Let’s talk about the Cocodona 250. What drew you to that race?
I was always fascinated by running as far as possible. I’d wanted to do it for a few years, but people kept telling me to focus on speed. Eventually, I just knew I had to go for it. I paced my buddy Ryan Ramsby last year (who was training for an ultramarathon) and thought, “Yeah, I’m not waiting another year.” The sport is moving so fast that if you don’t go for it, you might get left behind.
The race took 58 hours. What were the toughest parts for you mentally and physically?
The mud. There were about 20-25 miles of it, and it was all on rugged terrain — just sticky, energy-sapping mud. That really got in my head, to be honest. Then, toward the end, I was super exhausted and couldn’t find my caffeine gels, which made me feel even more sluggish. Thankfully, I was never in a dark place mentally — but I was really tired. I only slept about 20 minutes total over those 58 hours. I laid down for almost an hour across different breaks, but actual sleep? Just 20 minutes.
Let’s talk training. What did you do to prepare for a race like this? How did you handle nutrition?
On the course, I carried oatmeal cream pies, gels, electrolyte drinks — whatever worked. At aid stations, we aimed for warm food — ramen, burgers, even gas station burritos, basically just anything with calories. As for the training, my volume has gone up consistently over the last few years. For 100-milers, I’d run between 90 and 130 miles a week, plus two key workouts. For this race, I focused more on time-on-feet and hours per week, running up to 160 miles weekly, plus five to six hours of cross-training. My running community here really made it all work. We might not be a big city like Boulder or Denver, but we’ve got a surprisingly dedicated ultra scene here. The people here are serious, supportive and strong — that made a huge difference for me.
Did you ever have a moment mid-race where you questioned why you were doing it? What did you learn about yourself during the journey?
Honestly, I never had a moment where I wanted to quit. I was all-in, mentally. I trained myself not to think about the total distance, just focus on moving forward, no matter what — run, walk, hike — whatever it took. And more than learn something new about myself, I had something reinforced: You need to surround yourself with good people. A strong crew and a supportive community — that makes all the difference. Personally, I’ve learned along the way that I handle sleep deprivation well, and physically, my fatigue resistance is a definite strength.
Final question — what did winning such a grueling race like the Cocodona 250 mean to you?
It meant everything. It validated all the time I’ve spent training, the discipline I’ve developed and the sacrifices I’ve made. There’s not a lot of money in ultra running, so you don’t do it for the financial gain. It’s mostly about exposure and opportunities you can experience, and you don’t get those unless you win. I’ve done well before, but obviously winning is unique — this was different. As I move forward, it’s cool to know people are watching. It’s pressure, but pressure I earned. I’ll tell you what, though — I still love it just as much and I still want to keep testing myself.
