Wadhams to Avoca Trail FKT

This is another trail that's a bit too short to be in my wheelhouse, but it ends near Lake Huron so it was a good excuse for a day at the beach with my beautiful wife. Plus, I saw a lot of rabbits on the trail, which I always enjoy

Tara dropped me off at the trailhead around 7 a.m. so I could try to beat the heat, but it was beginning to get warm by the time I finished. I ran this trail southbound, so the first 7 miles were gravel and grass before the trail turned to pavement. This route is closer to 12.5 miles than the 12 listed on the FKT website, which made for a fun surprise. There is minimal elevation change and I finished in 1:18:01. This is a "rails to trails" path and within the first few miles I crossed an old trestle bridge with a nice view of the surrounding area and a valley below. The final trailhead is about 3 miles before the actual finish, so after I finished I used the jog back to the car as a little cooldown.

I carried 8oz of Nuun Endurance and a gel, which was definitely overkill. I would typically run this distance without calories or water, but I've been training a decent amount so I wasn't confident that I have much glycogen stored up in my muscles or was properly hydrated to begin with. I wore the New Balance Fuelcell Rebels today because the outsole pattern provides a bit more grip than most road shoes, which was beneficial on the gravel.

After I finished we went to the beach for a while to cool off in Lake Huron before getting lunch in downtown Port Huron.

This is my fourth FKT in the past 14 days and the cumulative fatigue is beginning to catch up with me. It may be time to dial it back a bit for the next 3 weeks until the Dirty Burg 50K.

FKT Website (Wadhams to Avoca Trail)

10x Lake Lansing Trail FKT

This is my home trail, quite literally. My house is only a few hundred meters from an auxiliary trailhead, and my childhood home is right next to a different trailhead. I grew up playing in these woods and I've logged a lot of good miles on this loop.

The Lake Lansing Trail has been a popular proving ground for local runners for decades and I recently snagged the FKT for a single loop. The "Ten Loop" variation is special because it's just slightly over a 50K, making it an ideal route for ultra runners to test their fitness. 

My Garmin is always unreliable in these trails, but according to the maps and other runners’ GPS data, this route is 33.5 miles with 1,700’ of elevation gain. I finished in 4:12:29.

During the run I took in about 750 calories and 50oz of fluid. I stopped at my car once to resupply around mile 19 and carried the GoPro for a bit.

I'm definitely still feeling the Sleepy Hollow Trail FKT I did yesterday, but I wanted to log some miles on tired legs. I was inspired by Chaz Hornburg's crazy 90 miler on the Potawatomi Trail yesterday.

FKT Website (Lake Lansing Trail)

Sleepy Hollow Trail FKT

This one was a family affair. Sadie and Tara played at the beach while I ran and we had a picnic when I finished. The trail was muddy and overgrown in spots, but that just added to the adventure and having my girls waiting for me at the finish made this my favorite FKT so far.

The official stats for the trail are 11.2 miles and 797' of elevation gain. I finished in 1:16:42.

This trail is notorious for flooding and the rainfall this week left it quite muddy with a few sections of standing water, but I've seen it much worse. The more challenging aspect involved the parts of the trail that were overgrown from lack of use. Sleepy Hollow State Park is typically a popular campground, but it has been closed all season due to COVID-19 and some sections of trail had narrowed considerably from overgrowth, while some parts had grass a foot high in the middle of the trail. A few trees down across the trail was evidence of less staff performing maintenance as well.

All of this combined to provide exactly the adventure I needed.

I went after a very flat, fast FKT last weekend, and I'm planning the same for next weekend, so it was good to get back to my roots with some real trail running. I'm planning to get back on the trails tomorrow for a longer effort. Logging miles on tired legs is an important part of my training.

FKT Website (Sleepy Hollow Trail)

Falling Waters Trail FKT

The lack of races has meant it's open season for FKTs.

The Falling Waters Trail is a "rails to trails" route stretching 10.5 miles from Concord to Jackson. I ran it out-and-back for a total of 21 miles in 2:16:18 to snag the speed record. The "Fastest Known Time" was previously held by Josh Sanders, a good guy and accomplished mountain runner for Salomon.

I usually seek out hilly, technical trails, but this one was flat and fast. It was a good litmus test before I begin training for my first road marathon this Fall. I began to feel the lactic acid buildup around mile 17, but I held it together enough to stay relatively close to my goal pace.

I ran this "unsupported," carrying 18oz of water (with Tailwind) and 2 gels, which seemed to be perfect. I was originally only going to take 10oz, but given the 94% humidity I called a last minute audible and I'm glad I did.

There were a few times today that I really wished I had a pack to run with so it would be easier to turn my brain off and slip into autopilot, but I suppose that's just one of the challenges of unsupported speed records.

The sun was at my back for the second half of this run, which was very beneficial because it allowed me to see my shadow. As I began to tire I could immediately see when my form started to break down (like my elbows flaring out a bit) and make the necessary adjustments.

It looks like some local 5Ks are taking place next week, so hopefully I'll have the opportunity to race again soon!

