In October 2020, I set a self-supported fastest known time on the entirety of the Rock Creek Trail, starting on near the source of Rock Creek on Muncaster Road in Olney, MD and finishing just past the confluence with the Potomac River at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The 31-mile route combines dirt and paved sections of the Upper Rock Creek Trail, Rock Creek Regional Park’s trails, and the Rock Creek Trail in Montgomery County as well as the Western Ridge Trail through Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia. Learn more about the route at fastestknowntime.com.
Rim to Rim to Rim (R2R2R) at the Grand Canyon is a bucket list item for plenty of trail and ultra runners. The combination of distance, elevation, epic views, and self-reliance make for an incredible adventure. In April 2019, alongside a few others I met at the trailhead, we set out on the South Kaibab Trail at 3:45 AM, making our way down to the Colorado River and up the North Kaibab Trail to the north rim. We turned around and descended back to the river, then came up the Bright Angel Trail to spectacular late afternoon views. It was a brutally tough day, but absolutely well worth it.
In August of 2012, I broke my ankle. Over the next several months, during the course of two surgeries and countless physical therapy sessions, I began scheming around a self-supported cross-country bicycle trip. Then, in June of 2013, I left my job, packed only what I needed, and hit the road.
I rode from Washington, DC to Portland, OR in 73 days, covering 4,275 miles along the way. I visited 15 states and crossed the continental divide 11 times. I also raised more than $3,000 for Climate Ride. Read about the adventure here.
Emil Zatopek once said, "If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon." I suppose, then, if you want to gaze into the depths of your soul, you should run an ultra.
I started running regularly in 2013, and since then, I've finished more than 85 races at distances ranging from 5K to 100 miles, including eight marathons and twelve ultras. When I'm in training mode, I typically put in 30-40 miles per week in Rock Creek Park. Check out my weekly summary and activity dashboards, or follow me on Strava.
RUNNING PERSONAL BESTS
5K (ROAD) 17:27
5M (TRAIL) 34:47
10K (ROAD) 40:15
10K (TRAIL) 41:37
10 MILE (ROAD) 1:09
10 MILE (TRAIL) 1:15
HALF (ROAD) 1:28
HALF (TRAIL) 1:47
MARATHON (ROAD) 3:11
50K (TRAIL) 4:29
50 MILE (TRAIL) 8:48
100K (TRAIL) 15:31
100 MILE (TRAIL) 22:34
ADVENTURES ON TWO WHEELS
6,000+ MILES lifetime bike touring
100+ DAYS lifetime bike touring
4,300+ MILES self-supported touring
200-MILE fully loaded single day ride
CENTURY RIDES: 8
DESIGNED AND LED 200-mile tour for a novice group of 15
Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.
– Mark Jenkins