Race Ambassadors
Meet the 2027 Crew
Biographies coming soon.
Carolynne Adams aka Captain Gammie Glow Fingers (Crew Chief) - Duck, NC
Instagram: @obxgammie
If you've spent time at Blackbeard's Revenge, you've probably heard people say it takes a village to get a runner to the finish line. Carolynne knows that's true because her family has become part of that village.
Her journey into ultras started when her oldest son, Captain Weird Beard, rediscovered running during the pandemic. Before long, he was chasing ultramarathons, and the rest of the family found themselves learning how to crew, volunteer, and support him every step of the way. When Blackbeard's Revenge landed on the calendar in 2024, they weren't sure what to expect. By the end of the weekend, they knew they'd found something special.
That first year threw everything the Outer Banks could offer at them. Wind. Rain. Sideways rain. Tents threatening to take flight. Aid stations held together with determination and duct tape. Instead of being intimidated, Carolynne fell in love with the spirit of the event. She saw runners, crews, volunteers, and race staff all working together to solve problems, encourage one another, and somehow keep smiling through it all.
Today, Captain Gammie Glowfingers serves as a returning Crew Chief Ambassador, helping new crew members feel prepared and confident before race weekend. She loves sharing what she's learned, but even more, she enjoys welcoming people into a community that quickly became part of her family's life.
That welcome starts at home. Carolynne lives in Duck—one of the towns Blackbeard's Revenge passes through—and has deep roots in the Outer Banks. She grew up vacationing there before her parents eventually retired to Duck. Years later, she and her husband made the move as well. Being able to welcome runners to the place she calls home is one of the things she loves most about Blackbeard's.
Outside of race weekend, Carolynne enjoys serving in her church and community, traveling with her family, and finding new adventures together. Her friends describe her as endlessly supportive, the kind of person who quietly makes everyone around her feel cared for and capable.
For Carolynne, Blackbeard's Revenge isn't just an event on the calendar. It's a family tradition, a hometown celebration, and an opportunity to help every runner and crew member feel like they belong from the moment they arrive in the Outer Banks.
Jason Huffman aka Captain Hangry Huffman (100 Mile) - Stephenville, TX
Instagram: @run_till_you_smile
Tina Humphreys aka Pirate Tiny Tina (Event TBD) - Kitty Hawk, NC
Instagram: @obx_luvs
Tina first discovered Blackbeard's Revenge after moving to the Outer Banks in 2022. Living along the course gave her a front-row seat to race weekend, and every year she found herself cheering runners on at the Wilkins Street beach access as they made their way from Corolla to Hatteras. In 2026, she finally experienced the race herself, running the entire 100-mile course. She calls it one of the best experiences of her life and can't wait to do it again.
Now a local, Tina loves sharing both the race and the place she calls home. She found ultrarunning after moving from Virginia to the Outer Banks, where the area's trails, beaches, and natural beauty inspired her to spend more time outdoors. Running has become a way to experience the peaceful side of the coast while exploring with her partners, Mark and Zipper.
If you ask Tina's friends what she's like, they'll tell you she's one of the most determined, humble, and encouraging people you'll ever meet. She celebrates other runners' victories as if they're her own, helps people believe they're capable of more than they imagine, and is always ready to cheer someone through a tough day. Tina says she's a tougher runner because of the support she's received from the people around her, and she hopes to give that same encouragement back to others.
Most people are surprised to learn that Tina has completed a 100-mile ultramarathon. For her, though, the biggest surprise isn't the distance—it's what runners discover about themselves along the way. That's her favorite part of ultrarunning: the people, the encouragement, and watching others realize they're capable of more than they ever thought possible.
James Jones aka Smiley (100K) - Moseley, VA
Instagram: @bigballoffun
James first learned about Blackbeard's Revenge through an old Army friend. After Thomas Degnan shared a post about the race, James watched a documentary and started digging deeper. The two had been stationed together in Korea years earlier, and the more James learned about the race, the more he knew he wanted to be part of it.
His connection to the Outer Banks began while working as a Department of Defense contractor in nearby Moyock. After long days of training and instruction, he and a few coworkers would drive out to the coast. Those trips weren't vacations—they were an escape. The ocean, the wind, and the wide-open beaches offered a chance to breathe, and the Outer Banks became a place that stayed with him.
James is taking on the Blackbeard's Revenge 100 because he still craves the kind of challenge that pushes him beyond his comfort zone and into the place where growth happens. Since leaving the military, he's continued looking for ways to test himself physically, mentally, and emotionally. He sees Blackbeard's as a chance to reconnect with the part of himself that thrives in adversity while being surrounded by a community that lifts each other up.
Outside of running, James enjoys cooking, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with his family. Friends describe him as someone who brings positive energy wherever he goes—a fitting match for his Instagram handle, @bigballoffun. As a first-year ambassador, he's excited to share his enthusiasm for both the race and the place that first drew him to the Outer Banks.
Madison Jordan aka Surfing Siren (100 Mile) - Wake Forest, NC
Instagram: @Madison.perry3_
She discovered the race on Facebook and lined up for her first 100 miler in 2026. A DNF wasn't the outcome she wanted, but it reinforced something she already believed: listening to your body matters, even when your heart wants to keep going. After recovering from major wrist surgery later that year, she came back with a new perspective—and even more motivation to return to Corolla.
