I was born and raised in Miami, Ok. Moved to Portland by way of a coin toss with my best friend from college – it was either Colorado Springs or Portland. We packed our shit in Dallas, Tx and moved after we graduated college. I’ve been in Portland since 2004. I started trail running in 2015. I became obsessed with being in the mountains and running ultra distances. I also gravel bike and recently started bikejoring with my sled dog rescue. Her name is Spear.
What do the outdoors mean to you?
The outdoors is everything to me. It is a place of healing and growth, a place to challenge my physical and mental abilities, and a place of deep joy. Nature – running through it – allows me to be the best version of myself. It's where I feel most connected to my friends, myself and the earth.
What are your proudest accomplishments?
I’ve run a few 100 mile races, have a few FKTs, circumnavigated several PNW mountains, rode my bike from Klamath Falls, OR, to the Gorge on gravel roads, and I attempted the Oregon PCT FKT and failed miserably (this might be my proudest accomplishment).
How were you introduced to the outdoors?
I was born and raised in a small town in northeastern Oklahoma so I wasn’t exposed to mountains until much later. We spent our summers fly fishing at a nearby lake, but it wasn’t until I moved to the PNW that I was introduced to trail running and mountains. My love for the outdoors blossomed in 2015 and things progressed quickly!
What do you do for work?
I work at Lions VisionGift, a non-profit eye bank. We recover human eye tissue and process it for transplant and research, and distribute tissue around the world. My role is the VP of Surgical Services, and I manage the Tissue Distribution Team. We are bicoastal - and our primary responsibility is to evaluate the cornea with different microscopes and determine what types of corneal transplant surgery each tissue is suitable for, then we match these tissues to patients, and ship the tissue. We work closely with transplant surgeons to honor each gift and to restore sight. It is nice to know that no matter how hard a single day of work can be, my work makes a difference, and for that I am grateful.
Favorite Place to run?
There’s so many, it really depends on the time of year and location. I haven’t met a mountain I didn’t love. Give me vert and views, and I’m happy. This year I’ll be adventuring in the Dolomites, which I’m super stoked about!
Any advice you'd give to someone new to the outdoors?
Go for it! There really is something for everyone in the outdoor space and there are a ton of resources to help you prepare for whatever your preferred outdoor activity is. It is important to respect natural spaces, they are wild and deserve our respect, and overcoming any angst or fear is a massive confidence boost.
What is your favorite Wūru Piece?
I LOVE the Wūru Blister Wool. I wear it on all my long runs and bike rides. For running it has been a game changer for blister control. And it works well even through lots of water crossings, mountain scrambling, whatever the conditions might be. I use it for hot spots when riding long distances. Matt (the founder and owner) is super generous and usually throws in an extra bag when I place an order, so I give this away to friends that haven’t found a solution to their blisters.