
August 31, 2026
Foundation Building: 1,000 Miles Later
When is the last time you thought about your home’s foundation? Probably not recently, but if it disappeared, I guarantee you would notice. In the process of building a…
Continue readingArkansas Traveler 100 · October 3, 2026
My daughter Lydia has Usher syndrome, the leading genetic cause of combined deafness and blindness. So I’m running 100 miles to show her what resilience looks like, and that challenges aren’t something to run away from, but something to embrace.
My why
My daughter, Lydia, was diagnosed with Usher syndrome as an infant. It affects her hearing and vision, and it will bring extra challenges into her life. The good news is that there is promising research to develop hearing and vision therapies that can make a real difference for people living with Usher syndrome. Continued research is needed to develop those therapies and make them available to everyone who needs them.
I’m running 100 miles to show Lydia that she doesn’t have to run from hard things. I want her to know that when she faces challenges she doesn’t have to be discouraged. She can embrace life’s challenges with courage.
I have an unreasonable belief in what Lydia can accomplish when she trusts in God and commits herself to something. I want that belief to mean something when she hears it from me, so I’m committing myself to something unreasonably hard to give her an example of resilience for when she faces her own challenges.
Taking on something I don’t know if I can finish is scary, but I want Lydia to know she can take on the unknowns in life and push through discomfort to accomplish her goals. I’m documenting this journey so she has a real example of how to be resilient in the face of challenges.
The plan
One step at a time, from a spring marathon to 100 miles on Arkansas trails.

March 1
Finished in 3:19. The base is built. Now the real work begins. When I finished I thought “How am I going to do three more of these back to back?!”
Complete
March 22
Building toward something unreasonable. Right now I can’t run 100 miles, but the plan to get there is in place. Now, one step at a time until I cross the finish line.
Complete
July 25
Testing the legs.
Complete
September 4
Simulating the real thing by running at night, testing gear, fueling strategies, and running on tired legs.
Up next
October 3
The big day. 100 miles. This is what everything is for.
Race dayThe training journey
The proof behind the plan. Every mile on the road to 100, logged and up to date.
Training dashboard
On Strava
Every run on the road to 100 is logged as it happens: the distance, the pace, and the elevation
Follow along on StravaThe training journey
Honest reflections from the trails. What’s working, what’s been hard, and what I’m learning along the way.

August 31, 2026
When is the last time you thought about your home’s foundation? Probably not recently, but if it disappeared, I guarantee you would notice. In the process of building a…
Continue reading
August 14, 2026
“It takes 10 years to become an overnight success.” Great achievements start way before they are accomplished. The behind-the-scenes work has to be done for an ‘overnight’ success…
Continue reading
July 16, 2026
There’s a note I wrote to myself after I didn’t have what it took to complete a planned workout. “Anyone can go hard on a single day, but the weeks matter more than the days.”
Continue readingGet in the race with me
If you’ve been following along, here’s how you can be in the race with me. Every dollar donated raises awareness and accelerates research for Usher syndrome. My goal is to raise $25 for every mile I run on race day.
Fund a tenth of a mile or fund five. Every dollar counts.
100% funded, 100 miles covered
All donations go to the Usher Syndrome Coalition to fund research. Can’t donate? Sharing the story matters just as much.
The condition
Usher syndrome is a genetic condition that affects both hearing and vision. It’s the leading cause of combined deafness-blindness. There are different types, each affecting people differently and at different stages of life.
Real science is happening. Gene therapy research is advancing. Clinical trials are underway. Organizations like the Usher Syndrome Coalition are funding work that could change the trajectory of this condition. Every dollar matters.
Lydia is still so young. We don’t know exactly what her future holds, but we do know that research today could shape what’s possible for her tomorrow. That’s why this matters.
Follow along
Training updates, honest reflections, and the story as it unfolds. Sign up to receive my blog posts every two weeks. If you’d like to follow along, I’d genuinely love to have you on the journey.
Don’t want emails? Just check back here. The same updates land on the blog.