This was my first 50 mile race attempt and I showed up at the starting line with the question bouncing around in the back of my head “Is this too far, can I do this? Yes, I can. But am I strong enough that it can be fun?”
It was dark when we someone called out "ready, set, go" and the line of headlamps took off for the forest. The frost sparkled like glitter as our beams of light bounced by and we saw an incredible firey sunset light up the sky.
I was happy to have a few friends to start with, some tough ladies that kept the day fun and light. We picked up friends and had laughs for the first 20+ miles before all 3 of us fell into our own funks. I thought I was feeling way achier than I should at that point and Meg had kicked a rock hard, messing up her leg pretty bad. This also coincided with the longest hill on the course which then led to the most mind numbingly boring section on the C&O Canal so it's no surprise we weren't loving it. Injured Meg went on ahead (have I mentioned she is tough) and Annie and I thought we would catch her. Soon we were back into the trails and immediately out of our slump. Trails do that!
Colin had told me he would see me at mile 35 aid station and knowing my family would be there pulled me along like gravity! Then of course the strange hyperventilating sobs of run emotions overcame me 🤣. A friend at that aid station and got us everything we needed and sent us off with reminders that we are bad ass bitches that can do anything.
After we took off from there some other friends caught up to us and I went off on my own. I was in such a good mood and feeling so awesome I wanted to fly and trot along with a smile on my face and just enjoy it! So I did! I was that annoyingly chipper stranger coming up behind tired runners calling out "its a beautiful day!" Or "could you think of anything else you would rather be doing right now? Nope!" As I bounded by. Because when I think these things and say them out loud they become even truer.
I didn't turn on my headphones until the last 5 miles when the sun was down and I knew it there was a lot of up hill in front of me. As the sun went down I discovered the headlamp from my drop bag was essentially out of battery. Oops.
I wasn't looking at my watch all day, didn't really care where the finish line was, just ran and ate all day! Turns out that was great since the finish line was at 51.5 miles and that extra 1.5 miles could kill you if you were really counting down to being done. When I did get to the finish line I couldn't believe how great I still felt! I got hugs and then someone handed me a warm gluten free pizza and I swear to you I got weak in the knees as the hunger washed over me🤣.
So after Colin peeled off my compression sleeves (and athletic feat of its own) I posted up at the finish with a pile of pizza and warm clothes to cheer for my friends. I was so happy seeing them come through looking amazing and smiling.
At the beginning of the day my watch said I had a performance condition of -3 and while it felt very rude to see that it was also pretty accurate. Between being in the peak of my energy draining monthly cycle and having just gone through a major gluten episode I knew I was starting already depleted. Because of that I was ready for some challenges but they didn't come. My kids each sent some lucky charms with me: a bracelet to remind me what's important and some pictures to make me smile tucked into my drop bag.
My time was not impressive, I took a long time enjoying the friendly people at the aid stations and never rushed myself. But I felt so good, finishing I felt better than some 50ks so I would call this a wild success. And to answer that burning question... Yes, I can run 50 miles. And YES I am strong enough for it to be fun.