FKT Website (Falling Waters Trail)

Triple Potawatomi Trail FKT

"A Triple Poto breaks everyone... but in the end, some people are strong in the broken places."

The Potawatomi Trail is an iconic 18-mile loop in Pickney, MI (also winding its way through the town of Hell, which seems fitting) with around 2,000' of elevation gain per loop. A "Triple Potawatomi Trail" is exactly what it sounds like - 3 of these loops back to back to back. My watch lost GPS signal a few times, but still clocked it at 54.1 miles total, which includes running through a lakefront park that connects the trailheads at the start and finish.

I'm very honored to add my name to the list of runners who have held Potawatomi Trail FKTs - it has become a veritable "who's who" of Michigan endurance athletes. However, I'm not actually particularly pleased with my time - I was hoping the finish under 9 hours - but it was a good learning experience and I did what I needed to do to get the record. (Shoutout to my buddy Chaz Hornburg, a talented trail runner who held this record and will probably take it back from me.) I typically pride myself on refusing to walk during ultras (whether that's smart or not is debatable) but by the last loop I had slowed from 8:30/mile pace to 11/mile pace and was power hiking nearly every climb.

This was the warmest ultra I've run and I misjudged how much water I would need... but I learned my lesson. I ran the first lap carrying 20oz of water, the second lap with 32oz, and the third lap with 48oz. I used my car as a makeshift aid station so I was able to resupply every 18 miles and drank furiously at these stops as well. In total, I consumed about 140oz of water and 1,800 calories throughout the run. I believe that overall I drank enough water, but I just dug myself into a hole early by not drinking enough on that first lap and spent most of the next 36 miles playing catch up.

This is the second FKT I've set in the past week, so it seems like the 100+ mile weeks during "QuaranTraining" have been paying off. I've found that I typically do best in 50K trail races, but with everything cancelled I figured it's a good time to get out of my comfort zone, both on the short side (3.35 miles) and the long side (54.1 miles). Next on my "not in my comfort zone" list? Roads...


FKT Website (Potawatomi Trail)

Lake Lansing Trail FKT

This is the shortest FKT in Michigan at 3.35 miles with 176' of elevation gain. It's far too short to be in my wheelhouse, but it's a great single-track trail and I do a lot of my training here, so I gave it a shot. The previous FKT had stood for 4 years, but I barely snuck past and beat it by 10 seconds (finishing in 20:18). I'm not accustomed to these short, fast efforts and I was already feeling it after the first climb less than a mile in. I thought the record was out of reach and coasted for a bit, until some quick mental math helped me realize that I still had a shot. I was able to close with a fast last mile while avoiding stumbling on the many roots covering the trail, which is the real key to posting a fast time on this route. I'd like to try this again someday and break 20 minutes, but for now I'll go back to my preferred 30+ mile efforts.


FKT Website (Lake Lansing Trail)

Winter Loops 4hr

 Icy and muddy trails, a few falls and a devastating wrong turn in the last hour provided a good test of my grit at the Winter Loops 4hr. I clawed my way to 28.5 miles (and climbed 1,600+ feet), winning the overall title by 3 miles and setting a new course record in the process.

Sharing a 1.5 mile loop of single-track trail with 200+ runners added another challenge, as I found myself weaving in and out of other competitors for most of the race.

I'm pleased with how I responded to the challenges and I know my fitness is moving in the right direction, but I still have a lot of work to do if I want to be competitive with the pros at the Ice Age Trail 50 this May. I wasn't very happy with my training block leading up to my last 50 miler (Yankee Springs), which was condensed due to an injury, but I'm looking forward to a productive few months before Ice Age and planning to log some 100 mile weeks. I have yet to miss a podium in an ultra, and I don't plan on breaking that streak anytime soon.

Full Results

Yankee Springs Winter Challenge 50 Mile

My expectations are a moving target. A year ago, if you had told me I would complete a 50 mile trail race, I would have been ecstatic. Six months ago, if you had told me I would podium in my first 50 mile trail race, I would have been thrilled. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very pleased with a third-place finish in the Yankee Springs Winter 50 Mile… however, it’s still the lowest I’ve placed in an ultra.

This was one of the more competitive ultras I’ve raced and took place on a fairly challenging course. The 5,142’ of elevation gain and loss punished those who weren't prepared and some of the rocky descents were perilous. The trail claimed it’s share of victims and the finish rate was around 60%. Many of those who dropped out were just worn down by the distance and terrain, but a fair number were very strong runners who went out too hard in an attempt to remain competitive in a fast field and it cost them.

