Keeping 2024 Pinteresting

I love Pinterest. The organization, the ideas, the creativity. Most of all, I want to be the kind of person that uses Pinterest to make awesome and amazing things that make my life better and inspire others. And since this year is all about becoming the person that I want to be, part of that will be to focus on tackling some of those Pinterest Pins that I have collected over the years. 

Each week I plan to choose at least one pin to attempt. I have a wide variety of boards, just chock full of amazing ideas for crafts, meals, gifts and so much more. I also plan to make more of my own pins. I have create a board for RunNerdGirl and have posted a few pins here and there, but I need to be more consistent with promoting my own things. Like this blog!

I have already completed Step 1 - Cleaning out my Boards and Pins. I removed any dead links and removed any projects that are outdated for my current life. For example, I had a whole board of Toddler Fun ideas. Not sure that any of those ideas would be suitable for my now almost 14 year old. 

A few of my Pinterest Boards

The plan is to post some, if not all of the things that I try out here on the blog to let you know how it went. Both the good and the bad. I know there will be a few candidates for Pinstrosities and I plan to show it all. 

If you are interested in checking out my Pinterest, you can find it here: https://www.pinterest.com/lissayn And if you see anything on there in particular that you would like to see me attempt, drop me a suggestion in the comments. I haven't picked my first project quite yet, but my guess is it will be either a meal, or something from my Best Life board. After all, finding my best life is what this is all about. 

Are you on Pinterest? Drop my your links in the comments. I would love to check out your boards for ideas as well. 

Finding Joy to the Run

As a part of my new year's initiative to get myself back to a me that I like again, I have been in search of a plan or program that is both sustainable and with some support. I know if I do this all on my own in secret, as I have in the past, I will fail, as I have in the past. So to the internet I went, in search of, well, I wasn't sure what. 

The answer ended up coming for, of all places, Facebook. There is an account that I have followed for years called Another Mother Runner. Not even sure how they got on my radar, but as a runner who is a mother, I must have hit follow somewhere along the way. I saw their posts here and there, blog links, motivational things, your typical supportive runner group. But then, just when I needed to see it, I saw a post asking if I had yet joined their Joy to the Run program. Curious, I clicked. 

I learned that Joy to the Run is an annual free program that is hosted by Another Mother Runner each year. It consists of a calendar for the month of December that features suggested workouts 6 days of week plus a rest day. There is also a Facebook group for those registered for the program. Each workout has a cute wintery themed twist (2 strength workouts, yoga on Fridays, and several runs/walks). The strength workouts have live Zoom options, plus recordings available after, and the yoga has a video to follow along. The strength also has detailed written instructions, in case you cannot join the videos and one of the runs has a suggested speed workout with instructions. Every Saturday is a contest day where you post a picture of a specific thing in the Facebook group. Sundays are a rest day. 

The registration was completely free, but there was an option to order some fun merchandise themed for the program. Since I wanted this to be something that I actually put my heart into, to help myself be more "all-in" I did order a long sleeve tech shirt, again, completely optional. I love it. It's cute and comfy and I am glad I bought it. There was also a headband, which I did not get.

Super cute Joy to the Run shirt

I am not going to post the calendar here, because that is their content, but here is the link to their website where you can find more information: https://anothermotherrunner.com/product/joy-to-the-run-2023/?fbclid=IwAR1-vYmOZbho00Sx12OcePUn3gf4yYEseTxiKq4txVGAOlkleFnxueQsjQU 

Don't be intimidated by the the detailed (seriously detailed) calendar, however. There is wiggle room, so it is not an all or nothing kind of thing. If you miss a specific workout, they do not want you to feel like a failure. In fact, it is emphasized in several places on the calendar, site and in the supportive Facebook group, they just are asking you do do what you can. The number one guideline on the calendar states:

"We’re looking for 20-30 minutes of movement most days of December. We’ve provided workouts for you, but they’re just ideas, not mandates. If a 20-minute walk at lunch is going to be best for you that day, eat your lunch, lace up, and head out." - Joy to the Run pdf

