10/13/2025
Wolverine State 100 miler! I have been eying this one all year, but was truly busted up all year and had an extremely busy 2025! After Tanya’s incredible 100 miler, 5+ weeks ago, I decided I would attempt to train for the Wolverine State 100! I drew up a 4 week strategy. I figured, if the training didn’t break me then maybe, just maybe, I could pull this off! I ran 252 miles in the month of September and I was on the brink of breaking. So I pulled back the final potential training week, really only allowing for a little more than 3 weeks of training. If I could rehab some issues I felt like I was strong enough to at least give this thing a shot!
October 11, 2025: The race started at 5:30am on the coast of Lake Michigan in Petoskey, MI, and would end on the coast of Lake Huron in Alpena, MI! How rad! Out of the gate I was pretty solid. Couple issues, but that’s the name of the game. I allowed a lot of doubt to creep in all day because I really didn’t invest a whole summer into this and realistically, my expectations were low. However, deep down something would never allow me to quit on this one! I actually felt just as strong as my 100 miler from last year. The course was a mix of everything! From single track aggressive trails to literally, the shoulder of a highway for miles and miles after dark! The coolest part about this year was my wisdom of the sport just reigned over the doubts! I knew there were going to be highs and lows, but I weathered them like a veteran! Just keep moving forward! I had Tanya and the girls crew me up until about mile 54, but that left me on my own all night long; which was difficult, but I survived! I was so tired. There were so many times I wanted to just lay in the wet grass or right on the trail knowing the next person coming would wake me up, but I’d at least get a cat nap! 😂 There were also moments that even if I blinked hard enough I felt like I was dozing off! This was all happening with 20+ miles left, hours until sunrise, and really nobody around!
I sustained pretty substantial physical damage running hard the first 70+ miles of the race, so I had to drop it into low gear and press forward by any means necessary for the last 20-25 miles. That is a lot to digest especially with the whole night/morning ahead of you… Most people wouldn’t move 25 miles rested, but that’s what makes a 100-mile finisher different. You hammer for 60, 70, 80 miles then you have to just make it about forward movement by any means! Like I always say,“You ARE or you AREN’T!”
I was on an incredible pace in the race, but it broke down, like most 100 milers, and I adapted and overcame! Last years fully trained 100 miler was completed in 26:38, this years with 3 weeks of training I completed it in 27:30! Hard enough to break into the 100-miler club, but now I’m a 2-time finisher in 2 tries! My favorite part about these is just the breakdown of oneself and the humility that comes in the process. Then the mind and body has an incredible ability to just lock in, press on, and overcome. I’m blessed to have the ability to absolutely never give up!
Big shout out to Tanya and the girls for following me around all day and keeping my spirits high and my gear fully stocked! Thanks to everyone who always supports me with encouragement or inspiration. Thanks to everyone who hates my guts, I really appreciate you as well! 😉 😘
Until next time!
