mud, mountains, and blooms

July 2017: Spartan Sprint, Blue Mountain, PA
A vertical battle, 5+ miles of steep climbs, mud crawls, 20+ obstacles, mountain runs and treacherous descents. 

Oct 2017: Spartan Sprint, Citizens Bank Park, PA
Stadium intensity, 5K but all uphill? with 20 obstacles including my favorites the Hercules Hoist and Atlas Carry (75lb stones), traversing top to bottom to top again, endless stairs.

2020 COVID Conquests
May: Spartan Virtual Super 10K + 20 obstacles
July: 21K VR2.0 Trail Race (half marathon)
Sept: 21K V2.0 Trail Race (half marathon)

I spent months training in all kinds of environments and weather. Then in the events, in the dirt, crawling under barbed wire, carrying stones, conquering towering walls and mountains, and running steps and trails.  It required discipline, fun, and creative mind games to stay the course. Both physical and creative practices have taught me the same truth: perfection isn't the goal. For every muddy fall, every imperfect bloom, gratitude lives in showing up, layer by layer. That grit fuels my art, growing from the same soil where I've fallen time and again, and kept going.