To me, this sounded like a great way to get myself back into the habit of regularly working out. It provided a road map of what to do, had support of others via the Facebook group, and was fun. I like having a plan, especially for the strength workouts. Every day in the group, which has just under 700 members, there is a check in post where you can chime in with what you did, or you can make your own post if you like. Everyone in the group has been super supportive and encouraging. It has been fun posting my workouts and seeing what the others are doing. And I even won the first Saturday contest day by posting my bingo card where you marked off cool things you saw and did during a run. I think I got extra points by finding a "real" Buddy the Elf when the bingo card was looking for a Buddy the Elf decoration. I receive some really cool AMR stickers in the mail as my prize. I've really enjoyed this program over the last month.

Turns out that in addition to the Joy to the Run program, that spans just the month of December, Another Mother Runner has a Many Happy Miles program that lasts the whole year. Like JTTR it has a monthly calendar of workouts, but so much more with all of this:

• Calendar: A downloadable version of all Many Happy Miles happenings
• Discount: Discount on training programs available exclusively to Many Happy Miles members
• Expert Workshop: Expert workshop information (dates, worksheets, video + podcast after the workshop)
• Physical Therapy: Move of the Month + Ask the PT Sessions
• Workout Materials: Monthly workout + challenge + strength circuit, including video(s)
• Workout Videos: A library of workout, yoga and foam rolling videos for easy access
• Many Happy Miles Facebook Group
• SWAG item of choice 
• Workouts in the Final Surge App

Basically, it is like Joy to the Run on steroids. The program costs $235 for the year. And while i had originally set out to find something online that was free, after as much as I enjoyed JTTR, I decided to register. I am already in the Facebook group, which has again been super supportive, like the JTTR one, and am anxiously awaiting to get started in January. Each month has a different focus, and January is Press Refresh, exactly what I need. 

For more information on Many Happy Miles, you can check out the AMR website here: https://anothermotherrunner.com/many-happy-miles-2024/ The registration goes until mid-January if you want to join me. I am sure I will be posting more here and of course on my social media pages (Instagram: runnerdgirl and Twitter: runnerdgirl) about how the program is going. 

(Please note: I am not advertising for Another Mother Runner in anyway, or receiving any form of benefit for mentioning their program, just writing about my own personal experiences.) 

Warm Hands at the Flip of a Turtle

 Disclaimer: I received a pair of Turtle Gloves Weather Protect Heavyweight Warm Mittens to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Look, I'm just going to come right out and say it - This time of the year really sucks for the outdoor runner part of me. I am a girl who loves her weather warm, sunny and well above the temperature most runners prefer. I just hate, hate HATE being cold!!! (No really, I've said it before: https://runnerdgirl.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-winter-running-blahs.html)

But Lissa, don't you live in SC? Isn't it like 40-50 degrees most mornings in the winter? Usually, but not this year for some reason. We are riding into week like 3 or it being below freaking freezing in the morning!! Seriously, it was 24 degrees this morning!! And this is a girl whose preferred running temperature is above 80 degrees. Saying I am have not been thrilled is an understatement!

So what's a cold-natured girl to do? Why layer up of course.

But... I will even be the first to admit that sometimes, just sometimes, I tend to get carried away in the layering. Because of this, I love me some items that can transition as needed, like my Turtle Gloves Flip Mittens 🐢.

I've had both pairs of Lightweight and Midweight Turtle Gloves for awhile now and they are amazing. Just recently, Turtle Gloves developed a new, Weather Protect Heavyweight Flip Mitten made with Polartec® WindBloc® Fabric that is 100% windproof, water repellent, moisture wicking, breathable and fast drying. They are perfect for outdoor sports in cold and below freezing conditions. 

