Hi, I’m Shazam!
But you can also call me Maggie!
I partner with women who have long-form endurance goals and help them practice the skills, fitness, and mindsets to not only go the distance, but blaze their own trail there.
And, because I believe getting to the summit, the finish line, or the terminus is only half the journey, I venture with you back down the mountain to help you recover, make meaning of the miles, and carry the lessons into your next adventure.
My book-cred
Like many, college was a time of exploration and learning about my place in the world. I started my studies in Roanoke, Virginia, pursuing a B.S. in Exercise Science and Kinesiology, then transferred to Ithaca College the following year. There, I discovered the Outdoor Adventure Leadership program and joined the Immersion Semester Program: a semester-long instructor-development experience in partnership with the Northwest Outward Bound School. It blended technical skill development with immersive experiences that taught me the importance of blending research, theory, practice, and lived experience. It was during this time, while weaving together my love of movement, writing, shared experience, and nature, that I began to understand how trails and expeditions could serve as both a space and a practice for exploring identity, testing limits, and cultivating connection to something greater both within ourselves, between one another, and beyond ourselves.
I have published articles on developing women-specific programming for outdoor education professionals, as well have conducted research on women-specific programs for mountain biking. I have also researched and published articles on how to develop outdoor educational programming that actually delivers on stewardship outcomes through the use of nature-connectedness research, the various benefits of nature, nature-connectedness, and nature-based infrastructure for individual and community health, well-being, and sustainability outcomes. Future research and academic interests include studying the transitional and personal integration process of thru-hikers post hike. My hope is to use this research to develop a re-entry framework for thru-hikers, as well as personal “trailside companions” for self-discovery on the trail.
Outdoor Education:
B.S. Outdoor Adventure Leadership (Ithaca College, 2019)
M.S. Outdoor Education, Recreation, and Programming (Ohio University, 2021)
Wilderness First Responder (2022; WMA)
Wilderness First Aid (2026; NOLS)
Continuing Education: Weekly reading of books and research articles to keep up to date on current trends and findings.
My Approach
My Trail-cred
Ultra-Running/Exercise Science:
UESCA Certified Ultra-Running Coach (2025)
B.S. in Exercise Science
NASM Certified Personal Trainer (2020)
Continuing Education: 200-hour Nervous System-Based Yoga Teacher Training (July 2026 - December 2026); Weekly reading of research articles to keep up to date on current trends and findings.
Psychology/Coaching:
M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Ohio University, 2021) (unlicensed - not a therapist or a counselor, just completed my coursework for deeper understanding).
Palouse Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (2020)
Continuing Education: Weekly reading of research articles to keep up to date on current trends and findings.
My Philosophy
“There is more in you than you know. If you can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of your life you will be unwilling to settle for less.”
- Kurt Hahn, Co-Founder of Outward Bound
My coaching is built on this exact premise. I view life as an expedition between birth and death. True success isn't just about where you end up, but how you move through the terrain, care for yourself, and support your team. A great expedition demands both personal capability and deep responsibility. It requires us to balance our big ambitions with what truly matters: our health, our values, and the people walking, running, hiking beside us.
While you yourself must walk, hike, run each step of your trail, my job is to make sure you never feel like you have to do it alone.
There is a saying in thru-hiking endearingly coined: HYOH (Hike Your Own Hike). I believe there are many paths to the same destination. I also believe you can make it to the terminus with someone else’s map, but I think the point isn’t getting to the finish line, it’s how you cross it. You can only dig so deep when you understand your why, and that comes from your heart. I want to know what a successful expedition looks like and feels like to you, so together we can ensure you not only cross your finish line, but like who you are while doing it.
How I Navigate (My Values):
Lead with Heart: Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
Dig Deep: Lean in to challenge. Engage with curiosity. Never quit on a bad day.
Bring Others Along: There is no such thing as a solo-attempt or a self-supported journey. Point and run. Set each other up for success.
Leave It Better: Pick up trash. Be the reason someone smiles or believes in themselves. Pass the torch.
Life is an expedition. How are you navigating yours?
Give power to the human
Because I believe in human-powered pursuits, this website, my training plans, and my coaching methodology are made 100% AI free. This means my work probably takes longer than a lot of other coaches, but I think any time I’m investing into helping someone achieve their dreams is time well lived.
I’m not here to help you be an ultra-runner or a thru-hiker or an athlete. I’m here to help you find how those words are already a natural extension of who you are. I’m deeply interested in what it means to be human, and how to uplift and elevate the best of humanity. Personally, I have experienced the best of humanity while ultra-running and thru-hiking, which is why I joined this space as a coach. There are many things that make us human, but what I want to focus on here is our capacity for endurance, our ability to collaborate and connect with beings beyond ourselves, and storytelling. I believe our power comes from our stories, and I want to help you write one that feels true to you on the page, on the trail, and in your life.
Crew, not passenger. c0-leader, not guide.
You are the captain of the crew, not a passenger on this journey. I act as your co-leader, not a tour guide who simply hands you a itinerary. Coaching shouldn't create dependency; it should build competence. I will use your personal goals to create your training plan, and with every single workout, I will explain exactly how it ties into your larger vision. Ultimately, my goal is for you to become so attuned to your body, mind, and training that you could build your own program. I want you to hire me because you value the camaraderie and partnership, not because you are lost without me.
While peer-reviewed research structures our training blueprint, you actively drive the daily implementation. We build your roadmap together, meaning your feedback directly shapes the terrain we tackle. If a strategy fails to work for your lifestyle or body, we pivot. I bring the data, you bring the intuition, and together we navigate the journey.
Sustainability over sacrifice
Odds are you aren’t a professional athlete, but simply love going for long journeys outside. Even if you are a professional athlete, this should be fun! We will design your training for the long haul, prioritizing consistent joy over grueling sacrifice. While hard efforts and "type-2 fun" are mandatory for growth, misery is not a metric of success. If a specific movement or routine drains you, we actively substitute it with an alternative that hits the same physiological target. We optimize your plan so you can protect your longevity and love the process.
Thru-hiking and long-distance backpacking experience:
Pacific Crest Trail SOBO Hike (2019; WA to Chester, CA; 1,300 miles - made it halfway and lost my why)
Long Trail NOBO Hike (2020; 272 miles)
Pacific Crest Trail NOBO Hike (2022; 2,650 miles)
20-50 mile backpacking trip 1-2x a month every month of the year.
Upcoming Hikes: O-circuit Patagonia (January 2027)
ultra-running experience:
Mount Hood 50 mile (2021) - 2nd in age group
Big Chief 50k (2023) - 1st in age group, 4th overall (2023)
Lake Sonoma 100k (2023)
Hotshot Half (2024) - 4th overall female (not a hotshot!)
Tahoe Rim Trail 56 Mile (2024) - 3rd overall female; 1st in age group
Broken Arrow Skyrace 46k (2025)
Current Goal and Training: Bigfoot 200 (2027)