Standing on a frozen-solid Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park.
Adventures
Old Graybeard Strikes Again
Monday, December 8, 2025
Yesterday I laced up my running shoes and toed the line at the Nittany Valley Half Marathon. It was my first race since March 2024 and I was very intrigued to find out if these old bones still had some race left in them. Turns out, they do and I’m stoked on my performance.
Before we get into the race itself, a bit about why I chose to run this particular event. You may remember that my son is a first year student at Penn State. Well, the start and finish line for the Nittany Valley Half is basically across the street from his dorm, so this was really just a great excuse for me to get up early, drive a few hours to University Park, run 13.1 miles, watch the Steelers game with him over an extended lunch, and then drive home. It turned out to be the perfect day.
When I signed up for the race back in October, I had no expectations for pace or time. I just wanted a goal & event to strive for that might help me get back into a training regimen. As I stood at the starting line yesterday, I reaffirmed to myself that there were no expectations and I gave myself permission to run strong & run with curiosity.
The airhorn sounded and we were off. The big dawgs took off and quickly separated themselves from everyone, probably running sub-6 pace. This wasn’t my first rodeo, so I knew the importance of not starting off too fast. I settled into a comfortable 8:30 min/mile pace and felt great over the first mile. I maintained that pace over the first 5k and felt I could drop the hammer some more, but remembered there were still 10 miles to go, so I stayed solid at 8:30 min/mile.
I ran miles 4 to 7 with a young kid, who couldn’t have been older than 15. Must’ve been his first race because his family and friends seemed to be following him throughout those miles, cheering on teenager Adam at each opportunity. He started sucking wind between six & seven (see what I did there?) so I dropped him. Hope the young buck finished strong.
I started to feel some fatigue between mile 7, and wondered if may have gone out too fast. This course saves the hills for the final few miles and I decided to go big or go home on the first significant climb at mile 9. Being a trail runner, I think the hills are where I tend to shine. I’m not the fastest on the flats or downhills, but I can crush a 10% incline. So I went for it on the mile 9 climb and picked off about 10 runners struggling with the elevation.
As I neared the top, legs burning & lungs pulsing, I questioned what I had done. I was really feeling it with 5k left. Cresting the hill, I saw the semblance of an angel. This angel took the form of a woman working an unofficial aid station, handing out orange slices to runners. Yes! Just what I needed to power me through the last 5k. I dipped my hand into her Tupperware and retrieved the glory.
Four mandarin wedges and I was back to life.
By mile 11, I started picking up the pace into the sevens. I knew there was one major climb left at mile 12 that could be my opportunity to jump some more places. I was right. The course gains about 200 feet of elevation over the last mile. That’s nothing for a trail runner, so I turned it on and must’ve picked off nearly 20 runners on that climb. The most memorable moment of the race for me came at the top of that final climb, when a course official yelled out, “Hell yeah graybeard! Crushin' it! Way to go!”
Approaching the finish, I spotted my son in the crowd and got to give him a fist-bump as I approached the line.
I crossed the finish line with an official time of 1 hour, 45 minutes and 8 seconds – which translates to an overall pace of 8:07. Having had no expectations at the start, I’m super happy and proud of this effort, particularly being able to run based on feel and finish strong.
Solid 10k run through the campus of Penn State University this morning. It’s family weekend and we are here visiting Elliott.
Just signed up for the Nittany Valley Half Marathon, taking place December 7th on the campus of Penn State University where Elliott is a student. It’s been over a year since I’ve raced and I’m looking forward to getting back out there. Will be cool to have Elliott there to cheer me on too!
We timed it perfectly and dodged the raindrops to bike into the city for lunch and a visit to the Museum of Illusions. It’s not really a museum, but a photo-op on steroids. Cool nonetheless!
We had our first significant rainfall in weeks overnight, so of course we ran the Rachel Carson Trail stream crossings this morning.
Grippin’ it and rippin’ it.
A picture-perfect run down to the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge this morning. It’s our last morning here and I ended it on a high note. I’m glad I packed the Topo Mountain Racers because I logged plenty of beach miles this week.
First time in Wildwood Crest since I was a kid. I woke up early & got in a nice 10K — out to the north sea wall and back. It started raining as I reached the turn around point and I finished the run in a cool downpour.
Sunday Service
Sunday, June 15, 2025
For some people, attending church on Sunday morning is the spiritual space they need in their lives. I have never been one of those people, but I am someone who needs quiet, reflection and beauty to feel spiritually fulfilled. I find my spiritual space in the nature.
This morning, as the church bells atop North Park rang to signal 8am, I started out on the Green trail. It was foggy and humid, but once I got into the woods, the fog added a layer of mystery to the familiar trail.
