Passions · Vol. I

Out where
the trail breathes.

Birch corridors, ribbon singletrack, frozen tracks at dawn, and shed antlers under last year's leaves — the places I keep coming back to.

What I do outside isn't training for anything in particular — it's how I think. Each of these disciplines teaches a different kind of patience. Below are the four I keep closest, plus a growing logbook of the races I'd recommend you sign up for.

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No. 01 / Two Wheels

Mountain Biking

Duluth's Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) network is what got me hooked — rooty, rocky, north-shore flow. I'll always come back to Piedmont and the Mission Creek loop, but lately I've been chasing flowy bench-cut up at Pilot Hill in Laramie too.

160 mi Avg Monthly
29er HT Daily Driver
Piedmont Home Trail
/\/\
No. 02 / On Foot

Trail Running

The most honest sport I know. No drivetrain to blame, no skis to wax — just whatever you brought today. Hartley Park, Lester Park, and the Superior Hiking Trail when there's time. The longer the run, the better the thinking.

55 mpw Current Volume
7:40 /mi Easy Pace
50K Next Target
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No. 03 / Winter Engine

Cross Country Skiing

Korkki, Lester, Snowflake — Duluth quietly has one of the best Nordic networks in the country. Skate when it's fast, classic when it's cold. The American Birkebeiner is the season's center of gravity; everything else trains toward or recovers from it.

Skate / Classic Both, Always
Birkie Season Anchor
−10 °F Coldest Tolerable
Y
No. 04 / Slow Walking

Shed Hunting

The opposite of a workout — you're walking slowly, scanning at the right contrast, reading where the deer actually bedded vs. where you assumed. Half exercise, half pattern recognition. Bonus: nothing teaches a landscape like covering it at a foot per second.

Mar – Apr Prime Window
Whitetail Mostly
Slow / Eyes Only Gear Needed
Logbook · Recommendations

Races worth signing up for.

A growing log of the races I've actually toed the line at — what makes each one worth the trip, who they're best for, and what to expect.

Nordic Ski / 50 km ★★★★★

American Birkebeiner

Hayward → Cable, WI · February

The North American Nordic event. Roaring start at OO, the Birkie climbs, and a finish straight down Main Street in Hayward that you'll remember for years.

Bucket List
Trail Run / Marathon ★★★★½

Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon

Carlton → Duluth, MN · July

26.2 miles on the Superior Hiking Trail. Brutal, beautiful, and a Voyageur 50 qualifier. Best for runners who like rocks, roots, and earned views.

Home Field
MTB / 100 mi ★★★★★

Lutsen 99er

Lutsen, MN · June

Gravel, doubletrack, and ski-hill climbs along Lake Superior's north shore. Aid stations are top-tier and the post-race grill is reason enough alone.

Endurance
Trail Run / 50K ★★★★

Superior Spring Trail Races

Lutsen, MN · May

A great first ultra if you're moving up from the marathon. Snow is gone (mostly), bugs aren't out yet, and the SHT looks its absolute best.

First Ultra Friendly