Hi Reader,

Ever had a run that felt good until your watch told you otherwise? Yeah, me too. And let’s be real—that one stupid number can wreck your whole vibe if you let it.

But here’s the truth: the trail doesn’t care what your watch says. Heat, climbs, stress, crappy sleep—they all mess with the data. Which is why I coach effort. Effort tells you the real story.

And here’s where it gets good: training by effort doesn’t just make you a stronger trail runner—it makes you steadier in life. The same gears you use on the trail (easy, endurance, threshold, max) show up when you’re handling work, family, and the messy parts of being human.

I wrote about it this week on the blog, and if you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “doing enough” because your numbers don’t look perfect—this one’s for you. You’ll see why effort matters, how to use it, and how it translates way beyond the trail.

👉 Read the full post here.​

PS: Want to dive even deeper? I unpack this whole idea in episode 4 of my podcast Dirt Nap Diaries. But first—go read the blog. That’s where it all starts.