My total number of miles completed was 43.5928. The goal was 50 miles, but my body reminded me that I probably could have worked harder. My mind started to play tricks on me at 33 miles and at one point I started to cry for no reason. Okay, maybe it happened more than once. But then I picked myself up and put one foot in front of the other and kept on moving. Here's how it all went down...
September 30th, 2017



"But I told everyone I was going to do 50, so I have to keep going." I told him.
"You dont owe anybody anything. It's okay!" He replied. "You have to think about your health."
"F%#k my health! I don't care! I have to keep going." I snapped back.
I can't believe I said that to him. I knew that he didn't know how to respond to that and the tears just kept coming. I was frustrated that my feet were hurting as bad as they were. I thought about all those late nights I was out running and all those hot and humid days where I went for a run when I didnt want to. I even thought about the runs I skipped when I was feeling lazy. But I didnt go through all that to quit now.

"Going at in again baby?" He asked me.
"I told myself I can stop at 42 miles and then I can try this again next years." I replied.
"Good luck baby, I love you." He said as I stepped outside and zipped up the tent.
All night long I listened to the feet of runners and walkers as they passed by my tent. "I wonder what their training plan was like. I wonder if they skipped any workouts like I did. I wonder if this is their first time doing this."
At 6am I woke up and tried to reassess my body. Did I think I could do another lap? It's only 1.5 miles around.... Nah, I decided, 42 miles was still okay. At 7am I woke up again and decided that I had another lap in me. I quickly started to get my shoes on and Adam woke up.
"What are you doing?" He asked me .
"I'm going out for another lap. The race ends at 8am, I can get in one more lap..."
I felt better, but my foot was still hurting me a bit. I finished the lap and then the volunteers handed me a banana with my number written on it. This race is unique because they have what is known as "The Banana Lap" where you get a banana and walk it as far as you can before quitting the race. When the horn goes off at 8am they shout, "THREE! TWO! ONE! DROP THE BANANA!!!!" Then the race director goes out with a measuring wheel and measures the point to each banana and writes it down. and that distance is then added to your laps. This way you get partial credit for your last lap even if you dont make it to the "finish" line.
When I finished, my total distance was measured at 43.5928. Damn.... had I walked just a few more steps I would have been at 43.6....
As I walked back to my tent, Adam congratulated me on finishing the race and continuing on after the mental and physical breakdowns. I smiled at him and said, "I'll be back again next year in order to get my 50." I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm crazy.
Registration opens at 12:00am on January 1st, 2018 and my goal is to be the first one to sign up. I might even be able to get Adam to be the second one on the list! One thing is for sure: Next year there will be a "50" after my name. Count on it!