The Race That Was The Most Rewarding & I've Lost My Mind

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Happy Friday! OK a few things to recap for you before we get to the last of my 3 race recaps of 2018. First of all- pretty sure I’ve lost my mind!?!? Race will be announced soon-ish! ; ) I can’t announce EVERYTHING to you all at once! I have to keep the suspense going just a little bit.

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Also stocking up on all the Elderberry, Vitamin C things, and vitamins - when I feel a little niggle coming on! I also have a busy weekend of teaching skiing (tonight/ tomorrow/ Sunday), so I know I won’t get as much rest as I’d like this weekend (good thing I have Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day completely off of work)..

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I’ve got an easy 5 miles on the schedule this morning, which I will probably actually do after work (before teaching skiing) so I can sleep in (but still totally winging it in the morning)!

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Alright let’s get to the race that was the most rewarding (for me) in 2018. It actually wasn’t even a race, it was the most amazing experience of my life. I’m convinced I was in the best shape of my life and cannot believe how well my body handled it. You know exactly what I’m talking about if you’ve read along on my journey for a bit- MS Run The US Relay, where I ran from Steamboat to Denver (175.33 miles, over 2 Rocky Mountain Passes!) in May of this year and raised over $10,000 for multiple sclerosis research.

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I guess you can say that it definitely gave me the “bug” to see how I can challenge myself even further (hence why I’m setting my sights on a lofty 2019 goal- a 50 miler!). It’s so funny when I look back on the relay and how absolutely floored I am with what I accomplished.

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It never really felt ‘real’ (even afterwards!) for so so long (I’m sure my struggle with depression and lacking of confidence at the time also didn’t help), until we DROVE to Denver this past Fall. I was just completely in awe of myself and what my body helped me accomplish.

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It was also so amazing to be a part of a larger community- not only did I do my part, but all TOGETHER we ran across the country! No one runner didn’t pull their weight and we raised so much awareness/ funds for MS.

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I’m not even sure I would say that it was the most rewarding because it was the most amount of miles that I have ever covered (or even attempted to cover), but it was the most rewarding simply because it was part of a much larger picture. I wasn’t running or fundraising just for my grandfather, but for all those that I’ve met along my journey who have been affected by MS.

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It’s a pretty incredible feeling to be part of such a wonderful community and I 100% recommend it to anyone looking like they need a new running challenge or to switch up their training. It’s something I never saw myself being able to do until I did it.

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The feeling when I completed each day (AND THEN ACROSS THAT RELAY FINISH LINE?!?) was absolutely indescribable. I can equate it to receiving my Undergraduate Diploma times a million.

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What are three things you’re doing this weekend?

What was the most rewarding race for you in 2018?!

Ever completed an ultra- what was your experience?!

The Race That Was The Most Fun

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OK. So when I was looking back at my races for the year, this one really stood out to me. It wasn’t so much that I PR’d or how well trained I was, but everything about it was just FUN. I would absolutely have called myself crazy a few years ago just imaging that a marathon could be considered anything other than pure torture, but here we are. Don’t get me wrong, the race course was challenging (crazy hills in the second half of the course), but I raced so much smarter than I had in any other race (I actually really held back on the crazy downhill that the first portion of the race has)- which is why I think the outcome was so enjoyable.

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I mean, honestly- who else would be smiling this big at mile 25 of a marathon?!? Plus this photo makes me look like a total Bada$$ with the motorcycle behind me ; ) It probably doesn’t at all, but I like to think of myself as a Des Linden leading the pack in this picture.

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I trained so well for it and honestly was in the best shape of my life. I worked really hard in training on hills, so when they came in the later miles they didn’t feel too bad. This was also the first race where I wasn’t dependent on music. I actually didn’t even pop in music until mile 22 or 23! I remember starting to feel a bit tired, but got really excited when I remembered I could turn on my favorite playlist and just zone out for those last few miles.

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PLUS the race gave you FREE PHOTOS! I mean, come on- that just makes it all more fun. The weather was hot, but not unbearable and I just had so much to look forward to post-race (I think that helps us mentally as well).

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I remember completing the race feeling tired, but not disappointed or exhausted. I actually easily felt like I could have kept running and never once really pushed my pace (which gives me even more confidence going into Eugene this coming Spring- if I can run a 3:52 and not really push the pace, getting that sub 3:40 with more training and a flatter course should definitely be do-able).

This race was absolutely a party for 26.2 miles- plus, passing A LOT of people in the later miles of a marathon was super fun (ha).

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Also a few other things happening right now to catch you up on.

Hot Cocoa & mini marshmallows are still amazing.

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Resupplied on my Nuun and hoping it takes me through my Eugene training, but I’m not confident. I LOVE rehydrating with Nuun!

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What was your ‘most fun’ race of 2018? WHY?!?

What’s the three best things a race can offer (in your opinion)? —> free race photos, ample opportunity for crowd support, signs/ encouragement when crowds are thin in certain areas of the race.

The Race That Taught Me All About Perseverance

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When I started thinking about recapping what races I did this year and which ones really left a lasting impression on me, this race was one where I kinda wanted to forget about. Don’t get me wrong, I accomplished an amazing goal- I became an ultramarathoner! But it was so tough. It reminded me of my first (and second) marathon, where I really really wanted to quit (multiple times). It was so tempting to just call it quits after that first 25k (the first of two loops of the course).

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It was the slowest I’d traveled anywhere in a really long time (actually even slower than my 175 mile run to Denver in May 2018). It was also my first solo traveled race, so I could just quit whenever I wanted and there would be no one to feel bad about my decision (except myself). So, why would I continue to push along when all the signs were telling me to turn around?

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It was honestly the people surrounding me. We were all pretty miserable, but when they took off for that second loop I followed along. Not even sure what I was committing to at that time.

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But when you hear the finish line announcer celebrating each runner that crosses that line, you feel a sense of earnest. I didn’t want to miss out on that opportunity. After all, the kitties were waiting for me at home- expecting me to come home as an ultramarathoner. I couldn’t let them down.

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It’s funny when I look back, I dont’ really remember exactly how miserable I was. I don’t remember convincing myself that at 25k I would just walk off the course. I remember really really wanting to be done, but pushing on anyways. Coming out stronger (mentally) at the 40k mark than I was at 20k.

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It’s funny in those moments of doubt, how we somehow find a tougher layer within us. It was slow and absolutely off my time goal, but when you completely doubt yourself and then somehow persevere - it’s the most amazing feeling. So I guess that’s what most people refer to when they say ultras are addicting because I’m already looking forward to pushing my boundaries even further next year.

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What race taught you all about perserverence? Why?