As I moved from the Green trail to the Orange trail, I passed a father and young son just starting out on a Father’s Day hike. They were the only two humans I’d see on the trails this morning.
I love solo runs like this. They ground me in a way I presume church or religion does for others. I listen closely to the sound of my breath and the non-rhythms of my footfalls. My mind wanders wherever it wants to wander, much like my body in these trail running moments.
After an hour or so in this zen-like state, I emerged from the woods into the church parking lot refreshed, aware and at ease — a spiritual space those now entering the church will likely have in about an hour.
The No Excuses Jacket
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
My friend Rob calls it my “no excuses jacket.” Every time I show up for a run when the weather is doing its worst—sleeting, pouring, or threatening something even more unpleasant—I’m wearing the same beat-up, greenish-yellow Marmot Precip jacket that’s been my constant companion for years.
It’s not the most technical piece of gear, and it’s certainly not the most stylish. But it has one quality that matters more than anything else: I trust it completely. Through Christmas Eve runs at -11 degrees, winter solstice adventures on the Rachel Carson trail in 18 inches of snow, and just last week when sheets of summer rain turned my morning neighborhood run into an impromptu swimming session, this jacket has never let me down.
The durability isn’t just about the fabric—it’s about the memories woven into every mile. This jacket has been with me through breakthrough runs and breaking points, through moments of clarity on quiet trails and the grinding determination of longer efforts. It’s become more than gear; it’s become a symbol of showing up.
But here’s what I’ve realized: the real power of the “no excuses jacket” isn’t protection from the elements. It’s protection from my own resistance to discomfort.
Weather is just the most obvious form of resistance we face. The cold whispers that it’s too harsh to go out. The rain suggests that maybe today isn’t the day. The wind argues that conditions aren’t ideal. My jacket doesn’t eliminate these conditions—it just gives me the confidence to move through them anyway.
This same principle has started showing up in other areas of my life, particularly in those moments that require a different kind of courage. Like having uncomfortable conversations with team members about performance issues. Or pushing back on a decision I disagree with in a leadership meeting. Or admitting I was wrong about a product direction we’ve been pursuing for months.
These situations don’t require literal weather protection, but they need the same kind of shield—something that helps me face discomfort rather than avoid it. Sometimes it’s preparation that serves as my jacket: spending extra time thinking through a difficult conversation before having it. Sometimes it’s a mindset: reminding myself that avoiding hard truths doesn’t make them disappear. And sometimes it’s simply the accumulated confidence that comes from having weathered difficult moments before.
This isn’t about toxic productivity or grinding through everything that feels hard. There’s a difference between productive discomfort and destructive suffering. The “No Excuses Jacket” philosophy is about being brave enough to engage with the things that matter, even when they feel uncomfortable. It’s about recognizing that the best runs often happen in the worst weather, and the most important conversations often happen when they feel the hardest to have.
The jacket reminds me that I have more capacity for discomfort than I usually give myself credit for. That the anticipation of harsh conditions is often worse than the conditions themselves. That showing up consistently, regardless of circumstances, builds a different kind of strength than any training plan could provide.
There’s something grounding about having a piece of gear—or a practice, or a mindset—that you trust completely. It becomes an anchor point, a reminder that you’ve faced uncertainty before and made it through. My beat-up Precip has become a tangible representation of the principle that we’re more resilient than we think, and that the best version of ourselves often emerges not in perfect conditions, but in spite of imperfect ones.
Today marks my first double-digit run (10 miles) in more than 8 months. Grinding back, slowly and surely. The hip feels great.
Recovering from injury is hard both physically and mentally. There are good days and setbacks. Today is a good day. It feels great to be on my way back to form. 🏃🏻♂️
We’re headed into Marathon Weekend here in Pittsburgh. I’m not running this year, but I’m thinking about my experience running it in 2023 and how it is my most memorable running experience to date. Good luck to everyone lacing up and toeing the line on Sunday. The hay is in the barn…go get it!
I made the move from 28mm slicks to 30mm GravelKing tires on my Synapse. After the first few rides I really feel the drag when I’m on the road, but I also feel the increased grip when riding the trail. I might get another wheel set and keep 28’s on that one for quick change out based on the ride.
Exploring Fell’s Point in Baltimore between soccer tournament games. Historic row homes, cobblestones and a killer farmer’s market. Super cool neighborhood.
It’s been a crazy week visiting stores in SoCal. More on that later, but I did get to close it out with a chill hike from Griffith Park up into the hills above LA. Saw the Hollywood sign and a rattlesnake. Both firsts!
Yesterday was a travel day, but the REI store technology team made it to the SoCal market with some time to explore San Diego before we’re visiting stores the rest of the week. We dipped toes in the Pacific, explored Ocean Beach, watched the sunset at Sunset Cliffs, and ate some amazing tacos.
