SELLEST OSAST
Deanna Doane set a Florida Trail FKT, about 1,100 miles in under 20 days. Then she had no idea who she was.
What if you finally accomplished the thing you thought would change your life… and then had absolutely no idea who you were afterward?
Swamps. Heat. Loneliness. Sleep deprivation. All the fun stuff.
But here's the part that hooked me.
While she was doing it, Deanna was also living through an abusive relationship. She opens up about what that did to her mentally, how much of it she carried onto the Florida Trail, and how running became a place for peace and clarity, but not a replacement for actual therapy.
And then she finished. Except… life didn't magically become perfect.
She came home to what she describes as post-trail depression, an identity crisis, changing friendships, financial uncertainty, and the uncomfortable question: Who is Deanna outside of the Florida Trail?
So she started over.
She left her old life behind, started living and traveling out of her vehicle, built Wandering Runner, started coaching, created trail running camps and retreats, organized community runs, and gave back through volunteering and trail work.
And somewhere in all that chaos, she found something she hadn't expected: herself.
Not the FKT version.
Not the ultrarunner version.
Not the version somebody else expected her to be.
Just… Deanna.
Some of the best parts of this conversation have almost nothing to do with running. They're about leaving, healing, losing people who aren't in your corner, and realizing that starting over isn't failing.
That takes guts.
Whether your adventure is a 1,100-mile FKT, a cross-country move, leaving a relationship, or simply getting your damn life back… it doesn't have to look like anyone else's.
You don't have to wait until you're fearless. You just have to stop letting fear make every decision for you.
Check out the latest episode from the messy middle on The Evolving Adventure Podcast (@theevolvingadventure).
Follow Deanna: @wanderingrunnerco and find her Wandering Runner.
Whether you're into trail or ultrarunning... or not; starting over, or figuring out who the hell you're becoming next… this one's for you.
Please note: if this episode stirred something in you, support is available 24/7: 1-800-799-7233 (relationship abuse) or 988 (crisis and emotional support).
#FloridaTrail #FKT #Ultrarunning #TrailRunning #WomenWhoRun
