Scenes from my @skyrunning Ueda Skyrace🙌
Repping my new favorite gear from @nedao.running 🤩 It is very hard to find high quality gear that will handle this kind of racing and Nedao does it all!
From the jungles of Malaysia to the mountains of Japan it really gets the job done💪
#increasethestoke
-Ueda Skyrace 2026-
This was the worst performance of my life. A day where everything seemed to go wrong. I feel like quitting is too common in our sport, and when people feel they will not win or their body is not good they drop out. Yesterday I refused to drop out, and it was honestly really scary to face the reality of my result, and my body quickly deteriorating. Some times it is much easier to hide or quit when it’s going wrong, but I think above all if you can reach the finish line you better damn walk it in. Shout out to @liamckenziee your a badass mate🫶🤙
I am so grateful to good friends to take care of me when I finished, and to the race medical staff. @moe.trails@kiwi.west@abbystone0
This is one of the best races in the world and I will be back to have a good day again as I did last year. And I am beyond grateful to the organizers for the opportunity. @ueda.skyrunning 🫶 arigato gozaimasu!!
After not being able to race Desert Rats my season has been changed quite a bit, as OCC by UTMB was the main goal. Now I will be leaning a bit more into Skyr*nning as I have the past two years.
Last week I opened my trail season with a win and CR at the Cheyenne Mountain Trail Race 7 miler! Which was a very good effort and spin of the legs.
This weekend I will be headed to one of my favorite races I have ever been. The Ueda Skyrace in Japan. I am so grateful to Dai for letting us into the race even after the registration was closed. Just goes to show how wonderful this race is. So grateful and beyond stoked to go to Japan again and race this awesome…. And brutal race!
🇺🇸 —> 🇯🇵
#increasethestoke
Chapter 3: Patience
After what seemed a perfect build, unfortunately I will have to bail on the Deseret Rats 50k this weekend.. Got an illness I have been unable to shake in time to feel confident and respectful to my body.
Last year, I found myself consistently trying to force things to work. This year, it is my intention to truly listen to and respect my body.
Currently back at the drawing board… stay tuned.
Huge thank you to @tyleraspens for the entry; sorry I am unable to use it! 🫶
#sharethestoke
CHAPTER 2: Positivity
“Optimism is true moral courage.” -Ernest Shackleton
It is easy facing the world to think negatively. It seems every direction you look you can find pain, struggles, frustration. Although, when you draw closer, you can often find multitudes of beauty.
When I tell people I mountain run the most common response is, “Ew why would
you do that to yourself. “ or the classic, “I will only run if someone is chasing me”. The majority of people have decided running is an act of pain, and the mountains are a place of suffering. For me, when the morning sun shines through the peaceful yet, tenacious Ponderosa and Pinyon pines native to the mountains of Colorado Springs. With the subtle sound of my footsteps and breathing. Accompanied by the occasional squirrel or bird making a run for it. This is when I feel truly free. This majestic painting on the horizon, for just a moment, in the sands of time I have become a part of. Now separated from the burdens of man. Time, obligation, responsibility, do not exist. This moment of true being, only here and now.
#increasethestoke
CHAPTER 1: PREPARATION
“A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does.”
-Dan Millman
The winter is time for the mountain runner to reflect, relax, and prepare for the next year. After a strong taste of potential last year, and some taste of defeat, I am beyond motivated to have a special 2026. This winter we have put in some of the best training of my life. My body is responding well, I feel healthy and very strong, which is giving me loads of confidence.
Preparing the mind is just as important as preparing the body, not only getting your body to do amazing things, but getting your mind to believe you can.
I am putting all my current focus into my daily life, and getting ready to race the desert rats 50k in hopes of qualifying for OCC (Apart of the UTMB weekend). For those of you who do not know, the UTMB weekend is the “Superbowl” of trail racing. Eyes on Chamonix, France. Though, for now all eyes on fruita, CO on April 11th.
#increasethestoke
-Super Bowl Half Marathon-
I broke my own moral code this last weekend and raced a “road” race! It was very fun to get a chance to run fast and flat.
Pretty pleased with a 5th place finish and 1:14:25 at 6000 feet off of all trail training! Getting ready for some really fun stuff this year! Stay tuned!
Shout out to @acebrownrunning for the awesome flics, and for giving me a pair of old Rocket X’s to race in!
This race was all dedicated to @itsallablurrrr and @the_trail_team for making me run a bike path 3 times a year to make sure my speed was prepared✊
#increasethestoke
Have been enjoying a lovely winter of recovery, and some great training. Looking forward to another year of racing in 2026.
I am bringing a new level of intentionality into my training and life, which is leaving me full of confidence and stoke to move forward.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
Shouts out to @cieleathletics for making the greatest cold weather running hat of all time🤘
@the_trail_team
#increasethestoke
-2025 a student-
This year of racing was a massive roller coaster for me. With so much travel and constant racing left me with some very high highs and some very low lows.
As someone who always wants to perform my best, I believe I have learned a lot about my body and how I can be a smarter more intentional athlete.
I am beyond excited for next year and putting some of these things to action to truly show my level and ability as a mountain runner.🤘
If anyone is interested about the effects of travel on racing/performance feel free to hit me up in the DMs!
#increasethestoke
-Gratitude for the People-
And a few special shoutouts:
To mumzy: Thank you so much for always being there for me, through all the ups and all of the downs. With the best laughs and the best sads. And always there with a good yoga flow❤️
To Coach Dad: Thank you for being the best coach in the west, guiding me through the challenges of sport mentally and physically. And for teaching me to be a man.🖤
To Rio: Thanks for being my best friend in the world! And inspiring me to be less boring of a person, and keeping life adventurous.💛
To my beautiful Abby: Thanks for shining your light on my life, you are one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. And an absolute blast to run, travel, and everything with.♥️
I love you all! And god bless✌️🫶
Also fun fact, instagram only lets you tag 20 people… I guess its not too bad I have more than 20 people I am grateful for:)
#increasethestoke