So how do they work? I'll let Turtle Gloves tell you themselves:

WEATHER PROTECT HEAVYWEIGHT Mittens are perfect for very cold hands, extreme cold Winter running, outdoor sports and activities such as dog walking, X-C skiing, ice-fishing or just shoveling snow. Easy access to fingers when needed. For HEAVY FABRICS, slide mitten slightly off fingers and lightly curl fingers inside mitten before flipping elastic trim edge over all fingers and thumb, push and pull mitten as needed to expose fingers. Similar method to flip back into the mitten. - from: https://turtlegloves.com/product/convertible-mittens-warm/

Basically, they go from being full mittens, to fingerless gloves with a quick flip. So when I start out my run and am cold AF, I can have them in full mitten mode. Then a few miles in when (if) I warm up, I can flip them easily into fingerless mode without even breaking stride. And, when I start to get chilly, I can can flip them back just as easily. And I do, near constantly. Flip/Filp/Flip - easy peasy. Perfect for a girl like me who's temperature sensitive.

My favorite things about them are that they are easily convertible, and they come in smaller sizes, including XS, for people like me with small hands than most "sport" gloves I've worn in the past. It also doesn't hurt that they are cute! Mine are Heavy Gray/Silver. I just love the cute silver stitching on them. Functional and sparkly! What is not to love?

Interested in trying them out for yourself? You can order online at the Turtle Gloves website: https://turtlegloves.com/ They also have lightweight, midweight and fleece convertible mittens as well. 

Journey to Positivity: Exploring Affirmations

AKA: If I Say It, I Might Think/Feel It

So in my previous post here: https://runnerdgirl.blogspot.com/2023/12/ending-year-low-but-im-gonna-start-next.html I talked about how I am in desperate need of complete overhaul in my life. Doing the same things that I've done before will not cut it. It's time to shake things up and try out some concepts and strategies that past me would never consider, or even scoff at. Things like Daily Affirmations.

Affirmations are positive statements or phrases repeated consistently with the for aim of cultivating positivity and achieving goals. The are thought to hold within them an incredible force to shape thoughts, beliefs, and actions. From bolstering self-esteem to fostering a positive mindset, the practice of using Affirmations are said to lead to profound personal growth and empowerment.

Note: I had no idea what images to put in this post,
so I just went with some nice pics I took recently

Understanding Affirmations

The general thinking behind Affirmations is that our thoughts have a direct impact on our reality. By consistently repeating these positive beliefs and intentions, you can rewire your subconscious mind, influencing attitudes and behaviors and guide you towards a more constructive and optimistic outlook on life. And that is precisely what I am needing these days.

Harnessing the Power of Affirmations

According to those who believe in the power of Affirmations, their magic lies in simplicity and accessibility. Anyone can utilize affirmations to bring about transformative changes. If you dream it, you can do it. Here’s how my research has shown that they best work:

1. Define Clear and Positive Affirmations:

Crafting affirmations involves creating concise and affirmative statements that reflect a goal, desire, or quality you hope to embody. Affirmations work best when you focus on what you want rather than what you lack.

2. Consistent Repetition:

Repetition is key to embedding Affirmations into the subconscious mind. By consistently repeating affirmations daily—whether through verbal recitation, written notes, or visualization—you reinforce these positive messages within yourself.

3. Belief and Emotional Connection:

Belief in the affirmations is crucial. It’s not merely about reciting words; it’s about truly feeling and believing in their truth. When coupled with emotional involvement, affirmations become more potent in reshaping thoughts and behaviors.

4. Integration into Daily Routine:

Integrating affirmations into daily routines, such as reciting them during morning rituals or before bedtime, helps anchor them firmly into one's subconscious mind.

5. Adapting Affirmations to Evolving Goals:

As you progress or goals change, updating or refining affirmations ensures alignment with their current aspirations, maintaining relevance and efficacy.

 

The Impact of Affirmations on Personal Growth

The effects of incorporating affirmations into one's life can be profound and far-reaching:

1. Enhanced Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem:

Affirmations can instill a sense of confidence and self-worth, helping individuals overcome self-doubt and negative self-perceptions.

2. Positive Mindset and Resilience:

By fostering a positive outlook, affirmations empower individuals to navigate challenges with resilience and optimism, reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth.

3. Goal Achievement and Manifestation:

Consistent affirmation practices align the subconscious mind with one's goals, enhancing focus and determination, and ultimately aiding in their manifestation.

4. Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being:

Affirmations can alleviate stress, anxiety, and negativity by promoting a more relaxed and positive mental state.

