What Trail Running Built in Me
I Didn’t Choose the Trails for the Views
When I first laced up trail shoes, it wasn’t because I wanted to take cool photos or run ultramarathons. I was burned out, restless, and searching for something that could quiet the noise in my head. What started as a way to stay fit quickly became something much deeper. Trail running didn’t just rebuild my body, it rewired how I think, how I handle stress, and how I show up in the world.
Here’s what trail running built in me:
1. Solitude Builds Clarity
We live in a world where it’s easy to stay distracted. Notifications, to-do lists, algorithms—all designed to keep us moving fast. Trail running slows everything down. There’s no red light to stop at. No crosswalks. No sidewalks filled with people. Just you, the sound of your breath, and the crunch of dirt underfoot. It was in those quiet miles that I started hearing myself again. Not the version of me trying to please everyone. Not the overachiever chasing metrics. Just me—thinking, questioning, recalibrating. If you’re building something big, your body, your business, your life, you need space to think. Trail running gave me that.
2. Every Trail Has an Uphill
It’s easy to romanticize trail running: the fresh air, the views, the freedom. But here’s the truth—they all have climbs. Some short and punchy. Some long and grinding. But always there.
At first, I’d dread those uphills. I’d beat myself up if I had to hike instead of run. But eventually, I stopped seeing them as a failure and started seeing them as training. Not just for my legs, but for my mindset. The uphill is part of the process. Whether you're climbing a mountain or building something from the ground up, resistance is where growth happens. Now, I meet the incline with curiosity. I know I won’t sprint up every one. But I’ll keep moving forward. Always.
3. Nature Doesn’t Rush and Still Everything Gets Done
When you spend time on trails, you start syncing with the rhythm of the earth. You notice how trees grow slowly. How seasons shift without forcing it. How the trail is never in a hurry—but it still gets you there. This lesson hit me hard. In a world obsessed with speed—fast results, fast growth, fast feedback—trail running taught me patience. It taught me that consistency matters more than intensity. That long-term progress is more powerful than short bursts of hustle. This has shown up in how I train, how I lead, and how I approach my goals. I don’t need to sprint all the time. I just need to keep showing up.
4. Progress Over Podiums
Trail running gave me back a part of myself that I didn’t even know I’d lost. It reminded me that growth isn’t loud. It’s slow. It’s steady. And it often happens when no one’s watching. I don’t run for medals. I run to remember who I am. I run to get clear. I run to keep climbing, mentally, physically, spiritually. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned runner, I hope the trails give you more than just fitness. I hope they give you the chance to build something deeper.
If you’re new to trail running, check out my Ultimate Guide to Trail Running in Colorado.
