Why I run

Wildflowers. I like to Seek (thanks, iNaturalist). Also snacks.

My favorite trail to run

Austin Mountain Trail in the Shenandoah National Park, for the 360-degree view at the summit of Blackrock, yes, but also for the rippin\\\’ three-mile techy rock-flow down to the trailhead. It\\\’s also the trail that made me love running.

What I hope to convey with my writing

Relatability or radical empathy.

More about Jess

I am a multimedia storyteller based on the ancestral lands of the Monacan Indian Nation in Harrisonburg, Virginia. My written work has appeared in Freehub Magazine, REI’s Uncommon Path, Outdoor Retailer Magazine, Insider, and Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. When I am not chasing a story, I can usually be found in the woods under my own power and pushing the limits of PopTarts as sustenance. I believe climate change is real and 20-minute power naps are king. Connect with me at www.jessdaddio.com or on Instagram (@jessdaddio).