So this year, I as a part of my whole life reset, I am going to try to embrace the power of affirmations. I decided to pick one statement per month to focus on. I will spend that month focusing on just one Affirmation. I will start each day both saying the month's Affirmation and writing it in my Self Care App, Finch.

My 2024 Affirmations (one per month)

1. I will get better every day.
2. I am getting better every day.
3. I have more strength than I think.
4. I know I can achieve anything I focus on.
5. Life is meant to be lived fully and deeply.
6. I am proud of myself and of who I am becoming.
7. There is power within me.
8. I am in control of my life.
9. My happiness depends on me and me alone.
10. I am taking steps to make my dreams a reality.
11. I am taking steps to make my dreams a reality.
12. I deserve to be happy, and I choose to be happy.

And while I am waiting until January to officially start this list of Affirmations, I am already starting off now with another until then: I AM READY FOR CHANGE. 

Have you ever used Affirmations? If so, what was yours? If not, what would yours be?

Ending the Year Low, But I'm Gonna Start the Next High

So it is again that time of year, the end of the year to be specific, where I look back on how the year went and wow, was this one not fantastic. I mean, that is a bit harsh, I do have a lot to be thankful for, I have a home, food to eat, friends and family and all that jazz, I accomplished some things and have some really great memories here and there, but if I am being truly honest, I just was not into 2023 mentally. 

Yes, it is so cliche to start a NEW YEAR, NEW ME kind of mentality, but for me, I need this. My self esteem has been rock bottom. My fitness is lower than it has been in years. My motivation has been non-existent. I've barely done any blogging this year because I just haven't been compelled to talk much about the life I've been living these days. In fact I feel like that I have not been really living this year, just kind of going through the motions and waiting for the next thing to happen. 

But you know what, it's not going to just happen. Not unless I make it. So this month, I've been planning. I've come up with what I think is a good, solid list of goals for 2024 to start digging my way out of this hole that I've gotten myself into. I really really need this to work for me, so I am trying to do this the right way, to not overwhelm myself and do too much at once thus ensuring that I fail at one thing and just give up. So I am breaking down the year into areas of focus, a different one for each month, along with an Affirmation, a kind of Mantra to guide that month. I will be posting some blog posts this month with some more concrete details on what some of my 2024 goals and focus area will be, but for now, I just needed to put out there into the universe that I NEED TO CHANGE. I am not happy and I need to take charge of well being, both physical and emotional in order to do better, feel better. I don't like me right now. I used to. And I want to again. 

And Yet Here We Are...

Trotting with 10,000 Turkeys

Despite living in the area for 25 years, this is the first year I have ever run the largest Charlotte area Turkey Trot, the CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot. As I have mentioned a number of times here and on social media, I coach with the local Fleet Feet Sports here in Fort Mill, SC and this Fall, I trained the Turkey Trot group. This was a crazy fun group of about 20 runners, half training for the 8K distance, the other half for the 5K. So, as any good coach would, I had to of course be there on race day, so this was the year. 

While not the largest race I've ever run (that honor was the Cooper River Bridge Run) it was one of the largest, especially for this area that I have run. The race caps at 10,000 and sold out this year, but don't let that scare you, it was crazy well organized and it honestly didn't feel any bigger than other area races. Well, I can't say that completely, but well, I'll get there. 

Less than beautiful day to
pick up a packet outside

First of all, you get not just 1 or 2 days to pick up your packet, but WEEKS! Packet pickups can be done well in advance at a variety of locations all over Charlotte, which I will say, is awesome for the convenience, but does make it so that there is not really an Expo style pre-race event. You can even pay for day of event pick up for a bit more money when you register. I picked up my packet at one of the last pick up options which was at Symphony Park, where the race was held. It was raining that day, but the pick up was covered and I walked right up to the table, gave my info and was issued my bib, given a post-race beer ticket and my shirt. The shirts were long sleeve cotton T-shirts, not my favorite race shirts, but still a nice shirt. I wore it after I was showered post-race, but will probably not keep long term. I get so many race shirts each year, I typically on keep either really cute ones and/or tech shirts. 

