjoyed it a year later when I ran my second without cramps. I ran fast for 10 years, with PRs in the half at 1:34, 20:25 for my 5k and 3:39 in the marathon. And then I hated it. When you hate something, it’s always a good idea to more of it, right? This is why I decided to run a 50-miler. 

An ultramarathon wasn’t just a new challenge; it was an adventure. It was the same kind of uncertainty that attracted me to the mountains, only this time, I didn’t know if I’d make the finish line instead of a summit. All I knew was I’d see a lot of beautiful sights along the way. 

I became an ultrarunner after finishing Run Rabbit Run. I’ve since completed 20, and now I want to help you do it too. 

I also continue to write about the outdoors for Colorado Sun and work as the associate editor for NOCO Style magazine. I am the author of Reborn on the Run, a book I wrote with famed ultrarunner Catra Corbett.