Last week, Nike put up a sign during Boston Marathon weekend that read:

“Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated.”

The sign was gone within 24 hours — but the conversation? That stuck around and is continuing.

There’s a bigger story here that got missed. Walking isn’t just something to tolerate: it’s an Olympic sport, a gateway into running, and for a lot of people, it’s how you come back after life changes on you.

In this episode, I talk about what Boston really is beyond the front of the pack. The 39,000 people, stories that don't get coverage, and moments of pure humanity on the course.

Including the story of Tommy Rivs Puzey, who went from a 2:18 at Boston to a cancer diagnosis, to shuffling to the bathroom, to walking New York in nine hours, to coming back to Boston. Run-walking it. Movement changes, and walking doesn't make it any less.

Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must — just get across the line. Dean Karnazes

If you’re out there—running, walking, or somewhere in between—you belong.

Read/Listen on Substack: https://trailrunnersjourney.substack.com/p/6c02f7b3-5715-4a1e-b38b-3b1782b0c3d5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trailrunnersjourney.substack.com

We like to think we show up to a race, run it, and leave with a medal and a smile.

But races have plans for us.

In this episode, I share the story of Iron Horse Ultra: the cold morning, the course, the waiting, the running… and what unfolded along the way.

What people see is the start and the finish. What they don’t see are the moments in between—the meltdowns, the aloneness, the unexpected.

Sometimes, a race becomes something else entirely.

This one gave me the space and opportunity to say goodbye.

If you’ve ever had a race meet you where you are, or give you something you didn’t know you needed, this one is for you.

Read the full story on Substack:

The Race That Let Me Say Goodbye

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trailrunnersjourney.substack.com

I didn’t finish.

And for a while, that felt like failure.

In this episode, I’m sharing the story of my DNF at River’s Edge Ultra, what happened, what I was thinking in the moment, and what it actually taught me.

Because a DNF isn’t just “Did Not Finish.”

Sometimes it means:

* Did Nothing Foolish

* Did Not Fail

* Made the right call

We talk about:

* What really leads to a DNF

* How to evaluate your race honestly

* Why elites DNF too (yes, even them)

* How to take the judgment out of it

* And how to walk away from a race with something more valuable than a medal

If you’ve ever:

* Pulled the pin

* Questioned yourself

* Or felt like the world was watching

This one’s for you.

The full written story is available on Substack: DNF (River's Edge Ultra)

Where have you DNF’d… and later realized it was the right call?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trailrunnersjourney.substack.com

What if walking is part of being a runner?

In this episode of Trail Wisdom Weekly, I share how I went from power walker to ultramarathoner—and why walking isn’t a weakness, it’s part of the process.

Walking, hiking, shuffling, climbing… it all counts.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “less than” or don’t belong because you walk during your runs, this episode is for you.

→ Read the written version:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trailrunnersjourney.substack.com

What happens when you say yes to something before you feel or are even remotely ready for?

In this episode, I share the story of the race that changed everything for me — the one that opened the door to endurance, identity, and everything that came after.

Read the full companion essay here:

Death Race: The Race That Changed What I Thought Was Possible.

Have you ever said yes to something that changed you before you fully understood why?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trailrunnersjourney.substack.com

Episode 1: Is It Too Late to Start Running?

Is it too late?

Too late for the Olympics? Probably.Too late to move your body, build endurance, feel strong, or become someone who runs?

Not even close.

In this episode of Trail Wisdom Weekly, I unpack the real meaning behind the “too late” question and the fears hiding underneath it:

Regret vs discomfort

What we’re actually afraid of

Why age isn’t the barrier we think it is

Why being “slow” is not failure

Why finish lines aren’t the only measure of success

And the question that hit hardest:

If you didn’t try — would you regret it?

If you’re asking whether it’s too late, something in you still wants it.

Maybe the real question isn’t “Am I too late?”Maybe it’s “What am I waiting for?”

📖 Related essay: Mud Chicken — The Event That Changed Everything

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trailrunnersjourney.substack.com

Trail Wisdom Weekly is for everyday trail and ultra runners 35+ who want to get race ready without sacrificing real life.

Hosted by ultrarunner Sherri Donohue, this podcast blends trail stories, strategy, mindset, and hard-earned lessons from thousands of miles on trail.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trailrunnersjourney.substack.com