I went out with 8 minute miles for the first 5k to establish myself near the front of the pack, but then quickly settled into a more methodical pace. I crossed the 19 mile mark in 5^th place, averaging just under 8:30/mile. I was feeling fatigued far earlier than I expected so I was very happy to pick up my first pacer, Mark Ott. Mark has a ton of ultra experience and some very impressive 100 mile wins to his name, so I knew I was in good hands. He quickly assessed my condition based on my stride, calorie and water intake, and a few brief questions about how I felt. He set a pace that pushed me but wouldn’t break me and stayed about 5 yards in front of me, pulling me along. I had consumed less than 16oz of liquid during those first 19 miles, which Mark immediately recognized would be an issue later in the race if we didn’t adjust quickly. His periodic barks of “Drink!” kept me hydrated and I downed 50oz over the next 15 miles. As we hammered up some of the steeper climbs Mark offered reminders to pump my arms, and as we crashed down the hills he pointed out loose rocks and roots to avoid. We bounced between 4^th and 5^th place for a while before some of the leaders began to pay for their fast start as their legs failed them. When our time together ended 34.5 miles into the race, I was in 3^rd place.


With 15.5 miles to go I picked up my final pacer, Ben Pankow. While Mark excelled at ensuring my body remained in working order, Ben did the same for my psyche. Ben was a standout runner for Williamston and CMU, an accomplished coach and is a very good friend. As much as he ensured I maintained a good pace and form (I heard "shorten your stride" and "relax your shoulders" more times than I could count), most of his duties involved supporting me mentally and encouraging a positive attitude. Around mile 36 I was struggling up a long climb when I ground out a hoarse “Ben…” between audible breaths. He turned around, and seeing the look on my face offered a soothing, “I know, buddy… I know.” He alternated between understanding and encouraging, and at times provided some much-needed tough love (as you can see in the video of my finish below, with Ben in the blue jacket breathing down my neck).





A race like this is a team effort, and I’m lucky to have an awesome team. Thank you to my crew (my dad, stepmom and beautiful wife), my pacers, my mom and stepdad for watching my daughter so we could stay in a cabin at the trailhead, and the volunteers and staff at Switchback Endurance for putting on a great race.


All in all, this was a good start to the 2020 season and I’m eager to continue pushing my limits. Congratulations to the champion Steve Lawrence and runner-up Chaz Hornberg. Next up: Winter Loops 4hr!

Full Results

Ultra Bird 6hr

I finished Runner-Up in the Ultra Bird 6hr this past weekend, running 40.3 miles of trails (and climbing 2,400 feet) in 5 hours and 55 minutes. It was a tough field this year and the winner and myself both broke the previous course record, despite the sleet, hail and mid-30’s temps on a muddy course. This type of race is unique in that it has no real finish line, just a moment in time to mark the end, which requires a different psychological approach. 

I went out in the lead pack of 5 guys before breaking away around the 9 mile mark. I made a strong move over the next 5 miles to take control of the race and extend my lead. In retrospect, I moved too early and I knew I was in trouble when I saw my heart rate spike with over 4 hours left in the race. The eventual winner (Zach Terpstra) caught me around the 27 mile mark and I hung with him for a mile before he dropped me. I ran the next 10 miles or so alone through the sleet and hail as the sun set. I made up some ground in the dark and at the 39 mile mark I saw the headlamps of the leader and his pacer bobbing in the distance. With one final effort I pushed the pace with everything I had left, but they saw me too and put in a surge to hold me off.

A few miles into the race I realized that my Garmin was glitching and wouldn’t load my playlists, so I had to run the duration of the race without music... But plans will inevitably go awry during an ultra, and there’s nothing to do but keep running. It was an interesting experience competing in this race without a crew, a pacer or music. I had a lot of time alone with my thoughts, most of which were quite primitive (my pace, my caloric intake, distance to the next aid station, my family). I told my daughter I would run 40 miles, so I found myself continually reciting a line from a Robert Frost poem, “I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”

My knees are still a little sore from the steep descents and I’m definitely going to lose a toenail, but overall my body held up very well and I’m excited to keep pushing myself further. Congrats to the winner Zach Terpstra and third-place finisher Brian Cavanaugh, and thank you to the race organizers and volunteers at Egress Endurance for putting on such a great event!

Full Results

Thru The Leaves 50K

I shattered the course record by almost 8 minutes on my way to a first place finish in my first ultramarathon, the Thru The Leaves 50k. 31.2 miles of gnarly trails, 3,486 feet of climbing, and I think I found my niche. There’s something romantic and almost transcendent about facing a steep climb deep in the woods at mile 30. Not to mention how friendly the ultra running community is, I felt welcomed with open arms.

I ran with some great guys and very strong mountain-ultra-trail runners for the first part of the race (Mark Ott and John Alsip). I broke away around mile 9 by surging on a long climb and crashed down the hill to open up a gap. I was concerned about making a move so early because I knew there were some very accomplished ultra runners in this race (including Runner-Up Josh Sanders) and that they would finish strong, but I kept hammering on the hills and hung on for the win and a new course record.

I want to say thank you to the race director and all the staff and volunteers for Move-it Fitness LLC! They put on an excellent race!

I also have to thank my beautiful fiancé for being part of my crew and being so supportive during my training, as well as my dad and stepmom for crewing. This was truly a life-changing experience and I'm eager to pursue my ultra career and see how far my legs can take me.

Full Results