What a weekend, that all started with a goal in mind. I aimed to run a 100k in the high country somewhere because someone told me ‘I cannot’ do it. But along the way, their words became nonexistent and were not the driver of any accomplishments. This was about me, my TBI family, and the grit to dig deep and suffer.
Saturday morning, my running partner and I got up (I car camped, and he tent camped) and made our way to the start line of the Great Divide 100K. I had no expectations other than finishing. We had made a few friends along the way, and I knew this experience would help shape and form me in their appropriate ways. But I did not expect the lesson to hurt so bad, literally.
There were four laps to be completed clockwise and counterclockwise; this way, you would cheer other athletes on each lap – which I LOVED. The first lap was a breeze, and I came into the aid station an hour and a half before schedule, seeing my running partner as I was leaving transition. The next station was the same thing, I felt great, and I was cruising – at this speed, I would be done before dark and would not need my headlamp. However, after 31 miles, my ankle had issues, and I needed my brace.
Miles 31-62.5 were a blur, and I dug the deepest I’ve ever had to go to cross that finish line. My miles were slow, and I walked the last 11 miles in. I cried and kept telling James I’m never doing this again, and I want to cry in the Kia Express and talk to Josh. I was beaten up, tired, exhausted, and wrecked. James continued to remind me of all of my love and support, how Josh would be up to talk to me once I crossed the finish line, how my mom was SO proud of me, along with Mike, Allie, Branson, and the rest of the fam. I was blessed and extremely fortunate to have this support. Only 6 miles left.
These last 6-miles are where everything hurt and then some. I would scream PENIS (thank you, Suzy Cue and Valerie Collins, for this game) to feel better / laugh at an inside joke. I would let tears stream, and James would give me bear hugs to tell me I got this. I sent Josh videos of James making me eat while saying this was so FlUCKering hard. I would trip on tree roots, and James would continue sharing the foot obstacles that lay ahead. And we worked hard to cross that finish line and earn a buckle, but I would not have made it this far without James’s love and support – and making me EAT.
I crossed the finish line at 11:59 pm., which was a minute before my goal of an 18-hour finish. I had many ‘what I could do better moments’, and more drive and determination built. About an hour after crossing the line, I concluded that I WILL dabble in another 100k and do this again.
Thank you, @greatdivide100k team, volunteers, spectators, and athletes, for making this experience so powerful. The endurance bug has captured me, and I want more. SMILE #UWokeUp
James and I got home Sunday morning at 4-5 am to hop back into the real world. Josh picked up Phoebes, so I didn’t need to make an extra trip, and to let me rest before we went for pizza and brews. This weekend was heavenly, and I’m incredibly fortunate to have so much love around me.
Thank you, friends, family, and loved ones. Without you, this list would not be composed, and the buckle would most likely not be in my possession.