Question for the seasoned trail runners.... I've ran more trails than I have asphalt or concrete over the last year, but, I have my first ever actual sanctioned trail RACE coming up. I feel pretty confident in my training and nutrition prep for the race. And its only 10miles, 10 miles is cake(pun intended you Cake eaters 🤣🤣).. My question is simple though,if you've raced the trails a number of times..... What is the one thing you didnt know on your first trail race that you wish you had?....

If we already hit this…my bad. Curious what you all do for cross training, and why/what benefits you like that it provides. I’m going through a lifeguard course for work, and the swim tonight was torturous. But as I sat there on the pool deck hoping my soul would return from its out of body journey, I realized I had one of the most intense full leg pumps I’ve ever experienced. I’m planning to incorporate some swimming in the training plan and see how/if it does anything.

Who else drank the Altra Koolaid only to relegate 4 pairs to their work shoe rotation? I wanted to love them on the trail… turns out I only love them in the school hallways and classrooms.

Monday Morning Conversation – What’s Your Big Run This Summer? It’s already February. Let that sink in for a second. We blink, and it’ll be July 4th. The question is — are WE going to be ready? What do you have planned for your Big Run this summer? Is it a marathon? An ultra? A triathlon? A destination race? Your first 5K? A comeback season? Or maybe something that scares you just enough to make your heart beat a little faster when you think about it? Drop it in the comments. Claim it. Say it out loud. SO, What is the Plan? If you have a big run on the calendar, tell us: - What race or challenge are you training for? - Are you following a structured training plan? - How many weeks out are you? - What’s your biggest hurdle right now — endurance, pace, consistency, recovery, mindset? And most importantly — what are you doing to stay motivated? The truth is … motivation fades. It’s discipline, routine, and community that carry us through the cold mornings and the tired legs. What habits are you building right now that July-you will thank you for? Are you strength training? Dialing in nutrition? Prioritizing sleep? Getting your long runs done no matter what? Most important is... How Can We Support You? Eat Cake Run Club isn’t just about logging miles. It’s about showing up for each other. Tell us how we can support you: - Do you need accountability? - Pace partners? - Long run encouragement? - Nutrition advice? - Someone to remind you that you’re capable on the hard days? We want to celebrate your milestones. Your first 10-miler. Your longest week ever. Your breakthrough run. Your race-day PR. Let’s make noise for each other. And If You Don’t Have a Big Run Planned… It’s not too late. Seriously. February is the launch pad. There is plenty of time to build. Plenty of time to get stronger. Plenty of time to surprise yourself. You don’t need to be “ready” to start — you just need to start. Pick something that stretches you. Something that requires growth. Something that makes you commit.

Week 26 is proof that consistency doesn’t need applause—it needs backbone. LOTS OF IT. Big Run Weekend has never been about perfect splits, flawless weather, or waiting until we “feel ready.” It’s about choosing the work anyway. When the alarm hits too early. When your legs feel heavy. When life feels loud. This is where Eat Cake Run Club separates itself. This is where WE GO ALL IN, full send. Before we know it, summer will be here. The long days. The races. The trips. The moments where we want to feel strong, confident, and proud of the work we’ve done. And here’s the truth most people miss: The version of you that shows up this summer is being built right now. READ THAT AGAIN Every early morning. Every mile you didn’t feel like running. Every decision to move instead of sit. The work we’re stacking in February becomes the confidence we carry in June AND BEYOND . What feels small today becomes powerful later. Stay patient. But also Stay stubborn. And let’s talk about last weekend. To everyone who went BIG and knocked out 20+ mile runs — that’s not casual. That’s commitment. That’s grit. That’s Eat Cake Run Club at full volume. You didn’t just log miles… you built calluses on your mind. And just like that, we’re back on the 20 Mile Bomb Streak: Run of 1. One becomes two. Two becomes momentum. Momentum becomes unstoppable We’re not chasing hype. We’re building durability. The New Year excitement is long gone. Good. That means this is real now. This is the part where character shows up. Where nobody is clapping. Where the only thing pushing you forward is the promise you made to yourself. Big Run Weekend is our reset button. Our reminder. Our proving ground. Do something hard this weekend. Not because it’s convenient. Not because it’s trending. But because you’re the type of person who doesn’t back down when it gets uncomfortable. Summer is coming. Strength is earned now. Show up. Go big. Stay stubborn. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Oh yeah, happy Valentine’s Day :)