Where to start?? I’ve been actively running for 5 years and began as a way to recover from completely tearing my Left ACL in July 2012. Towards the end of the recovery process, my doctor told me that I could go out and run if I so chose to. Why on earth would someone want to run for the heck of it?!?!? Well…my wife was in the early stages of beginning her run and I thought that if she can do it, then so can I!

I remember the first day as if it were yesterday. I wore a large bulky brace to protect the surgically repaired knee, but more so to better protect my fragile mind from all the thoughts of what could go wrong. All the worrying was for nothing! The first run was 3 miles and I was hooked. I continued to run every weekend and found myself progressing from 3 miles, 6, 9, 10, 13, 15 and then 20. I was having a ton of fun and found my new escape. I continued to run through the summer and eventually signed up for my first marathon in November 2013.  At the encouragement of a friend, I signed up for my first 50k, which just so happened to be 3 weeks after the marathon.  That little taste of an ultra-marathon is all it took for me to truly fall in love with the sport of running.  I love running and always look forward to the next time I’m able to lace up my shoes and hit the road or trail.

Since then, I’ve continued to run quite frequently and been quite fortunate to finish races ranging from 50k to 100 miles.  I’m also blessed to have a loving family and a very supportive wife!! She is my #1 crew person and is someone I can always count on to have in my corner.

~Justin

Photo taken during the Umstead Marathon in March 2018. Photo Credit: Vasu Mandava

Photo taken along the Cowboy Trails in Las Vegas, NV in Jan 2018. Photo credit: Stephen Massey