Better Late Than Never

Finally learning to embrace my place in life and on the trails.

the Big Alta 50k / my first dance with muscle cramps [credit @tonywithasony]

Procrastination is in my blood. Growing up, my family built a reliable reputation for running late. I’ve maintained this characteristic into adulthood, allowing it to manifest both literally, and in a more philosophical sense.

I observe friends and strangers nail the timing of decisions, choosing to shift priorities at the perfect phase in their life, leading to the perception of happiness or success. Over here, I’m failing, learning, and growing. Building the right habits and making some decent calls, but always coming down hard on myself for reaching a point much later than my ideal timing. Diminishing the joy in the arrival at that place.

Obviously, that’s not the healthiest mindset. Apart from therapy, this “blog” is going to serve as a means to embrace the late entry. Being excited and content in what’s happening now, regardless of when it might be happening on the broader timeline.

Specifically, I’m a late entry to racing on trails. Despite running D1 track and cross country in college (with quite mediocre results) the bulk of my twenties and early thirties were spent taking advantage of my lingering endurance to make the most of time spent at bars, concert venues, and house parties, all around the world. Trail runs were a means to sweat it out and stew on the night before.

I ran my first ultra in June 2022, the Dirty 30 50k in Golden (CO). I finished 38th in 7:11:52 minutes. I completed my second 50k later that year, the Dead Horse Ultra in Moab (UT). Coming in 6th in 4:10:53, after running in second most of the race before missing a turn around mile 25 – adding on a few miles, a right of passage in ultras. You can view the rest of my endeavors on UltraSignup, the most recent being a 2nd place finish at the Desert Rats by UTMB 100k in Fruita (CO), gaining an auto-entry to the 2025 CCC as a prize.

However, this is not all about results. (as that would certainly fuel that less than healthy comparison mindset)

With my 35th birthday fast approaching and only a handful of ultras under my belt, expecting to throw down consistent improvement or top-level performances is setting myself up for a let-down. This is about balancing all that life requires: jobs, family, community, outside passions, leisure time, with an almost pro-level training load. This is about enjoying the experience, optimizing to get the most out of myself, and being proud of exactly where I am. Hoping it provides solidarity for others to boot, whether in running or elsewhere.

Simple as that. Welcome to my catalog of the late entry experience. Expect race recaps, musings, training logs; all through the lens of a sub-elite, aging, trail running doofus, enjoying the experience and always shooting to nail the timing a bit better than before.

Saddle up! - ZH