When I finally scheduled my surgery to remove a Haglund’s deformity, a heavy dose of anxiety came with the decision. For endurance athletes, our identity is often wrapped up in the daily grind of training miles, the anticipation of race day, and the shared sweat of the trail. I genuinely worried that stepping away from running would mean stepping away from my community, leaving me stranded on the sidelines.
Thankfully, that couldn't have been further from the truth.
Since going under the knife on March 27th, my relationship with the running world hasn’t faded—it has evolved. While my running shoes have been gathering a bit of dust, I’ve found myself entirely immersed in the sport through an alternative lens.
Keeping the Conversation Going
First and foremost, being sidelined physically hasn’t stopped me from engaging mentally. I’ve poured a ton of energy into coaching my athletes online, watching them crush their own goals while I rebuild. I’ve also kept the mic hot on the Buckle Up: An Ultrarunning Conversation podcast, diving into deep discussions with fascinating guests across the endurance space.
A New Vantage Point: Altitude Endurance Timing Co.
One of the silver linings of this recovery period has been the time to launch a project I’m incredibly passionate about: Altitude Endurance Timing Co. I’ve taken a deep dive into the technical world of race timing, and we are officially launching to provide premium timing services for local road and trail events right here in Western Colorado.
Instead of chasing finish lines, I'm building them. In fact, this upcoming weekend marks my very first official event behind the timer's table. I’m incredibly excited to support the participants and experience the high-energy atmosphere of a race day in an entirely new way.
From the Big Horns to the Tahoe Expo
Lately, recovery has also taken me on the road. Earlier this month, I traveled up to Sheridan, Wyoming, to help a friend prepare for her first 100-mile race at the legendary Bighorn 100. Getting to experience the pre-race buzz, catch up at the runner meetings, and soak in that classic Western trail community reminded me why we fall in love with this sport in the first place.
From Wyoming, I headed out to Lake Tahoe for three incredible days at TrailCon. Day one kicked off with brilliant presentations, highlighted by a legendary interview where Scott Jurek sat down with Matt Carpenter.
The next two days shifted gears into the tech and gear side of the industry. I spent my time connecting with innovative sports product designers and hanging out at the expo to support my own team at the UltrAspire tent. It was a blast talking shop with passing runners, breaking down everything from optimal lumen setups for night racing to the specifics of waist belts and hydration packs.
The Takeaway
Recovery is a slow, patient process. Getting back to peak sport takes time, and there are days when the itch to run is real. But if these past few months have taught me anything, it's that our community is massive, resilient, and multifaceted. You don’t have to be logging 100-mile weeks to be a part of it.
Whether I'm coaching, podcasting, crewing, talking gear, or clicking the timer at a finish line, my cup is full. I'm still right here in the thick of it—just enjoying the view from a different seat.