Awesome day on the slopes with Elliott. High 20s. Bluebird skies.
‘Twas the night before Xmas and all through the gym, not a soul was bouldering except for him. When what to his wondering eyes did he see, a challenging problem — a holiday V3.
It doesn’t seem like it, but ultrarunning is a team sport. This new film from Adidas highlights the importance of a solid crew during an ultra. Shoutout to my crew chief, Nic, who’s gotten me across numerous finish lines & also helped steer decisions to DNF when that was the safest choice.
As someone who’s relatively new to bouldering, one of the mental hurdles I need to get over is trusting my toeholds. It’s hard for me to believe a toe edge will support me as I get higher up on problems. I’ve been focusing on this the past few sessions and it’s helping tremendously.
📍 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN, USA
I suppose now is as good a time as any to let y’all know that he committed to Penn State. University Park next fall. Class of ‘29. #WeAre
The Aging Athlete
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
I recently stumbled upon this post from Andy Jones-Wilkins about aging & running, and it prompted me to reflect on my own experience as a 40-something runner.
Needless to say, I’m not as speedy as I once was and my body needs longer & more frequent recovery than it did even just a couple years ago. The repetitive motion and high-impact is starting to wreak havoc on my joints and tendons. It’s taken a long time, lots of soul searching and some avoidable injuries, but it’s a truth I’ve come to accept embrace. The fact that I can’t crush 10 milers seven days a week or jump into a random marathon on a few days notice anymore has opened up a variety of new options for me to stay engaged with my physicality on a daily basis.
The most notable non-running activity I’ve grown to love is bouldering. I find it to be fundamentally different than running, however it requires a similar mindset. Bouldering and running are equally mental and physical challenges. And in my opinion, the mental challenges are always more interesting problems to solve. In running and climbing there will be times when you want to quit or bail, but mental strength will get you through.
Of course, as I get older, cycling also plays a bigger role in my life due to its low-impact cardio benefits. We’re lucky to have a great trail system here in Pittsburgh, upon which I can bike commute when I can’t work from home. I’m not a fan of riding roads due to safety issues, so the trail system is clutch and allows for some epic rides. One of these summers I want to bike pack from Pittsburgh to Washington DC on the Great Allegheny Passage.
I’ve never been into lifting weights or getting swole, but lowering my running mileage has afforded me the opportunity to begin a strength training routine. I mostly stick to bodyweight (pushups, sit-ups and pull-ups) and kettlebell/mace exercises but I’m really feeling the benefits. I feel lighter on my feet. I feel like I have more agency in my movements.
I still think of myself as primarily a runner. I’m out there 4-5 days a week now, with notably lower mileage. And for the first time in a long while, I feel absolutely wonderful when I finish a run. That’s the point of all this, right? Embracing the changes that come with aging requires work, but it’s work I’m excited to take on and continue as a practice.
First snow run of the season in the books! As we say here in Pittsburgh, it was a bit slippy. It started off like running through a gentle snow globe, then turned into an icy blast chiller to the face. I love this time of year to get out and feel nature.
It was a chilly bike commute this morning. The temp read 39º F when I set off from the Millvale trailhead. Beanie and gloves were a must at the start. By the time I neared the Hot Metal Bridge, the full sun confronted me. Beanie came off. I unzipped the nano puff and it flowed like a cape.
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Running trails in Western Pennsylvania in the Fall can be glorious. Crisp temperatures, bright sun and fall colors combine to create ideal running conditions. That said, hitting the trails this time of year can also be somewhat treacherous. The changing leaves are beautiful, but the falling leaves cover the single track, concealing the rocks and roots underfoot.
I’ve been running in this area for years, and I know this. As I was cruising the White trail in North Park yesterday, a hidden rock caught my toe and I went down hard. Head first. Superman style. The fall left me with a nice gash on my knee and trail rash on my shin, hip and forearm. My right side, which took the brunt of the impact, is quite sore today.
Luckily I’ve learned how to fall to minimize significant harm. Had I not ‘tucked and rolled,’ this one could have been much worse. Broken wrist, probably. A fall like this comes with the territory of trail running, and is a good reminder to stay present and mindful with footfalls this time of year in the northeast.
I think fall is absolutely the best season for trail running here in western Pennsylvania. This morning I ran party pace on the orange loop in North Park, starting at the church and cruising through the sunbeams as they pierced through the trees.
Absolutely primo bike commute today. Crisp air and full sun. Almost bailed on work and kept peddling.
We took advantage of the spectacular weather in Western Pennsylvania today and made a day trip to Ohiopyle, a cool little adventure town located about 75 miles southeast of Pittsburgh on the Yougiogheny River. Lots of hiking, biking and whitewater to enjoy there.
