Hattiesburg 5k/10k/half marathon weekend- Meg's POV

I got the honor and privilege to be a part of the Hattiesburg 5k/10k/Half Marathon from the eyes of the RD, Rhonda. Mind you, said race had 1700 racers, plus all the volunteers and cheerleaders. I helped Rhonda some with Molten Mohawk back in February, so when Rhonda called asking if I would head up packet pickup for Hburg Half, I answered back with a resounding yes. I also told her I would help her out in the days leading up to the race. Spoiler: that was the single best offer I could have ever made- for me and for her.

How did this change my personal life? Having someone choose and trust me to head up something as big as a 1700 person packet pick up, meant a lot to me. And then, I proceeded to delve into her world for 4 straight days. My entire life paused with anyone outside the race. She trusted me to be her right hand woman, even when she didn’t ask for it. She thanked me no less than 57894789 times. (Her/Kinda Gritty also was and is my biggest spporter of Megamiles.)

Rhonda and I spent a lot of time just us 2 via marking the course. I got to learn her story. If you know me, you know 1 on 1 time is my love language. Learning her story whilst marking the race course was a time I enjoyed and cherish (even while yelling at each other across traffic). The amount of respect I gained for Rhonda is innumerable. I wish everyone could hear. I know I helped her out with this race, but I sure hope she knows how much it helped me. I felt ‘normal’ for the first time in a while. I felt trusted without the asterisk. I felt, should I say it, happy. And with a new med, I feared not being able to feel a high, and I got to, and oh how sweet it felt. Imma switch to second person. Rhonda, thank you for trusting me as a person and talking to me as an equal, despite this being your race. Thank you for helping me start the process of trusting that I am capable of hard things. Thank you for your generous heart. Oki done being sappy.

Wednesday: It was only a few hours for me. Rhonda and I set all the signs up around her kitchen/dining room. Labeled each sign what intersection they would go in. Put them in order. Put the ground stakes in each one. And organized what went in the car.

Thursday: Rhonda and I set off and marked the course. What does that look like? Going to every intersection, putting sign(s) where they need to go. Putting the biodegradable sticker arrows on the ground. Looking like an idiot running in the middle of Hardy St., Main St, and all the roads to lay out an arrow. Having 4-6 arrow stickers on your shirt at any given point. I am gonna share a few funny things that happened. If you wanna skip, you do you boo.

Story #1: We met up with a cop who was leading and wanted to go over the course. Rhonda went with him and I stayed. Leanna needed to give me some cookies for JA’s birthday, so instead of making her U-turn, I ran in the middle of the intersection of Highway 49 and Hardy to grab them. How thoughtful of me. Except. Rhonda was with the cop and the cop started saying WHAT IS YOUR FRIEND DOING. Now, I had just told Rhonda I was starting to get tremors because of taking Lithium, which happens most days, but was why it was harder for me to do something. So, sweet Rhonda, not having seen me, just going off the cop freaking out, thought I had an episode of some sort and was laid out in the middle of the road. So she looks and tells him oh she’s just going to get cookies from a friend. The cop is like ……………. So Rhonda tells the cop that I have bipolar, and isn’t exactly sure what’s up. I. FELL. OUT. SO. HARD. FROM. LAUGHING.

Story #2: I was yet again running through traffic, and ran in front of a firetruck. IMO there was plenty of space. So this guy in a truck slows down and says you’re gonna get hit by a firetruck! And I was like eh it’s oki. And he was like no it’s really not. And in my head I was like stay in your lane sir. But Rhonda and I got a kick outta him being like be careful and I was like eh. YOLO.

Story #3: When we were marking the course for Molten Mohawk, Rhonda would put the arrow stickers all over her shirt and thighs, and I would laugh at how ridiculous she looked. Fast forward to Hburg Half marking, I didn’t even hesitate when we started, to put them on my shirt. Rhonda told me I had arrived.

Friday: I didn’t sleep a lot because I was so hype. We finished marking the course in the morning. Then we set off to packet pickup where that was mine. We organized the set up and made it aestetically pleasing. The volunteers started showing up and I got to explaining everything that was about to happen for 4 hours. There were enough volunteers to where I could ‘float’, meaning get to walk around the expo/packet pickup and answer questions. I had on my pink ‘Coach Meg’ hat (S/O Sarah for the gift) so I became ‘ask the girl in the pink hat.’! I did that all afternoon.

