I entered this last race with high hopes, but unfortunately didn’t reach my goals yet again. I “ran” into some nutritional issues along the way that caused me to decide to pull out midway through. I was immediately frustrated with receiving another DNF at first, but then I thought about what I had gained from the experience and the positives that came from the race. My legs felt fantastic during the fifty plus miles that I did complete and I learned that I need to increase my intake earlier in a race when the difficulty is that high. With all of that said, the part I did run during the race was another exhilarating experience with the rains early, humidity rising late morning, and the sweltering heat from the sun during the afternoon! My attack on the course went like this early on; run the flats, walk the insanely steep inclines, and slide down the downhill’s using the mud. As the course dried out it was easier to navigate, but I was expending more energy than I knew and this began to show between miles 35-45. I finally opted for the safer route on stopping rather than another hospital visit, but this will not hold me back and I will continue on my mission to reach the goals I have set for myself. Another positive note that came after the race is that I am now sponsored by Aquaphor! We had a conference call on Monday night and discussed the conditions of our working relationship; this will mainly come with free running gear and some smaller cash incentives along the way, but hey it’s a start! I hope to see you all outdoors as the weather begins to turn nice enjoying life~ live it to the fullest!
"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort."
