by arisi | Nov 5, 2025 | Headstrong
“Are you Steph?” the volunteer at the 56km aid station asked me in the dark. “No, soy Andrea. ¿Dónde está Steph?!?” I asked incredulously. She left me in the dust after km 32 when I was struggling with the heat…she should be here by now....
by arisi | Aug 3, 2025 | Headstrong
“Quieres pasar? I asked the man behind me as we were grinding up 900 meters on the steep and rocky “dragon’s tail” at kilometer 54 of the Ultra Coah 160. “No, todo bien,” he replied, then proceeded to dry heave behind me. I’d...
by arisi | Jun 10, 2025 | Headstrong
Despite the fact that we were about to make a major life change and move to Monterrey, Mexico, I had a race credit with Aravaipa Running that I needed to use from the Tushar’s 100km last year. I declined that race because the course was engulfed in flames, which...
by arisi | Oct 2, 2024 | Headstrong
I’ve DNF’d three 100 mile runs in my Ultra career and only one of them has stuck in my craw ever since 2018: IMTUF 100. The Idaho Mountain Trail Ultra Festival is a low key, old school ultra with only 200 runners. The RD “Jer” writes, “We...
by arisi | Oct 2, 2023 | Headstrong
“Are you going to talk to me or just watch me?” My voice sounds distant, distorted by the fog. I’m talking to two glowing white-blue orbs that have been floating next to me for the past hour, following my every upward step. “I’ve been...
by arisi | Aug 7, 2023 | Headstrong
After a short racing hiatus, I got back into the swing at the Kessel 60K Run in October. The Never Summer 100k has been on my radar after I crewed and paced my cousin Chris and our friend Dan in 2017. It just never fit into my training schedule. But with TOR in...