After packet pickup, Rhonda and I set off to the start line to set up the flags, do some banners, and other random stuff that RD’s apparently do the night before a race, of which involve sitting on top of the start line looking at her 8594058409 messages she won’t ever get through.

Saturday: I slept less than 4 hours. Rhonda slept 0 hours. Great start. Did packet pickup that morning with my pink hat. I ended up driving around a race photographer all around the course for pictures for a few hours. It was fun to see all my friends all around the course. FYI, I am terrible at remembering a race course that I drove for 2 straight days. I am not the best photographer driver to say the least (sorry, Jesse).

Afterwards, I went to the finish to see my fiancé and fiancé 2.0 finish their second and first half marathon. After everyone finished, we cleaned up the finish line. Rhonda, her hubs, a sweet volunteer who crushed it, Ashlynn, and I put stuff where it went for a while. Rhonda and I went sweep the course for signs and trash. Finally, we parted ways. I had lunch with Leigh Anne and dinner with my run fiancé, Seth, to hear about their race and share about mine.

Overall, I would 1000 times do it all over again. I would encourage anyone that has the time to invest in a local race director, you won't regret seeing the intricate details that are put into making the event the best one ever and getting to be a small part of the success in the event. You might even just come out of it a better person than before.

Girlie Pops

Let me tell you a story about these girls that befriended me and pursued me despite me secretly not wanting to be their friend (which they will NEVER let me live down), that I ended up loving in the deepest parts of my heart and soul.

Pretty girls *run* like this. -Melody

I decided to live in Hattiesburg, MS while pursuing grad school. I planned to stay one year. Not make friends because who wants to make friends with someone you’re going to leave soon? I planned to go to Jackson all the time. And I did. For the first while. Then, something changed. I joined PBP (Pine Belt Pacers). I interacted first with this extremely outgoing girl who was just so happy I was there and to meet me. I then met another girl who wore makeup and lashes to run. The antithesis of my being. I am questioning all my life decisions at this point.

Donut run! Run a 400, eat a donut- repeat 4x.

Group runs aren't normally my thing, but this was fun!

I started talking in the PBP GroupMe. It was fun. Makeup girl became known as Melody and outgoing girl became known as Jenn. We weren’t ‘girlie pops’ yet. One night, there was a post-run party that got LIT, and Jenn decided she wanted to celebrate me passing my Elementary Education Praxis. The week came, and I was secretly trying to put space between us and replace them. I texted them and said it’s not a big deal, but they were insistent. So, out we went. They got me cupcakes, flowers and balloons. (The balloons are still in my apartment.) However, I had already decided I didn’t want to be close to them, so I was trying to subtly leave. They *clearly* couldn’t take the hint.

Throwback to when Jenn and Melody loved me and I wanted to ditch them.

Thus began the 'girlie pops' group message.

Our first 'girlie pop' picture. When I was pretending I wanted to be friends. 😂

This is where it got complicated for me. I found out they were Christians. Went to church. Weren’t on the same page as me politically. And. I had just spent 3 years distancing myself from that lifestyle, and here I am becoming friends with the life I got out of. To finish this part of the story- I am still the same Ex-evangelical single childless girl, and they are the same Jesus-loving married with kiddos girlies, and we love each other through and through.

Even went to church to see Melody sing!

It started out as funsises messages. Memes/GIFS. Until one night we went out to celebrate Melody passing her broker exam. We went all in- learning REAL life. I learned the not so pretty parts. I learned the backstories to things, and how their struggles and faith shaped them to be the people they are. I learned that I am apparently ‘cool enough’ to have the privilege to be their friend.

The night we decided to go all in.

*Cue Meg enter a 6-week bipolar struggle*

I shared a little bit with them, unsure of how they’d respond, because I know their experience in *gestures to all of this* is limited. I honestly didn’t expect much because I know it’s scary to be a part of. Well, I received more than I could have ever asked for. They jumped in headfirst to support me. They messaged me, let me crash their houses, listened to me plead for relief, and helped me when I couldn’t help myself. They celebrated when I was feeling good, were heartbroken when I was, and held space for all my emotions. They took one for the team and helped me get my apartment, not a wreck. How lucky am I?

