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Trail running lessons at 40: Why I don’t run with energy vampires
August is my birthday month and I just turned 40 . Which means three things: Yes, I will celebrate all month long. Yes, I will accept...
Brittany Olson
Aug 184 min read


What It’s Really Like to Crew and Pace Cocodona 250
97.5 miles. 35+ hours on foot. 5 days of crewing and pacing. Almost no sleep. 1 burger-related emotional breakdown.
Brittany Olson
Jun 177 min read


The Hangover and the Space Between
I understand it is a true privilege to be able to have adventures and do the things I do. And I am super grateful for that. But there is this space between (queue Dave Matthews) where something feels off, something feels missing and I feel listless.
Brittany Olson
Aug 23, 20233 min read


Overcoming Perfectionism and Not Punishing Yourself
I was running my long run yesterday. I had already delayed it from Saturday because I woke up with a headache and somehow, I woke up late yesterday. I got to the trail an hour and 45 minutes later than normal. A bit of a big deal in the summers here in Phoenix.
Brittany Olson
Aug 8, 20233 min read


My Mr. Myagi of Trail Running
James has shown me that no matter what age you are, you can do many things. He lost his son to suicide during the high point of the pandemic. He divorced a few years before that. His daughter lives in Flagstaff so she isn’t too far away but he’s definitely got an empty nest. He leads a couple of group runs and makes everyone feel welcome.
Brittany Olson
Jun 18, 20232 min read


Car Issues and the Power of Strength Training
When I popped out from under the car, my stepdaughter said, “I’m glad you lift and are strong.” It made me laugh but also made me proud.
Then it made me start thinking about all the training I have been doing for 17+ years. How that training has not only made me physically strong but mentally confident in myself.
Brittany Olson
Jun 13, 20232 min read


Managing Our Thoughts - Useful or Not
How about we think of our thoughts as neither positive or negative? Or good or bad? What does that even mean? Let’s think of them as useful or not useful. Wait, what does that even mean?
Brittany Olson
May 28, 20235 min read


100K Trail Run...
“But wait Brittany, how could you finish? You were pulled from the race.” Great question and one I wish I had asked myself at 3:35 p.m. on April 22. Being pulled from a race means the race is no longer taking liability for you. You are now on your own. So what do you do?
Brittany Olson
May 7, 20234 min read


100K Trail Run...No One is Unbreakable Part 1
The weather was perfect. We took off. I arrived at the first aid station which just so happened to be my first crew spot about an hour and 45 minutes later which was right in the range I had planned for. I got there, I took a drink of water and all of a sudden I had to puke only 9.5 miles into this race. It confused me.
Brittany Olson
May 2, 20236 min read


Tolerant with others. Strict with yourself. Setting Expectations!
“The only person you get to be truly hard on is you. It will take every ounce of your self-control to enforce that - not because it’s hard to be hard on yourself, but because it’s so hard to let people get away with things you’d never allow in yourself. To let them do things you know are bad for them, to let them slack off when you see so much more in them.”
Brittany Olson
Apr 12, 20233 min read


Managing Stress
And here I am on repeat but what can I control? Myself - actions, inactions, reactions, attitude, mindset. Same things as always.
Brittany Olson
Jun 18, 20222 min read
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