The Trick is to Keep Going
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We still have a couple months left in the year, but my running/hiking season is pretty much winding down so naturally I’ve been reflecting back on everything.
My spring semester in grad school was a doozy. I really wasn’t able to run much but just did what I could. Early in the semester I ran the Black Canyon 100K to nab a Western States 100 qualifier. My hope is to run at least one qualifying race per year, so I can accumulate lottery tickets and one day gain entry into the iconic 100 mile race. The lottery happens every December. Last year I submitted my one lottery ticket and didn’t get in. Since I didn’t get in, that ticket will carry over to this year, and it will double. With my ticket from Black Canyon 100K, this year I will submit three lottery tickets. If I don’t get in, those three tickets will turn into six tickets next year (plus I’ll need to run another race to re-qualify). I’m sharing this because wow, talk about a long-term goal. It might take many years to get in.
As for the Black Canyon 100K race itself, I got my butt kicked. I had all kinds of stomach issues, walk-shuffled my way through the last forty miles of the race, and finished after dark using my iPhone to light the way. I did have an enjoyable day in the desert despite that, and nabbed a 100K personal record, though the only other 100K I’ve run is Hellgate which is actually nearly four miles longer with much more elevation gain and loss. But, I’ll take a personal win when I can get it!
My running was pretty minimal after that, really I just needed to get through school. Though I did get some respite hiking a section of the Arizona Trail with a friend over spring break. I was starting to have some overuse issues in my arm from playing piano, and taking a week off to move my body, rest my arm, not think about anything but moving forward and spending quality time with a friend was a godsend.
Most of my training from there consisted of shuffling to and from school wearing my backpack on my run commute. The amount of time I sit everyday for class and the hours of piano practice took a noticeable toll on my body; my back and neck were constantly hurting. There was stress in my personal life adding to everything. I entered the Lake Waramaug 50 Mile in April almost out of desperation, like I just wanted to run as fast and far as possible an escape. A few hours in it became clear I was in no way ready psychologically or physically ready to run a 50 mile race the way I wanted. The race director said before we even started that it’s okay to change to drop down in distance mid-race, just let the timers know. It was too easy of an out! I saw a little sign for the 50K turn around and took my opportunity. Similar to Black Canyon, I walked away with a PR, but again on a much more forgiving course than any other 50K I’d run (paved with gentle rolling hills).
Once the spring semester ended, it felt like the floodgates opened. Summer was here! I could run free! I entered a small local trail race, the Spring for the Trails Half Marathon and had a great time meeting runners in the area, and I won a ceramic mug for first place.
Then a few weeks later I skipped down to Virginia for Appalachian Trail Days Festival and spent some quality solo time on the Appalachian Trail, then a few weeks later met Tara for an intense hike on the Virginia AT to prep for the Colorado Trail. It was a personal disaster. I completely fell apart and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. We ended the hike earlier than planned. It turned out I had gotten some kind of bronchial infection and ended up being extremely sick with a terrible cough the next few weeks.
I worried it would derail my plans for a solo trip I’d planned to attempt an FKT on the Swiss Via Alpina, but I started to feel better just in time, despite having a lingering cough. This trip ended up being a big highlight of my year (and life!). I booked the trip earlier in the year when I was feeling pretty down. It would be my first solo international trip and it was great to have something on the calendar to look forward to. The hike across Switzerland in June was just the right blend of challenging and fun. I felt proud of myself for planning and preparing well, and problem solving when things didn’t go to plan. I loved getting to experience walking and running across an entire country! I finished almost an entire day later than initially planned, and that’s the thing with sketching something on paper versus doing the actual thing with no prior experience on the route. These things are always harder than I think they will be! I lowered the women’s FKT by a day, and felt glad I had planned that adventure for myself.
The big, daunting challenge and goal for the year was to set an FKT on the Colorado Trail with my friend Tara. We made an ambitious plan to finish under 9 days for the overall self-supported FKT. The first and second day went great. I started to fall apart by the end of the third day. By the beginning of the fourth day it was clear I wasn’t able to move fast enough to stay on target. So I got off the trail, got a rental car, and assembled a crew to help Tara the rest of the way for the women’s supported record, which she lowered by half a day. It was a huge win, even if not in the way we initially hoped, and I was so happy to support my friend and be part of something really special.
Following Colorado, I experienced a pretty big comedown and was finally able to process some of the disappointment I felt in myself for getting off trail, as crewing was all “go go go!”. I shuffled around for the next month, allowing my body and mind to recover. I got to experience the Adirondacks for the first time with a friend and “bag” my first of the 46 peaks. I hiked the Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains on a gorgeous day and kept up with my now-annual tradition of summiting Mt. Washington. I moved into a new (to me) house, which somehow I keep glossing over when I reflect back on this summer. Moving was incredibly exciting and rejuvenating, but it was also a lot of hard work. The photo at the top is from my backyard, which seems to get prettier by the day with the changing colors.
Then of course came Bubba’s Backyard Ultra, which ended up being a really positive experience despite not being the kind of performance I hoped for. I walked most of the 66.5 miles I completed, which I believe has made for a pretty nice recovery afterward. It made me feel excited and motivated to try again one day.
Looking ahead, I’ve been sketching out ideas for what’s next. What am I drawn to, what sounds challenging and fun, and what are some reasonable expectations to have for myself in this season of life? It became clear over this past year that there’s a bit of a disconnect between where I would like my fitness to be and how much training I can actually manage to do while prioritizing my education. I loved the Last Person Standing event because it wasn’t about being the fastest, much of it comes down to preparedness, strategy, mindset, and the will to keep going. I love hiking long-distance trails for the same reasons and many more.
So now, entering the fall/winter season, it feels like a good time to burrow down, get cozy, pat myself on the back for what I consider a year well spent, and dream up ideas for the future.
💫
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