I don't really have words for this weekend. Just. Thankful.

They choose me, every day, and for that I am eternally grateful. I’ll relish and look forward to the future opportunities to support them and love them in the ways they have supported and loved me.

Road trip to the coast for a 5k then 110-stair climb!
Melody CLEARLY brought glitter- so we all had to do it!

I wouldn’t change a part of it. Only that I’d jumped into their friendship sooner. 💞 Melody and Jenn, I know I tell you all the time how grateful I am for y'all. But. I believe the world needs to know just how lucky we are to have you in our lives.

77 miles- How cool is my body.

How to even describe what happened in 77 miles? How to express the emotional release of crying for hours over how cool my body is? How to explain to all who helped me, gave me things, listened to me cry, ran with me, walked with me, and/or messaged me, that I couldn't have made it to 77 without each of you! 

IK am going to try to encapsulate what the experience was like. I started at 7am. Jen surprised me by showing up to see me start! What a happy welcome that was to my day! I ran from 7am-10am by myself. About 12 miles. Then Brittany joined me, and we did 7 miles. We gabbed and got POURED on. She is the real one for running in the pouring rain with me. Chafing started here more or less. I knew I was in for it. (Shelly, Gibson, and Candi- prepare to *ahem* take me in November because I didn't! #IYKYK

Mile 0!

Then, I ran by myself for a few more hours. Eat. Drink. Run. Walk. Repeat. Renee' joined me about 5pm and I convinced her to do 8 miles with me. We had a blast! She brought me coffee. That left me for only 2 hours by myself until Jen came. I was eating and drinking super well all day. The first few hours I was peeing so much I was a little concerned. 😂 Then the dark came. I talked to Candi until Jen came, which was a welcome surprise to keep me occupied. 

Did I mention she WALKED the pace I was RUNING? 
So hardcore.

Jen and I ran the Rez loop together. I hit my PR distance of 53 miles with her. That felt super good. Sabrina got stuck in 3-hour traffic, so Jen graciously hung out with me while we waited for her. Jen really helped me through the ‘early dark’ hours to be in good spirits and realize it’s ok that the dark miles are slow.

I was at mile 50-something at this point. My feet hurt. Ok. That’s an understatement. 50-something miles on pavement was killer. I could feel my heartbeat in my feet. I sat in the passenger seat with my feet on the dash, while I cried in pain and honestly questioned if I could keep going. Sabrina came and helped me get back up and get back out there. We ‘ran’ (walked) for a few hours together. They were slow, dark miles, but they got done. I can’t remember where I hit 56, but that felt super cool to hit because that is the half ironman bike distance. I know I got to 100km with Sabrina, and that felt super accomplishing.

We finished, and I got to FUU at 64 miles. I ran 1 mile before FUU started. Everyone at the race was so supportive of me. I couldn’t have made it to 77 without being at FUU. I cried more than I didn’t at FUU. Everyone was nothing short of amazing. Hitting 70 was an amazing feeling because that is the distance of a half ironman.

I think my favorite part of FUU was when I was sitting on the side of the road, crying, and JRay gave me a bandana of ice. Mind you, it was all on his neck/face, and then all over mine. I suddenly decided I NEEDED to eat a LOT of ice. So, naturally I opened the bandana, filled with sweat and who knows what else, and proceeded to eat all the ice. I needed more. There was a mailman right there. So I asked him if he had ice. He said yes, and kind of paused. I told him it was fine if the ice chest was dirty and to just put ice in my bandana. He said ‘with my hands?’ I said oh yes I don’t care. Thanks man! So I went back to where I was sitting and proceeded to eat all of that ice. In all I think I ate about 30 pieces of ice. I got up and kept walking.

At this point I am sobbing from the emotion of it all. Jimmy, Jennifer, and Karen asked me what I needed, and I said ice. Next thing I knew, Karen went to a random house and asked for ice. I continued to cry from thankfulness for them. Jimmy walked next to me for a little while and just pressed the ice on my neck/head. It felt so nice and comforting.