How cute are my ladies here?!!

There are 2 distances for the Charlotte Turkey Trot, the 8K and the 5K. I was registered for the 8K. The 8K started at 8:10 am and before the race, there were lots of tents set up and vendors with coffee. There were also LOADS of potties. The 8K had the fewer participants and was an hour earlier than the 5K, so when I arrived there was plenty of places to park (race was next to South Park Mall and all their decks were open since the mall was closed for Thanksgiving). I found the Fleet Feet tent and took some pre-race pictures with the ladies who were running the 8K also. There was a costume contest and these ladies were dressed to impress. Me, I was cold which always makes me less festive. I was able to walk around a bit, go to the potty and get into a corral with plenty of time. There were 2 corrals, one for walkers and one for runners. When the race started, they let the whole runner side go first, then the walker side. This was repeated for the 5K and hour later.

Fred got him a shiny new PR!!

The course was a good one, fairly standardly hilly for a Charlotte race. While this was my first Charlotte Turkey Trot, I had run another race at this location (Charlotte Racefest) before so I knew what to expect. My only complaint was that there was no aid station on the 8K course until almost mile 4, and just the 1. Had I known, I would have carried water. The aid station seemed to be a bit past the halfway point for the 5K, which would have been fine, but for the 8K, it made for a long almost 4 miles. Also, right before the water station, was a Apple Pie Shots station, but I don't know if that was organized by the race, or just some kind souls who wanted to spread some cheer. I don't usually partake during a race, but this time, I did! I ran most of the race with a friend of mine who had told me what his PR for this course was and I realized pretty quickly that he would be shattering that number, so that was awesome to see. I was pleased with my time (9:10 pace) even if it wasn't a PR for me. My running has been a bit off this year for a number of reasons and I was just glad to have fun at a race.

I was able to run the 8K and get back over to the start before the 5K started. So here is where I kinda went back and forth on what I should be writing here as what I did next was technically not something allowed. Full disclosure, reader, I did something I have never done before... Y'all I bandited a race. 

I even took a pic the 2nd
time through!

The original plan was for me to pace my sole 5K runner that was running the race but with so dang many people I couldn't find her! I resigned myself to just watching and cheering at the start, but then a friend of mine was texting me his location and when he was gonna cross the start and I made the choice to hop in and pace him. I did not cross the start, and I exited the course before the finish. I did not take a water cup at the aid station (I still had the bottle I was given when I finished) and did my best to not interfere with anyone else's race, (okay, so yeah, I did take another Apple Pie Shot when the opportunity arose, but they were WELL stocked. And I'll admit it, I loved running with Gavin, even if he did complain like 80% of the run (it's who he is). I was talking to other runners and since I just ran the course, pointing out where the hills were, when they ended and what was coming next. It was a few degrees warmer (I shed some layers) and I was running a slower pace and the course was a bit less challenging so I was just chatting and laughing and running and it was honestly so fun. Though I will say, with WAY more runners running the 5K, the course never really opened up. Maybe it is because we started a ways in the back of the runners, but the course just seemed pretty full the entire 3.1 miles. Lots of people were walking right in the middle of the road and in large groups blocking the road. Not a lot of runner etiquette going on, but as someone who was full on banditing, I really couldn't say much. 

After the race, we met up with another friend and picked up our free beer from Suffolk Punch Brewing. You could order whatever you wanted, and while I cannot remember the name, I got a nice Hazy IPA that I would totally recommend to anyone. I'd never been to Suffolk Punch before, and would recommend. Had I not had my family at home waiting for me, I might have stuck around longer to hang out and had another (I had been given several free beer cards from other runners, but I just passed them along to some guys). The post-race was super festive and all smiles. There were lots of fun photo opps and everyone was cheerful.

Overall, the race was fun, lots of people cheering and I had a blast. After, there were loads of vendors and lots of free beer opportunities. I would for sure recommend this race, and happily run it again.

I Run 24 (ummm... Make that 16)

The last weekend in September, I went for a run. When I finished, I had put in a total of 54 miles, which while a lot, it was 9 miles less than my goal. This is the epic tale of my failed attempt at 100K at The Hinson Lake 24 Hour Classic. 

