Trail Running and Humanity: Finding Light When the World Feels Heavy

The weekend of Javelina Jundred always feels like stepping into another universe.Cow costumes. Glitter. Runners in tutus at mile 90. Volunteers dancing at aid stations like it’s Coachella for dirtbags.

It’s ridiculous and beautiful all at once, a reminder that even when everything hurts, we can still choose joy.

And this year, standing at that finish line watching my athletes and friends come through, some crying, some laughing, some both, it hit me how much we need that reminder. Because outside that bubble, the world feels heavy.

People are losing benefits, homes, healthcare. Hate is loud. Prices keep climbing. Everyone seems tired.

And yet here, in this pocket of the desert, people are high-fiving strangers and handing out grilled cheese at 2 a.m.

It’s easy to dismiss running as “just running.” But weekends like Javelina make it clear it’s also humanity in motion.

Joy Doesn’t Mean Ignoring the Hard

There’s this guilt that creeps in sometimes.Like, how can we be out here celebrating when so many people are struggling just to get by?

But joy doesn’t cancel out compassion, it fuels it.You can care deeply about the world and still let yourself laugh at mile 70.You can hold heartbreak in one hand and a PB&J in the other.

Because if you burn out your joy, you burn out your ability to care.

That weekend in the desert, I watched runners who had nothing left still stop to help someone puking in the sand. I watched crews share snacks with total strangers. That’s the kind of energy the world could use more of.

What We Learn Out There

Trail running teaches you what it means to show up when things get hard and to keep showing up even when it’s unfair, messy, and exhausting.

We talk about fueling, pacing, endurance, but the real lesson might be this: When you have enough, you share.

When you see someone struggling, you stop.When someone finishes, you cheer like it’s your own win.

That’s humanity. That’s what we’re practicing out there, mile after mile.

Trail Running for Something Bigger

So when the world feels heavy, when the news is another gut punch or your community is hurting, remember what you’ve learned on the trail.

You can’t fix everything. But you can care. You can notice. You can act from that awareness.

Donate a few bucks to Mutual Aid Phoenix or St. Mary’s Food Bank. Check on a neighbor. Offer a hand instead of assuming someone else will.

You don’t need a race bib to make an impact.You just need the same persistence that gets you through mile 90, the belief that small steps add up.

The Real Finish Line

Every October, Javelina reminds me, joy and empathy aren’t opposites. They’re teammates.

So yeah, keep running. Keep dancing through the aid stations. Keep laughing at the chaos of life.

But also, keep noticing. Keep helping. Keep showing up.

Because maybe what we’re really training for isn’t just endurance on the trail.

Maybe it’s endurance in how we love, care, and stay human when the world feels heavy.

Good effort. Positive attitude.💛🧡⛰️