Once Brittany found out I ate icky ice, I was currently on a fixation of cuties. I ate so many. One part dropped on the ground, so she handed me that one first and said ‘this one has dirt on it so I’m giving it to you first, but the rest are ok!’ Thanks girl. 😜

Ok anyways, the first few hours of FUU were with Dustyn, and almost 3-year-old Cory. Cory roasted the heck out of me. We were walking, and Cory asked Dustyn if we were running. Dustyn, being the encouraging person he is, told Cory we were indeed running. Suddenly, a group of guys ran past us. Cory proceeded to tell us that THEY were running, and we were walking. 😂 Thanks Cory. You're the real one. I started to throw up at this point, so Dustyn went and got me my Zofran. (He also grabbed my Ativan. Tell me you're a psychiatrist without telling me.) Those were my most productive loops at FUU.

Dustyn left, and I did a little by myself and was sobbing. Brittany came and found me and drug my 40 min/mi ass back to the S/F. My chafing hurt at a new level. I couldn’t stand up straight. I relied so hard on my poles to keep me vertical. After 5 miles of that, I knew 100 wasn’t in my cards for the day, and called it at 77. I think I said ‘my body is so cool!’ no less than 500 times.

I am in awe that my body ran from Hattiesburg to Florence. It ran from Hattiesburg to Biloxi.

When asked my favorite part, I have many, but honestly the time with B was probably the best, because I was fighting so hard for every mile, that I earned the recognition for completing 77 miles. The first 14 hours were great. Didn’t really hurt that bad, considering. Ran, walked, ate, drank, peed, had friends join, but it didn’t really feel HARD. The hard came once I got past 40 something and my feet started to rebel. The hard continued when I closed my eyes while walking with Sabrina. The hard persisted when every ion of my being wanted to stop at 75, but nevertheless I persisted to get 77.

The question I am asked is how do I feel about my race now that it’s all said and done? I am 100% confident I could have made it to 78. However, it would’ve taken about 45 minutes more of immense suffering. Weighing pros and cons, 77 and 78 made no difference to me, thus 77 being my max. I am confident 80 was out of reach for me. I am confident 100 will be mine one day, but not that day. But I haven’t had a distance PR in 10 years and boy did that feel awesome to see not only 53, but a marathon more distance PR!

My wish was to order my own drink afterwards. I drank 1/6 and called it done. 😂

I am continually reminded that ultras are such a group sport. I am confident I would've stopped in the dark without Jen and Sabrina there to hold me accountable. I am confident I would have forgotten to eat and drink by the time I got to FUU without so many people on the course handing me things. I am confident that my success is not just mine; it's the combined effort of so many people rooting for me.

The amount of fear I had of disappointing people and fearing to be told I didn’t go far enough was immense. Now that I am in a normal brain, I understand that is illogical. However, I cried for a while over that. Jimmy helped me because he DNFed at 88 his first 100 attempt, so I asked him how he dealt with it, and it helped me be at peace with myself.

If I'd have kept this pace, I would've made it!

I am super proud of how great I did with food. The first 14 hours I KILLED it. I was so on top of myself. The next 10 hours weren’t bad but could’ve been better. The last 6 hours were just a death march of which I survived on cuties, tailwind, and a few gels because my friends voluntold me to all of the above. S/O recovery for shoving food down my mouth even when I was so tired of it.

Throwback to Viper because these are some of the people who will be
a part of my 100-dream coming true.

So, until November. We go for shot #3. Third time’s a charm? I know the best bully ever (Candi), ‘Tiffany’, Shelly, Alyssa, James, Gibson, and so many other people on the course will be there to remind me how much of a badass I am and help me get that coveted 100-mile buckle.

Mamba to Moccasin and all the rambles leading up to it

  Talking about my experience going for 100 miles, DNFing it, then going back to the same trail to get 52 miles is kinda a big task. I have lots of new friends that don’t know the back story, so time for a catch up of the last 10 years of my life that has led to this.

Day I entered Fairhaven.

10 years ago, about this time, I did my first 50k with some friends (in the middle of the night). That was when I was bitten by the ultra bug. I knew that one day I’d train for 100 miles, as I watched my friends do so. I quickly completed 50 miles, and knew I was meant for the endurance sports realm. I had already done a half Ironman, and was signed up for a full Ironman. I trained for and completed an Ironman, and was on top of the world. My world quickly crumbled around me, as I was told/realized I had anorexia in 2013 that morphed into exercise bulimia. My world further crumbled as I got serotonin syndrome, which eventually got me diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder while going to treatment (for the first time).

