One of the best ways to fuel a person’s desire to protect nature is to feed their connection to it – that goes for scientists and non-scientists alike. Trail running is a way I re-inspire my passion for the environment and an avenue for connecting with others about our shared care for it. By immersing myself in ecosystems, trail running helps me to build a strong sense of connection to the place I live and deeper understanding of the landscapes visit. I came to trail running after growing up hiking/backpacking and a decade or so of recreational road running. In 2017 I finally combined the two and began running trail ultra-marathons (any distance longer than a marathon). Since then I have learned to love the community that comes together for training and competitions. From 2019-2020 I served as a co-leader for the Tucson chapter of Trail Sisters (an organization dedicated to increasing women’s participation in trail running). I am currently engaged in several projects to connect outdoor athletes with the science of ecology and climate change to help them become active in environmental protection efforts (see Communication and Outreach). I am always seeking more opportunities to connect my science and my running.
Running Resume:
Bighorn 100M 2023, GP 5, Overall 50, Time: 28:02:43
Wasatch 100M 2022 DNF (Why am I including a race I didn’t finish? Because when you try something hard it doesn’t always go your way but you can still celebrate the attempt. Forest fire smoke stopped my race, but I am proud to have reached for the stars and I absolutely loved the experience until then)
Mogollon Monster 100k 2021, GP 1, Overall 5, Time: 17:00:49
Deadman Peaks 30K 2021, GP 1, Female CR, Overall 3, 2:48
Old Pueblo Endurance Runs 50M 2019, GP 1, Overall 7, Time: 10:00:45
Tushars Mountain 70K 2018, GP 1, Overall 8, Time: 12:00:42
Moira Hough 