I met my younger self for a trail run.

Plus: 🌵Javelina Diaries 02 // Treadmill Daze

Mar 12, 2025

TikTokers are getting coffee with their younger selves, and I wondered, how would it be to run with the me of a decade ago? I’d recently lost my dad and was stuck in a bad job. My drinking was in freefall. Yet, amidst the fog and confusion, the mountains were opening their arms, and the town where I grew up was whispering, “Come home.”

In a muddy mountain parking lot, autumn sunlight filtered through mist and tall pines, I drop the tailgate, hop up, and tie my shoes.

I’ve driven four hours to meet an old friend at a favorite trail—his and mine. I get there early. He’s right on time.

It has been ten years.

Stepping out of the truck, he hands me a beer. I decline with a wave, and without explaining that I’ve broken free of the stuff.

It’s tough to see a friend hurting but I coached myself on the drive not to impart the advice someone dear once gave me:

You can’t drink like that forever.

He swigs the beer and is off like a flash up the gravel path. My friend always starts fast and stays there as long as he can.

The track narrows and winds up a rocky mountainside. With a side eye, he looks back. I could catch him, but why?

He doesn’t know the secret.

We always get to the same place anyway, and today it’s the bench overlooking the high mountain lake. We find our breath.

I used to live in the town near this trail and my friend still does. It’s where we met and raised hell. I tell him it’s changed.

He hasn’t noticed.

Standing square in the middle of a thing, it can be hard to see what it is, because it’s frozen in what you want it to be.

For me, the town was another stopping-off point on a long journey home. My friend says going home is not possible.

I think maybe he’s scared.

When you run the same streets you did as a kid, you have to meet younger you again and again. What will you say? What will he?

Back down the trail and few words are spoken. My friend is cracked but not broken, and in the parking lot he asks how.

How to go home.

Thanks for supporting Running Lightly with your time. You can also help sustain the work with a paid subscription for less than $1 a week. Thank you. -Mike

🌵Javelina Diaries 02 // Treadmill Daze

The Javelina Jundred—my first 100k—is 226 days away. I am psyched to spend a summer on the trails readying for this celebration of running in the Arizona desert. Get monthly journals on Substack and juicy daily training details on Strava.

Time distorts when things aren’t going as planned with my running. February saw a couple setbacks that seemed to go on forever.

1. The Injury

I recovered quickly from CIM in early December… Much faster than with previous marathons. I was cognizant of being patient returning to running, but also interested in tapping a supercompensation effect by not waiting too long.

Looking back, I see where I made the mistake.

Just a week after the marathon, although mileage was low and overall efforts were easy, I began doing strides. Not long after that—knowing I wanted to run trails this summer—I was rapidly increasing vert.

Too-much-too-soon. My left Achilles protested, and I was forced to reduce mileage and cut hills and speedwork for the first half of February. With a few weeks of cautious running and lower-leg strength work, I feel ready to build again. I’m starting to peg some really nice workouts. I’ll tell you all about it next month.

2. The Weather

I grew up in Montana and we’ve been home for over a decade. So, frigid winters are not surprising, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy.

It felt like we were hunkered down most of January and February, and the basement treadmill became my best bud. I’m grateful to have a machine of our own. Plus, this is the golden age of endurance sports on YouTube, so there’s plenty of inspirational entertainment to help pass the time.

Short list:

Still, the ‘mill does take a mental and physical toll. The repetitive movements and lack of pace and “terrain” variety surely did not help my injury. And listen, I love a good shoe review on TV, but as a treat… not the default.

Anyway, the weather seems to have turned a corner, and I’ve been (mostly) outside for a few weeks. But, Montanans know this time well—fake spring—so optimism is tempered. It’s like racing… Assume things will go sideways, and if they don’t, that’ll be a nice surprise.

February Stats (4 weeks)

Miles: 163 (18, 45, 50, 50)
Vert climbed: 7050’ (0, 2150, 2000, 2900)
Average HR: 121
Strength activities: 11

Speaking of race planning, I’m gearing up for a few spring and early summer trailies. Lisa and I are stoked to get Gladys in the mountains, camp, explore, and track down good food. Summer is kind of our jam.

The Schedule (So Far)

Don’t Fence Me In, 25k | Helena, Montana | May 10
River of No Return, 32k | Challis, Idaho | June 14
Bangtail Divide, 38k | Bozeman, Montana | July 5

I’d like to do a 50k in August, but am still looking. Any recommendations, preferably in the Mountain West? Also, what would you like to see in these training updates? I’m not accustomed to sharing the details of a build as it’s happening, but hopefully you’ll find some helpful nuggets.

I’ll try not to make it all about the weather.

Run Lightly,
-mike