How She Shuffled From Big Mountain Hiking to Trail Running
I’ve been running for 10 years, but I do not call myself a runner. I am a trained dancer. I am a hiker. I am
Sarah Wallock
January 21, 2026
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I’ve been running for 10 years, but I do not call myself a runner. I am a trained dancer. I am a hiker. I am
A run can be so many things. Once, it was a date with a cute guy in high school. Many times it has been a way for me to explore a new city or the neighborhood nearby. Core memories are stacked in my mind of running on sidewalks and side roads, across bridges, up steep hills, tackling stairs and trails and running barefoot in the sand. I have run while pushing a stroller and with a dog leash strapped to my waist, jogged with friends and with a group of strangers, alongside my husband or my kids on their bikes, around the track or with my team on the field. Many miles earned and memories proudly collected over a lifetime of hitting the road.
No one tells you how hard it is to go from being fearless to not believing in yourself at all. I went from fearlessly signing
The Fear of Missing Out is a very real phenomenon and it is often amplified by social media. No matter how many great things you do, it’s easy to be bombarded by a steady stream of people doing other cool things, resulting in a near constant “grass is greener” feeling. If you’re someone who has an adventurous friend group, it can be even worse as you may find yourself missing out on skiing to run a 50k or miss climbing a peak in order to climb a different one.
It almost feels surreal to be writing this note, as I didn’t envision being in this position 10 years ago. To be honest, I’m not sure what I envisioned for the future 10 years ago, but what I was certain of was that the landscape for women in trail running needed to change.
I did not grow up hiking. Yet, by the age of 37 I’d completed America’s Triple Crown of Thru-hiking three times. The thing is, it’s
In a February 5, 2025 post on Instagram, Braden Goimarac ( the_run_strong_coach), posts “Lacing up to become the greatest of all time requires you fly close to the sun, so getting burned at some point in your career is inevitable. The best runners in the world, with the best coaches in the world, doing the most scientifically informed training in the world still get injured. Embrace it as a part of the process and move forward.”
How I love to run and go for miles and miles—
up a hill or down one,
on a dirt trail or on the gravel.
On a paved road or through the mud.
Below the redwood trees or through the golden hills.
Do you feel like recovery from training your runs, hikes or long adventures and races is more of a challenge these days? If your “recovery sleep” feels more like staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., you’re not alone and not imagining it! And, it may be more than just training stress!
Thru-hiking will change you in many ways. Your attitude toward cleanliness, what foods go together, and attentiveness to how much things weigh are a few
The year I turned 50, I was managing a lot of change in my life. I moved to a different state, lost my 15-year-old dog, got a new puppy, and was adjusting to life with much less structure. After a 30-year career, I found myself without a job and privileged enough to think about early retirement. While this newfound freedom was exciting, it was also terrifying to no longer have career goals, a set schedule or expectations about how I spend my time.
How do you know when you should legitimately call it quits from a hard fall/nagging injury vs. sucking it up and continuing the race?
Running has taken many forms in my life: glory, punishment, escape, healing, meditation. Pregnancy and motherhood reshaped everything, teaching me to treat my body with tenderness. Six months after giving birth, I found myself running not for records or miles but to celebrate the strength and endurance of my whole being.
Do you still train when you feel a cold coming on or when you are mildly sick? How do you know when to call it
As trail runners, we have all faced this: you’re halfway through a hard climb, and your body wants to stop. Your brain says, “Maybe I
The Wonderland Trail at a Glance Permits Since the entirety of the trail is inside Mount Rainier National Park, permits are necessary for all overnight
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