I grew up with mountains at my doorstep, and I always felt drawn to run to their tops. At first, I didn’t distinguish trail from road—running was just running to me. That changed when a local running club pushed me to sign up for a 50K trail race. That race opened my eyes to a whole new sport, and I realized how powerful community can be. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people exposes you to worlds you never knew existed—and shows you that growth is always possible.

Today, trail running means connection. Connection to the earth, to myself, and to the community. It’s a beautiful sport that grounds me. Even outside racing, running stays central to my daily life—it’s my daily self-improvement, my break from chaos. I host a trail run club every Thursday, and as a teacher, I use lessons from the trails to inspire my students to embrace big challenges and be gentle with themselves in the process.

The race that has stayed with me most is my first 100-miler—Kodiak 100, a brutal mountain race with over 13,000 feet of gain. That race forced me to face my deepest fear: running alone in the dark. I thought my pacer would be with me at night, but on the second night, I found myself utterly alone in the pitch-black mountains. Panic hit—I cried, I doubted every step, I feared I’d never make it out. Then, in the distance, I spotted two headlamps. Those two runners became my lifeline; they calmed me down and we ran together until sunrise. That experience broke my fear. Now, I not only run in the dark myself, but I help others overcome the same terror. It taught me that facing your worst fear head‑on makes you unstoppable.

Running gives me something nothing else can: stability. It’s a home that never changes, always welcoming, rain or shine. It offers clarity, emotional release, stress relief, gratitude—or just a chance to zone out. When life gets full, the trails always center me. I learned the hard way that without boundaries, both mind and body suffer. I used to over‑give to work and relationships, which led to depression and burnout. Running helped me carve out daily time for myself, so I can show up stronger for everything else.

Ultra running has taught me how resilient I am. It shows me I’m never stuck—I can always adapt and take action, even if it’s a tiny step. There are no wrong paths; every wrong choice teaches you what not to do, and that’s better than not trying at all. As for gear, the running vest is my superhero cape—it carries everything I need, from fuel to emergency kit, and makes me feel safe on any long adventure.