a day with Kodiak

Upon meeting Coree he had a fresh set of perfectly manicured nails. Seeing a person be fully themself, is the most beautiful thing.

Everybody in the world is truly unique, and with every layer you peel back, you uncover another facet that makes them special. Coree Woltering is an ultrarunner from the Midwest, a proud gay man, an advocate and source of inspiration for the BIPOC community, a lover of Speedos, and someone who fuels epic runs with McDonald’s burgers. Above all, he’s an absolute joy to be around.

I can't fathom how someone can push their mind and body to run over 75 miles in one go. Coree mentioned that he basically blacks out for the first 3-4 hours of the run, and then the real challenges begin. It seems like that's the only way to endure such a feat. His latest achievement is setting the new FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the Ice Age Trail, which spans nearly the entire state of Wisconsin. He completed the 1,200-mile trail in 22 days, 13 hours, and 35 minutes. Coree explained that, mentally, your emotions fluctuate significantly throughout the run.

One of my favorite stories he shared was about a time when he was ready to give up. After running over a thousand miles, he was just 20 miles away from completing the entire journey. Coree was utterly exhausted. There wasn't a single part of him that wanted to take another step. As his crew drove him to his final starting point, he sadly confided in them that he just couldn’t go on—that this was truly the end of his journey. Silence followed... his crew said nothing. Before he knew it, they had reached the last drop-off location, left him there, and drove the van away. Coree had no choice but to push through and finish strong, perhaps with a little extra fire from being left in the middle of nowhere. In the end, he was profoundly grateful they did that. That is the kind of team and friends you need in your corner—the ones who know what you’re truly capable of, even when you doubt yourself.

My main source of income during the summer is working as a production coordinator and food stylist at Kodiak Cakes. Although my job there is not to take photos, I always carry some sort of camera in my pocket on shoots. These shots were taken with a second-hand Sony RX100 III that I found at Acme, a used camera store here in Salt Lake. Despite its small size, this little camera is a powerhouse and perfect for carrying in any size pack.

Someone once said to me, the best camera you have is the one that’s in your pocket. I’m striving to believe it more and put more images out with confidence.

Remember to stop and smell the flowers along the way. It’s easy to miss the simple things.

These shots were taken with a second-hand Sony RX100 III

July 30, 2021