New Race, Returning Face: Idaho Native Poised to Perform a TPF First

How many marathons have you run to date? Any particular favorites so far?

I’ve run 7 marathons over the past 15 years, and I’m currently working toward completing the original six World Marathon Majors, which has turned into a really exciting new chapter in my running journey. I started that goal in 2025 and already have three completed (Chicago, NYC, and London) so I’m officially hooked on the challenge. I’m already booked for Berlin and Tokyo—let’s go!

I often tell my friends and family who don’t run that marathons showcase the very best of humanity. You have tens of thousands of people coming together to support complete strangers for hours on end. It doesn’t matter if you’re fast or slow, the crowds cheer just as loudly for everyone. There’s something really special about watching people show up for each other with so much kindness, encouragement, and energy. In a world that can feel pretty divided sometimes, marathon day feels like a reminder that people are actually good.

How did you initially find The Peregrine Fund as a charity partner? What made you want to run for us?

I found The Peregrine Fund while looking for charity partners for the NYC Marathon and it immediately felt like the right fit. You’re based in my home state of Idaho, which made the connection feel personal from the start, and your mission is something I genuinely believe in and feel excited to support.

Your team has also been incredibly welcoming and supportive throughout the process. It’s been really meaningful to combine something that challenges me personally with an organization doing important work protecting wildlife and preserving the beauty of our natural world. If I can use running as a way to contribute to that mission, that feels pretty special.

 How are raptors or birds in general a part of your life?

15 years ago, birds were not really my thing. And then I got chickens.

I would sit out in the coop watching them for hours, and realized birds have so much personality and intelligence. And now birds are genuinely part of my everyday life. I live out in the country and regularly see hawks, owls, and eagles.

I run a lot of quiet country roads near rivers and ponds, and there’s a nesting pair of Bald Eagles along one of my regular routes. I’ll often see them soaring overhead or sitting high in a tree watching me run by, like they’re silently judging my pace choices. There’s something really grounding about sharing space with wildlife on a daily basis. It makes you appreciate how connected we are to the landscapes around us, and why preserving them matters.

What are your favorite routes for your training runs?

I live in southeast Idaho, so most of my runs are on rural country roads. I always joke that it’s usually just me and the cows out there. I’ve actually named some of the cows and alpacas along my routes because after enough long runs together it starts to feel rude not to.

One of my favorite parts of training here is getting to run along the Snake River during longer runs. It’s quiet, beautiful, and full of wildlife. There are definitely worse places to spend a few hours marathon training.

What is your advice for having a successful marathon experience?

The marathon itself is the party. It’s the celebration. It feels equal parts athletic event, street party, and emotional experience. The real journey is the training leading up to it. The early mornings, the long runs, the cumulative fatigue, the sore legs, and all the moments where you show up even when you don’t feel like it. By the time race day arrives, you’ve already done the hard part.

I think the best thing you can do on marathon day is soak it all in and celebrate what your body and mind accomplished to get there. Also, remember your brain will quit long before your body does. So when things get hard, just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Forward progress always counts.