Regina Massingill’s running career doesn’t follow a straight line, and the resume reflects that range. Alongside a growing list of race results, she has also recorded 16 additional fastest known times across a variety of routes, efforts that highlight endurance. That broader body of work came into sharper focus this spring, when she linked two Texas landmarks, the Alamo and the Texas State Capitol, in a fastest known time effort that doubled as both a return and a test.
The idea had been sitting in the background for months. “I think this first came on my radar when a friend brought it up when I was pacing him back in October ’24,” Massingill said. At the time, it was just a conversation about what might be possible. Soon after, she began dealing with worsening back issues that would sideline her from consistent running for months. “I think the timing of the conversation and being injured for so long contributed to making this an attractive comeback effort.”
Her path back to that start line was not smooth. After a stretch of heavy racing, including Javelina 100 and Dino Valley 100, lingering sciatic pain forced her to stop running entirely. Surgery followed in April 2025, replacing what should have been a trip to the Boston Marathon. The months after were slow and uncertain. “Six weeks of super basic therapy, then a tediously slow rebuild,” she said. Even short run-walk intervals felt like a question mark. One early attempt ended after just a few cycles. “I felt so defeated and small and wondered if I could ever get back to where I had been.”
By late fall, things began to turn. She adjusted her approach, focusing less on volume and more on efficiency. Strength work, mobility, and cycling filled in the gaps. Weekly mileage stayed modest, often under 50, with a single non-negotiable track session anchoring her routine. “Track Tuesday is my only non-negotiable run every week. Anything else just depends on my availability and how the body feels.”
A strong performance at Big Bend 100K in January 2026 gave her the confidence to commit. She set a date, built a small crew, and kept the plan quiet. The route, previously completed by a friend, offered a clear goal.
The challenge took place on more than 80 miles of Texas roads. Early on, the effort was controlled. Later, it became something else. Around 50 kilometers in, the strain began to build. “My hips started getting tight, partly from running so long on the graded roads with minimal change in stride.” By mile 40, the discomfort escalated. “Every stride felt like daggers were jabbing me.”
Pacing slipped and stops grew longer. The margin for the record narrowed. “In my head, the goal to beat the overall best FKT time started fading.” What kept it from slipping further was the crew around her. They adjusted pacing, managed fueling, and kept her moving. “With about 27 miles left Katy Barber led me out at a quicker pace and worked me down to 8:40s. Internally I was screaming but I knew it was necessary.”
As the route approached Austin, the mentality shifted. The presence of pacers riding alongside her helped. “I used that as motivation to push harder so they didn’t have to cycle too slow.” The final miles became a matter of holding pace and managing what was left. She credits the result as much to that support system as to her own effort. “Once I started running, that’s all I had to focus on,” she said. “Ken, Mel, Katy and Jenn were true rock stars.”
The weeks after the FKT effort were anything but typical. She moved quickly from her own run into crewing at Southern States 200, then lining up again at Texas Independence Relays. Recovery was basic. “Sleep whenever possible, eat enough food, and try to squeeze in some stretching.”
More recently, Massingill brought that rebuilt fitness to the road, running 3:05 at the Eugene Marathon.
Looking ahead, her focus shifts again, with the Bear 100 in September and more FKT attempts likely when conditions allow (she already has set 16 FKT’s). The idea is not distance or terrain, but approach. After years of pushing through, she is more measured now.
The run to Austin gave her a clear ending, but what she took from it went deeper. A realization that with time and commitment, she had found her way forward again.
