Blogs are still cool right?

I mean, they have to be? Because this 41 year old loves a good blog, & I'm pretty damn cool!

Hi my name is Jill and I'd like to introduce you to Ultra Crazy Jill, the external manifestation of all of the crazy wrapped up in this very interesting human package. The name quite literally means that I am crazy for ultra running but also pays a very real respect to the many challenging parts of my inner psyche. (Before we start, let's clarify that I believe using the word "crazy" regarding mental health is absolutely acceptable. As a lifer of mental health challenges, I fully embrace my inner crazy! I will share more of those struggles later.) OK, back to it. I coined the name back in 2016 when I first got the wild idea that I wanted to run an ultra marathon. (Any race over 26.2 miles)

Looking UltraCrazy

I was never a runner growing up but I was always an athlete. I used to sneak two quick smokes in the parking lot before lacrosse practice and then subsequently die on our very short, one field tour of a run. Running was 100% not my favorite! Fast forward to 2010, finding myself in a new job after a forever breakup with alcohol, (more on that another day) I was welcomed into the world of running by an amazing friend and coworker, Dolo. We spent our lunch breaks hoofing it down the blvd, closely following my custom made "Couch to 5k" plan courtesy of my very experience runner friend, Dolo. I progressed quickly and fell in love madly. Signed up for all the 5k, 10k, any k races in the local area. I trained hard for my first half marathon, ran it successfully and then, nothing. I fell out of love with running just as quickly as I fell in love.

Fast forward to 2015, working for my family business with my mother as my boss. I spent the first four hours of the day trying not to pull out my hair, drink booze or punch my mother in the face. So when the clock struck 12, and not a minute later, I was out the door to escape for just 30 mins. I would walk the streets around our office to get some sort of relief. Then I remembered those lunch breaks with Dolo and how amazing I would feel after a couple miles. So I started to run again.

I ran at lunch everyday with my cousin Nicole, also a coworker, quickly adding up quarter miles to our daily totals. We would find awesome spots along the way to take fun and quirky pictures, only to race back to the office quick as possible, as to not piss off my mother. Our runs together led to signing up for races once again. Like the family favorite ASYMCA Mud Run (RIP), RVA Riverrock trail races and more. My husband Karl, my daughter Marleigh and my cousin and I bounced around from race to race, having the times of our lives.

Trail Races at Riverrock RVA 2016

The day I first stepped foot onto a trail to run isn't really cemented in my mind, although I wish it was. I am not totally sure of the specifics, probably with run club, but I absolutely remember the feeling. I loved it and every chance I got, I put my feet in the dirt to run. I began exploring every inch of all the trails printed on the map at our local First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach VA. Once I knew all of those trails by heart, I sought out all of the other little cuts in the woods that looked like a trail, but for some reason, were not on my map. Exploring each and every "secret" trail was magical. I felt like I was an explorer all alone in a magical world. This, this right here is where I belonged!

I ran my first road marathon in November of 2016, Richmond Marathon, and did a good amount of my training on those local state park trails. Living on the extreme Beast Coast at 0 sea level, you can basically train for a marathon anywhere, even on trail. During my time training, I learned about ultra marathons. I was in awe! How in the f*ck do people run further than 26.2? Wait, people actually run ONE HUNDRED MILES? Get out of town! I was so intrigued and I wanted to know more, and more, and more. Until, I decided that I too wanted to be an ultra marathoner! So I found a race, the Uwharrie 40 in NC February 2017, I got the courage to signup, I trained my ass off, ran one of the slowest & hardest races of my life, but I became a new person. An Ultra Marathoner! One who didn't turn away from something scary and challenging. I ran toward it will all of the piss, vinegar and passion that still fills my veins to this day.

So back to the subject, why a blog? Why now, six years later? Because this right here, these pages of words online from other badasses ultra runners was so influential in my running. These people that had the courage and strength before me, shared their stories and each one filled me with inspiration! I read blog after blog from runners of every walk of life. I read their struggles, their triumphs, their lessons, and their humanity. Their words taught me so much of what I know about the sport of ultra running. Random strangers posting deeply personal race reports with detailed recaps of their greatest and darkest memories on the race course. What worked and what didn't. The struggles of training, the gut wrenching failures, and the incredible victories at the finish line. Those words helped to shape me into the runner I am today.

Umstead 100 NC - April 2019 First Hundred (cred: Workshop Media)

So after 20+ ultra marathons under my belt, still very much a newbie and student of the sport, I want to give back by sharing my running journey. My lessons along the way. Ones that I hope will inspire you to push for big and outrageous goals.  I want to share stories that you can relate to and draw upon on for your own running journeys. It is with so much excitement and joy that I say, I know this is the beginning of something totally freaking awesome!  Thank you for joining me.