For Madison, Blackbeard's is about more than race day. From the first virtual meetings to crossing the finish line together, she found a welcoming community of people who all arrived for different reasons but shared the same goal. Between the race itself, annual family trips to the Outer Banks, and the friendships she's made along the way, the OBX has become a place that feels like home.
She found ultrarunning the way many people do—starting with 5Ks, then marathons, before wondering what was possible beyond that. Outside of running, she's a mom to a four-year-old daughter, loves to travel, enjoys painting, and works in public safety, where she gets to meet people who care deeply about serving others.
Madison is excited to return to Blackbeard's in 2027 with unfinished business, a stronger appreciation for the journey, and the hope of finally reaching the finish line she pictured the first time she stood on the starting line in Corolla.
Josh Kossman (100 Mile Relay) - Buchanan, VA
Instagram: @josh_squiggle
Josh first discovered Blackbeard's Revenge in an unexpected place: on a long hike. Someone mentioned the race while talking about local events, and his curiosity took over. He started researching it that day, and before long, Facebook seemed to know exactly what he was looking for. Blackbeard posts kept appearing in his feed, and it didn't take long before he knew he had to experience it for himself.
Although he's raced everything from road races to triathlons, Blackbeard will be his first visit to the Outer Banks. He's especially looking forward to seeing why so many runners keep coming back and experiencing the community that surrounds the race. After convincing several friends to sign up alongside him in the Relay, he's already planning to return in the future for another distance.
Josh has always been active, but running gradually became more than just another hobby. What started with shorter races eventually grew into marathons, triathlons, and ultras. For him, the appeal isn't just seeing how far he can go—it's the quiet miles, the challenge of pushing beyond what feels comfortable, and the friendships that are built along the way.
When he's not training, you'll probably find Josh outside. He enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and spending time on his hobby farm, where the residents include donkeys, pigs, goats, horses—and even a zebra.
Josh is excited to experience Blackbeard's Revenge for the first time, and he's looking forward to welcoming others into the adventure right alongside him.
Madi Smith aka Captain Mad Madi (100 Mile) - Perrysburg, OH
Instagram: @madismithyoga
Madi first experienced a Trivium event from the sidelines, cheering on her friends at Summer Trail Fest while she was just a few weeks removed from her own first 50-mile finish. She immediately noticed something that stood out: whether someone was breaking the tape, chasing a PR, or simply fighting to finish, every runner was celebrated the same way. That sense of community stuck with her.
As she started looking for her first 100-mile race, Blackbeard's Revenge quickly rose to the top of the list. She watched videos, followed conversations online, and dug into everything she could find about the race. The more she learned, the more convinced she became that this was where she wanted to take on the challenge.
Running has become much more than chasing longer distances. After her husband introduced her to ultras, Madi realized there were relatively few women lining up for the longest races—and she wanted to help change that. She hopes that by continuing to show up and push her own limits, she'll encourage more women to believe they belong in the ultra community too. She's especially drawn to races that demand resilience as much as fitness and enjoys discovering what she's capable of each time she steps to a start line.
When she's not running, Madi is usually outside—hiking, reading on the patio, or traveling with her husband and their two dogs, Acadia and Olympia. Friends describe her as strong, resilient, and the kind of person who's always in your corner when things get hard.
For Madi, Blackbeard's Revenge is more than a first 100-mile attempt. It's a chance to join a community she's admired from afar, encourage more women to dream bigger, and experience firsthand the race that so many runners speak so highly of.
David Solomon aka Chadwick Waler (100K) - Roxboro, NC
Instagram: @beloved_peace_photography
David's history with the Blackbeard's course goes back to 2014, when he ran the Graveyard 100 before Blackbeard's Revenge was established. He immediately fell in love with the point-to-point course and the Outer Banks, and he's returned year after year for both the challenge and the community.
In 2020, when the pandemic canceled Blackbeard's Revenge, former ambassador Shawn Wussow gifted David his race entry. Rather than let it go unused, David recruited a few friends to crew him and completed the full Blackbeard's course on his own while the beaches had reopened that June. It was an experience that made finally earning an official Blackbeard's finish mean even more.
The road wasn't easy. After completing the course in 2020, David experienced a string of DNFs before deciding to tackle the 100K in 2026. That decision paid off. He crossed the finish line, earned his first official Blackbeard's medal, and finished last overall but first in his age group. For David, the draw of Blackbeard's has always been the same: the unique point-to-point course, the beauty of the Outer Banks, and the people who come together for the weekend.
After his second marathon, David realized he wanted to see what lay beyond 100 miles. Ultrarunning became a way to pursue challenges that shorter distances couldn't offer. Outside of running, he enjoys hiking, backpacking, camping, kayaking, and spending time with his family.
Most people are surprised to learn that David lives with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, a progressive disease that has weakened several muscle groups over the years. He says he can't run very much anymore, but he can still walk for hours on end, and he's grateful to remain active. That determination to keep moving is a big part of what draws him to the grind of ultrarunning.
