Liz & Bruce Pehl, both doctors and the parents to two young children signed up for the Zion 100-mile challenge in 2024. They didn’t just take on a physical challenge. As young professionals and parents, every decision sets a trajectory and precedent for their life. They took on a journey that blended their passions for family, endurance, and the reminder that we are all capable of doing hard things.
The challenge, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Zion National Park, was designed to be accessible… but it was by no means easy. The 10-mile loop athletes would repeat in pursuit of 100 miles was varying in terrain, had steep elevation gain leading to magnificent views, technical descents, etc.. Athletes would stamp the board to mark the completion of each lap, allowing for recalibration, rest, refueling, or in Liz’s case, to bond with her children.
For Liz and Bruce, the event was more than just a race. It was a chance to challenge themselves while keeping their young family at the center of it all.
With their youngest child just 13 months old and still nursing, Liz was careful to make sure that she could both push her limits and stay present for her children. She reflects, “This event was set up perfectly for where we are at in our lives. I’m a nursing mom and being able to do 10 miles, come back and feed, then go out and do 10 more was important to me to be able to still bond with my kids. We work hard, we play hard… and we want our kids to be part of everything we do.”
The course itself, weaving through the iconic red rock landscape of Zion, became a symbol for Liz and Bruce’s journey. It wasn’t just about running miles; it was about finding space for themselves in the chaos of life—space to reflect, to struggle, and to triumph.
At first, Liz and Bruce ran much of the challenge together, supporting each other through the rolling hills and ever-changing terrain. As doctors, they were no strangers to long, intense days, but this was something different. For Liz, especially, it was a rare moment of personal focus.
“As a doctor, most of my day is focused on my patients and my staff. As a mom, my world is my kids. Running is for me. I do this for me. So that I can be better for them,” Liz says. It was clear that the challenge was not just a physical pursuit but a mental and emotional release. There were moments, she admits, when “emotionally, I knew I needed this for me.”
Somewhere between the miles, Liz and Bruce fell off their initial cadence. Bruce still had one more lap to go, while Liz had completed her 100-mile goal. The decision was a natural one: Liz would run that final lap with him.
By the time Bruce crossed the finish line with his 100 miles completed, Liz had run 110. Yet, in the end, it wasn’t about the miles or the numbers—it was about showing their children, not through words but through actions, what it means to face a challenge, to support each other, and to never give up.
“If you can do 10 miles, you can do 100 miles,” Liz reflects. “We can do hard things.”
The 100-mile challenge at Zion was a testament to the strength of the Pehl family, their love for one another, and their commitment to being the best versions of themselves—for each other and for their kids.
While the beauty of Zion might be the allure for some to come take on a challenge like this, it was the Pehls’ resilience and their willingness to give everything to their journey that made this challenge truly life-changing. As they continue to juggle the demands of family, career, and life’s many other complexities, Liz and Bruce know this experience will stay with them—not because of the miles they ran, but because of the lessons they learned and the family values they solidified along the way.
