For as long as I can remember, I have adored being in nature, especially in the mountains. When I was young, my dad would drive us out to the Alberta Rockies for family camping trips. I vividly recall looking upwards and out the car window, staring in amazement at the immense beauty and enormity of our mountains. They always instilled in me a sense of wonder and awe, and I would never have imagined that one day I would be running across their ridgelines.

As a young adult, I worked at an environmental consulting company, where I was introduced to backpacking and backcountry hiking by my coworkers—all scientists and outdoor enthusiasts. We hiked the West Coast Trail, skied up to Lake O’Hara in the middle of winter, and signed up for our first trail races together. I cherish these memories because they were the first time I realized that I was capable and strong enough, both physically and mentally, to withstand multi-day endurance feats. I always came out of these experiences with a greater appreciation for nature and for myself.

During the pandemic, I had my first taste of ultra running in the mountains. My husband, our friends and I trained for months to run across the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park—a roughly 44km trek with a 1500m elevation gain. It was the first time I consistently trained for such a long period, and the discipline I gained from the training alone I was deeply grateful for. The terrain was challenging, the climbs were hard, but the views were absolutely beautiful. I felt so alive and grateful that I could bring myself to these far-off, remote spaces.

Finishing that run gave me a sense of accomplishment and strength that permeated into all areas of my life. As someone who formerly struggled with body image issues, I began to see my body through a new lens—one of strength and resiliency. Since then, I’ve been hooked. To date, I’ve completed 3 ultramarathons, including my most recent race at Sinister 7, where I finished my first 50 miler. I want to do the Climbing for Change challenge not only to test my endurance once again, but also to inspire others to find the strength they never knew they had.