Crossing the line together

Last August I ran the race of a lifetime.  I've said that before and it seems each time I show up to race at that next start, I walk away in humble disbelief of another "race of a lifetime."  I can attest that nothing will top my 2012 Cascade Crest experience.

I ran this 100 on pretty beat up legs and a zapped mind from my most ambitious season yet.  I struggled massively in the early miles to mentally be in the run and happy to be doing my favorite thing.  It seemed that gutting something out or being tough for the requisite time to call myself a Cascade Crest finisher was beyond me.  I even decided to drop, but what for timing, dumb luck, and the company of a couple of wonderful ultra athletes, I stuck it out.  I am forever grateful I did because the most amazing thing happened: I ran the race of a lifetime and ended up running across the finish line tied for first place with Missy Gosney of Durango, Colorado.

For me, ultras aren't about competing.  I certainly am not/was not a prodigy in the sport and spent many of my early races in serious pain.  I logged many death march miles and many times wondered if my patella would ever recover.  Back then, ultras were about going out there, pushing past the pain to complete the run, whatever the distance, whatever the physical toll.  I've gotten a lot smarter about training and racing and don't go to those depths of pain so often anymore and have seen much better results and standings.  For me, as a pretty competitive personality, I tend to get caught up in that competitive mode and forget my humble beginnings in the sport when it was enough to go through the day, arrive at the finish having experienced so much good, so much pain, and often really good company from the other runners, pacers, volunteers, and crew.

A shared the win at Cascade was an amazing experience because between the two of us, I think we were able to show that the sport isn't cut throat or driven by standings or edging out any competition.  In its purest form, ultras are a communal effort, and extremely taxing on the individual.  I'm really glad I got to stick it out even when I was full of self doubt.  I am forever proud I overcame so much to get to say I tied at Cascade Crest and ran the race of a life time.

Here's to the humility and community of the ultra world and the perspective only gained when you're on Loop 5.

What is Loop 5

In the tradition of Caldarella Women everywhere, the H.U.R.T. 100, and enduring spirits, sisters Michele and Hannah bring you Loop 5 Adventures.  Loop 5 got its name in honor of the notorious fifth loop of the H.U.R.T. 100 mile endurance run.  Just when you thought 4 loops of 20 miles and 5,000 feet of elevation change per loop was crazy, you still have a fifth loop ahead before you can say you're done.  In that fifth loop, the body and mind is tested and only a few people each year complete it.  These two sisters have made a tradition of finishing and with a special tribute to that gnarliest of laps, Loop 5 adventure company is here.

Endurance, resiliency, positivity.  Strength, patience, humility.  Hallucinations, hunger, the chase.  All this and so much more awaits those who embark on that last loop and forgo comfort and self doubt.