I hate leaving things undone. Always have. If you know me, you know that when I say I’m going to do something, I meanit. So when I had to drop out of the Cascade Lakes Relay two years ago — after months of training — it wasn’t just disappointing. It left a mark. An open loop I couldn’t quite close.
That year, I went home limping on more than just a leg.
Fast forward to this spring. A client-turned-friend mentioned her team needed a couple of runners. No pressure, just putting it out there. Without missing a beat, I said yes. It didn’t matter that I was rehabbing a knee injury from the Bend 1/2 marathon — I was still healing, and I love a challenge. And more than that, I was still hungry to finish what I started.
I roped in one of my boxing teammates and we hit the road, trading mitts for miles and gloves for grit. And just like that, I was back in it — not trying to beat the clock, but trying to make peace with the version of me that had to stop short last time.
It’s Not Just a Race
Some people think these kinds of races are about crossing a finish line. But really, they’re about how you get there. The quiet decisions. The way you show up on days when your legs are heavy and your head isn’t in it. The nights you choose to rest instead of grind, or vice versa. That kind of stuff doesn’t show up on the medal. But it’s what carries you through cinder roads at 11 p.m., sleep-deprived, hungry, and wondering why you signed up in the first place.
There’s a lesson in all that — and it goes way beyond running.
Whether you’re training to box, to climb, or to just feel good in your skin again — the real work is in showing up when it’s not easy. It’s about consistency even in chaos. It’s about momentum, even when the motivation isn’t there. And that’s where coaching comes in.
A Little Help Goes a Long Way
I’ve always believed in self-discipline. But I’ve also seen firsthand that nobody really goes it alone. Sometimes the only thing standing between where you are and where you want to be is someone who can see what you can’t.
A mentor once told me, “What got you here won’t get you there”. That line stuck with me. It reminded me how hard it is to be objective about yourself. We’re all a little too close to our own stories, our own egos, our own patterns. That’s where a second set of trained eyes makes the difference.
Someone who isn’t emotionally tangled in your doubt. Someone who knows when to pull you back or call you forward. Someone who can remind you that you don’t have to do it all alone.
That’s what I try to offer — for boxers, climbers, runners, and anyone else chasing growth. We train with intention. We move with purpose. And we finish the things we start.
What’s Next
I didn’t run this race to prove anything. And I definitely didn’t need a podium to make peace with the past. But I came back because some stories deserve a better ending.
This was mine.
If you’re working through your own version of unfinished business, I’m rooting for you. Whether it’s a fight, a climb, a race, or just a better relationship with your body — it’s worth it.
And if you ever want someone in your corner, I’m here.
