The start of a new year always brings a certain level of optimism. Training plans look totally manageable, race sign-ups don’t seem that ridiculous, and it’s easy to convince myself that stacking a few grueling endurance events back-to-back is, in fact, a fantastic idea.
For those of you already subscribed to Dirt and Hills, welcome. For those of you on the fence, consider this your invitation to follow along as I take on a season filled with trail running, endurance challenges, and the occasional questionable decision—all documented in helpful, and hopefully entertaining, detail.
Here’s what’s on deck for the first half of the year:
XTERRA New Jersey Sprint Triathlon – May 4
Because easing into race season is overrated, I’m kicking things off with an off-road triathlon. The XTERRA New Jersey Sprint consists of:
500-meter swim in Wawayanda Lake
13K (8-mile) mountain bike ride through mixed terrain
5K (3.1-mile) trail run around the lake
It’s been 25 years since my last off-road tri, so naturally, I expect everything to go flawlessly.
A big part of the decision to sign up was Ubu, my recently acquired full-suspension Specialized Stumpjumper. Like most impulsive-but-ultimately-justified gear purchases, it came with a backstory. Named after Ubu Ale from Lake Placid Brewery (which, if you haven’t tried, you really should), and possibly inspired by that famous Sit, Ubu, Sit closing credit from Family Ties, this bike was reason enough to commit to a mountain bike-heavy event.
Could I have just bought the bike and enjoyed it without needing an external excuse? Of course. But that’s not how these things work. Now I’ve got a proper event to put it through its paces, test its handling on race terrain, and, ideally, not embarrass myself too badly in the process.
For subscribers, I’ll be breaking down:
Whether full suspension is too much for off-road triathlons
My bike handling skills (and how rusty they are)
Race day strategy and execution
SMR Mayapple 50-Mile Ultramarathon – May 17
Two weeks after XTERRA, I’m heading to South Mountain Reservation in Essex County, NJ, for the Mayapple 50-Mile Ultra. This one’s a mix of gravel paths, technical singletrack, and enough elevation to keep things interesting. It’s also a loop course, meaning I’ll get the privilege of passing my car multiple times while resisting the urge to quit early.
It’s all for a good cause—the event is organized by the South Mountain Conservancy to support local trail preservation—but let’s be honest, the real challenge here is less about finishing and more about seeing how long my gear, nutrition, and mental fortitude hold up before something goes sideways.
For those who want the full experience, paid subscribers will get access to:
Training strategy and long-run breakdowns
Gear reviews in real time (a.k.a. “Which piece of equipment fails me first?”)
Nutrition experiments—from energy gels to what food is still digestible at mile 40
The Allegheny 100 Challenge – June 6-8
Less of a race, more of an unsupported 100-mile sufferfest, the Allegheny 100 Challenge is a point-to-point trek through Pennsylvania’s wilderness. There are no aid stations, no crew, and no bail-out plan—just me, my pack, and a dwindling supply of snacks. It’s about survival, pacing, and making reasonably good decisions while walking 100 miles in one go.
For premium subscribers, this means:
Full gear lists and pack weight breakdowns
Post-event analysis
A very real look at what happens when you put yourself through this willingly
Why Follow Along?
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to train for endurance events—or just enjoy watching someone else test their limits while you sip coffee from the warmth of your couch—this is for you.
Subscribers get:
Behind-the-scenes updates that don’t make it into the free posts
Gear and training breakdowns (so you can learn from my mistakes instead of making them yourself)
Post-race reflections—what worked, what didn’t, and what I’ll never do again
It’s shaping up to be a hell of a season. Let’s see how much I can pack into six months of running, riding, and rucking through the hills.
Onward.
