Arkansas Traveler 100 · October 3, 2026

100 miles. One dad. One little girl watching.

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.

Leo lifting his daughter Lydia into the air among autumn trees
0 Miles on race day
Oct 3 Arkansas Traveler 100
$0 Raised for research
0 Miles funded

My why

Why I’m running a 100 mile ultra

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.

Lydia smiling as she is lifted into the air

The plan

The Road to 100

One step at a time, from a spring marathon to 100 miles on Arkansas trails.

  1. The start line of the Little Rock Marathon

    March 1

    Little Rock Marathon

    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
  2. Leo running in a race with a bib, giving a thumbs up

    March 22

    Training begins

    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
  3. A rocky singletrack trail winding through the woods

    July 25

    40 Mile Weekend on the Trails

    Testing the legs.

    Complete
  4. Sunset over the treeline at the end of a long run

    September 4

    Training Camp Weekend

    Simulating the real thing by running at night, testing gear, fueling strategies, and running on tired legs.

    Up next
  5. Sunset over the Ouachita mountains, where the race is run

    October 3

    Arkansas Traveler 100

    The big day. 100 miles. This is what everything is for.

    Race day

The training journey

Training by the numbers

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 Strava

The training journey

From the blog

Honest reflections from the trails. What’s working, what’s been hard, and what I’m learning along the way.

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August 14, 2026

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Read the full blog

The condition

About Usher syndrome

What it is

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.

Why research matters

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.

What it means for Lydia

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.

Learn more about Usher syndrome

Pass it on

If this journey moved you, share it

Sharing costs nothing and means everything. A single share can bring in someone who can make a difference.

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Be there for the miles that matter

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.