Have you ever had a race where you had so much FOMO every year, that even though everything about it seemed crazy, you just HAD to do it. That was Hinson Lake for me. As long as I have been a runner, I have had friends that ran and loved Hinson Lake. And this year, things finally lined up for me to participate. 

The race consists of a 1.5 mile loop around a beautiful lake in the Rockingham, NC woods. It starts at 8:00 am Saturday morning and ends 8:00 am Sunday morning. You run as much as you could/wanted to in that 24 hour period. Your distance was totally up to you. All you had to do was not stop. 

Spoiler alert: I stopped.

On the Friday before the race, my fellow Fleet Feet Fort Mill runners Robin, Katie, Bonnie, Nicole, Gail and Pat arrived to Hinson Lake and set up camp. We had a camp area a bit away from the loop so we could get some sleep on Friday overnight while others set up and if we so desired during the race. For dinner we ate wood fired personal pizzas from a food truck on site and hung out at camp with a shot of peanut butter whiskey and all went to bed fairly early. We had a big day ahead of us. Everyone in our group had a goal to finish 50K. 2 of us were shooting for 100K (Katie and me). 

The intrepid Fleet Feet Fort Mill Team

At 8:00 am sharp Saturday September 30th, the race started. There were around 450 runners, which you can image made for tight squeeze for a 1.5 mile loop, so the first half mile or so, I kind of fast walked/jogged until it thinned out enough to get a run going. After than, for the first Half Marathon (or 9 loops) I kept a steady run. After that, I took a short break. The muscles along my right knee were starting to bother me already which kind of freaked me out a bit, so I stopped in to see the onsite massage therapist to stretch it out for me. Luckily for me, after a quick session, it didn't bother me again, and I set out for another Half Marathon distance, this time run/walking. 

My strategy was this: For the 1.5 mile loop, after crossing the timing mat, I walked .25 mile. This area contained the "Hinson Buffet" 2 table flanking the course that had tons of food, glorious food and every manner of beverage. The left side was many processed foods (cookies, candy, crackers, chips and sodas) and the right side freshly cooked foods that rotated throughout the day like sandwiches, quesadillas, burgers, pizza, pancakes and more and your Gatorades and water. I tried to grab a bit of something plus a drink every time I walked through. After the food were the team tents. My team's tent was overlooking the lake and had a few chairs, our drop bags (mine had sunscreen, some snack and Vaseline) plus a white board for us to mark off our loops. There was a big dip right before the first turn in this section and at the top was my friend Shannon's tent. I stashed some water there as well in case I forgot to grab some in the excitement of the Start Area (which I did more than I should have). 

I would then run the next just over a half mile until I crossed the long bridge over the lake. Right after the bridge was the longest hill which at the top was a rather sandy area. I walked this .25 mile stretch. Then, I ran the next half mile back to the timing mat. So for the next 9 loops it became, walk .25, run .5, walk .25, run .5. At 18 loops total, I had surpassed a Marathon distance and it was time to take a bit of a longer break. I walked 1 full loop with no running and then set out back to camp.

The Bridge at the halfway point of the loop

By then is was almost 2:00 and my strategy had been to break the run into four 6 hour segments. I made my way back to our campsite area, and into my tent to get undressed. I did my best to dry out, not to be gross or overshare, but I was hella sweaty as I was 6 hours and 27+ miles in and the day was heating up. I laid on my air mattress for about 30 minutes sipping water. I had grabbed a half a burger when I went through the buffet as well. I didn't want to stay out of it too long so, begrudgingly, I got dressed in fresh everything and set back out. I was back on course around 3:00. 

Post Wardrobe Change, ready for 6 more hours

I kept to the strategy that I had planned before, walk .25, walk .25, run .5, walk .25, run .5. Every few loops, I took a 5-10 minute break at the team tent on the lake. No real rhyme or reason to when, just when I felt like it. The hours kind of blended together during this part and soon it was 8:00 pm, time for me to take another trip to the campsite to change clothes and grab my lights as the sun was setting. 

