Travis Pence Trail and ultra running log

Started in 2023 | Andes trails | Ultra distance

Long days in high places.

Ultra running is where I practice patience, adaptation, and long-term thinking outside of code. The routes and times matter, but the point is what the miles teach.

What it taught me Notable runs

Why this page exists

The same habits show up in long races and long projects.

A hiring manager does not need my GPX files. But they may want to know how I think when things get hard, slow, ambiguous, or uncomfortable. Running gives me a clean way to talk about that.

The plan is a hypothesis. Every long run and every technical roadmap starts as an outline. The real skill is noticing when reality has changed and adjusting without panic.
Recovery is part of the work. Training without rest breaks the body. Engineering without recovery breaks judgment. Sustainable output requires both effort and restraint.
Small decisions compound. Fueling, pacing, route choice, and weather calls all add up. So do naming, tests, docs, interfaces, and the small product decisions that shape a system.

Since 2023

A living trail archive, not just a highlight reel.

Two featured ultras from 2024, measured from my recorded GPX tracks.

2 Featured ultra-distance races
89.8 mi Total distance across both routes
44,839 ft Total climbing across both routes
3,065 m Highest point, on the Petzl Trail Plus route

Notable runs

Two long days in the Andes.

Distance, climbing, and time for each run come from the GPX track I recorded on the day.

Chota | January 2024 | GPX recorded

75km Chota 2024

A long, exposed Ecuador route with repeated climbing and descent: about 72.6 km on my watch, more than 5,800 meters of gain, and a high point just above 3,050 meters.

72.6 km45.1 miles
5,810 m19,061 ft gain
18:09:20Recorded GPX duration
Trail runner on an Ecuador mountain road in fog
Petzl Trail Plus | April 2024 | GPX recorded

Petzl Trail Plus 70km

A dense mountain route with heavy climbing and a technical profile: nearly 7,900 meters of gain over 72 km, topping out at 3,065 meters.

71.9 km44.7 miles
7,858 m25,780 ft gain
3,065 mHighest point
Trail runner climbing through Ecuador mountain terrain

Times and results

The numbers, side by side.

Times are from my recorded GPX tracks.

Jan 2024 75km Chota 2024Jan. 13–14, 2024. 72.6 km 5,810 m 18:09:20
Apr 2024 Petzl Trail Plus 70kmApril 2024. 71.9 km 7,858 m —

Photos

Field notes from Ecuador terrain.

Race days in Ecuador.

Travis Pence celebrating during a trail race
Travis Pence smiling during an Ecuador trail race
Travis Pence standing with a race medal and bib

Timeline

Milestones.

Started trail and ultra running. Based in Cuenca, in the southern Andes.
Two long Ecuador ultras. Chota 75K in January and Petzl Trail Plus 70K in April.