About Me

Hi there! My name is Cole and I am currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Tennessee studying planetary geology and erosional processes on the Moon. I have a passion for all-things running and promoting positive mental health and happiness through running and an active lifestyle. Growing up as a country kid in southwestern Pennsylvania, I found myself outside and frequently playing in the dirt. That love for the outdoors blossomed into a passion for the natural sciences and geology. I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Mercyhurst University in 2017 and a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Tennessee in 2019.

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My love of all things running came much later in life as I was a fairly uncoordinated and unathletic kid in grade school and high school. In college, I took up weight lifting as a hobby. That hobby turned into a twice-a-day addiction and I went from 150 lbs soaking wet to 190 lbs and semi-athletic. Unfortunately, only a few days after I moved to Knoxville, TN for grad school, I was involved in a serious cycling accident that all but ended my weight lifting career (more on that under the soon-to-be “how not to wreck a bike” blog post).

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Enter running. I originally started running to stay fit in the absence of the upper back strength necessary to lift weights. That first trail half marathon turned into a marathon, then a 50k, then a 50 miler, and a 100…

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So here we are. I am still learning about this sport and how to progress as a runner, but I am making fewer mistakes than I used to. I suppose that is the purpose of this site and the blogs and race reports that I post. My goal is to help others progress as runners as I have all while promoting happiness and positive vibes in the running community. Here’s to getting faster!!