I didn't say in camp long as by then I was coming to terms with just how tough this race was. And if I am being 100% honest, I wasn't doing so well as far as keeping myself fed and hydrated. I was forgetting to grab food. I was eating a few bites, a couple of gummy bears, a sip of Coke. By then my plan was to keep moving as best I could until Midnight. I was still run/walking but not as strict as my previous strategy. For example, some laps I'd just run as much as I could. Or I would run the bridges, as they were solid footing. I never walked a full lap until the last one before midnight, managing to run a bit here and there. But it became a blurry slog of just keep moving around in the dark, illuminated by my chest light. The number of people on the course had greatly thinned and most were walking. 

I did some quick math and figured that I could get in 36 loops, which totaled 54 miles by Midnight. And if I could start loop 36 by 11:30, I would let myself walk it completely. At 11:29 I crossed the timing mat. I walked a final 1.5 mile loop and at 11:58 I crossed the mat and walked over to my team tent and promptly sat down. Shortly after, one of my friends, Katie, arrived, also with 36 loops completed. "Let's go get some sleep," she said. "Gladly," I weakly replied.

This is where, dear readers, our hero is defeated. Around 12:30 I had made my way back to my tent. The camp was quiet except for Katie and I. The rest of our group had tapped out earlier for the night and were already sleeping. I again undressed in my tent, but rather than changing into running gear, I put on some cozy leggings and a t-shirt, intending to sleep for a few hours. I figured I had 9 miles left, if I got back on the course by 4:30 - 5:00 am I would be golden. But alas, it was not to be. 

Full Moon over Hinson Lake

After laying there for an hour trying to calm myself down enough to relax, I realized that sleep was not going to come easy. I couldn't get warm. I couldn't stop shaking. I kept randomly cramping different places in my legs. My mind was frantically racing about everything and I felt like a panic attack was just on the horizon. And most importantly, I WAS NOT SLEEPING!

I laid there for 3.5 hours like that. I heard Katie get up and go to the bathroom and realized that she was getting ready to head back out at 4:30 like she planned. I tried to get up. I fell back down. I tried again. Fell again. I texted her saying that I was going to try to get some rest still and go out in an hour. I thought if only I could get ANY sleep, I could knock out those 9 more if I was out at 5:30 am. Just let me get a SINGLE HOUR of sleep. 

I didn't take many night pics, so here's a daytime shot of our campsite

Another hour passed and whelp, more of the same. It was then, at 5:30 am I made the decision that I was done. And you know what, I was strangely ok with it. It was over and I knew it. And that acceptance, is what I think finally let me fall asleep. HARD. As in the rest of my camp got up and ready and headed out for some final laps and I heard NOTHING. I had finally just completely shut down. 

I slept for about an hour and a half, waking around 7:00 am. At this point, I made my second major decision concerning the race - I had an hour left still, I could have gotten dressed and back on course and knocked out 2-3 more laps. Nope, I decided. I'd come to terms with being done so that was it. I'd rather my results say I competed 54 miles in 16 hours than 56 or 57 in 24 hours. I slipped on my sandals and made my way to the team tent so I could watch my friends finish (and hopefully find some coffee). I sat down at the team tent, took a deep breath and the promptly broke out hysterically sobbing. 

Sitting in the Team Tent, just finished a nice long cry

Apparently all of me was not 100% on board with the "I am ok with this" mentality. Mostly I think it was the exhaustion finding the only outlet that it had. I was, and I still am okay with the decision I made to not go back out. I honestly do not think I could have made it back on course without incident. I had made too many mistakes in my preparation and execution of the race. And you know, 54 miles really was a lot of miles. Like a lot. Was I happy, no, I can't say that, but I was okay. I do not think I honestly could have done more than I did. 

Final Results

I will be going back to Hinson Lake in 2024 and next time, next time I bring home a medal (only 100K finishers get a medal). I learned a lot from this first experience that  I will use to make some changes that will better prepare me for success. This post is long enough already, so I will do another about what I plan to do differently next time.

Peace Out til next year, Hinson Lake