So, off I go, years of various stays of inpatient, residential, partial-hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, and obviously the in-betweens filled with weekly therapy and dietician appointments, striving with all my might to get to a place in recovery to do what my heart yearned for; endurance sports.

Summitting a 20,000ft volcano, Chachani.

As an adrenaline junkie, that trait off-shot into the also long-awaited desire to live abroad. I achieved that goal; living in Peru for 4.5 years. That was pinnacle number 1 of my recovery. But, my Peruvian endeavors and successes aren't the point of this. So, I digress.

At the beginning of 2024, my first full year in the USA since 2018, I knew I had a lot ahead of me, and I wanted to make the most of it. I applied for and started grad school, have had a 4.0, helped start the MS Triathlon Club, and decided to finally go for it- to train for 100 miles. With my ED dietician walking beside me, my main therapist helping me be the best me, my newfound sports psychologist helping me get ready mentally, my coach giving me a solid plan and advice (S/O Salynda!!), and my psychiatrist keeping me in check, I was (and am) the best Meg I could possibly be.

MS Triathlon Club friends!!

I tried for 100 miles at Mamba. I DNFed about half way. I learned a lot about myself, how I prefer to race, don't regret where I quit, while also knowing I couldn’t end 2024 on a DNF. (Oh, I also got Rhabdo after Mamba. It was a thing. The Dr. told me I'd have an inflamed gallbladder. Spoiler: I don't even have a gallbladder.)

Chillin' in the ER.

Anyways, I needed to go back; to prove I could do those trails and win. So, I signed up for Moccasin 24 hour endurance race. I didn’t tell many people. Low stakes were ahead because it was run as many 4 mile loops as you want in 24 hours. However, you got a coveted ultra buckle if you did at least 52 miles; my eyes were on earning my first buckle from mile 1.

I met awesome people who helped me get to the finish line and wouldn’t have gotten there without them. (Candi- you are the best bully that ever existed. ILYSM. ‘Tiffany’- thank you for accompanying the bullying. Alyssa/Candi- thanks for the help from hour 0. Poor James’ eyes were almost assaulted. IYKYK. Rudy- I am so proud of you and thankful we were in it together. Karen/Kim- I am glad we got to run together and encourage each other all night! James- thank you for supporting me from day 1 and giving me my first buckle!! Sarah- thanks for letting me stay with you and taking me around town and caring for me after. Finally, everyone who cheered/crewed/encouraged on course/messaged- thank you from the bottom of my heart.) I told Rudy (whose previous distance PR was 13. He did 32!!) that ultra running is an individual group sport. Meaning, while I am the one that did the 52 miles, it wouldn’t have been possible without my tribe. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have friends that believe in my crazy dreams and help me achieve them.

I love this pic from Mamba.

Shelly, my new ultra friend who is the best!!

TW: weight numbers (estimates)

Something that I have gone back and forth about addressing is body sizes. I have run 50 miles being 130 pounds and 200 pounds. I have run through all my body changes in recovery and trained hard for triathlons, ultras, and everything in-between. Part of me wants to say ‘I ran 52 miles, period.’ No mention of weight. However, after having done it at both sizes, lemme tell ya. It is more difficult in a larger body. (The comparison I use is ‘white privilege’. I am not saying white people don’t have struggles and life isn’t hard. However, our lives aren’t made more difficult simply because of our skin color. In the same way, 52 miles is hard at 100 pounds or 200 pounds. However, when there is less of you, there is an advantage.) When I show up to ultras to race, there is no judgement and only encouragement from even the most elite people on the course. The judgement is from one person: me. (Side note: marathons aren’t the same. Many of them b!tches are judgemental AF.) I still am unsure if I can do 100 miles in this body. Will I go for it again in 2025? Nope. I don’t want to miss the 100k milestone. That is my big, scary goal for 2025- 100k at Mamba in November. I want all my buckles to come from James and the Mamba Trail Runners!

Cheesin' because I just got my first buckle!

Truly would NOT have made it without these lades.

Something else I realized is the depth of highs and lows that happen in 24 hours is unreal. I realized I have no desire or need to share about each lap. I don't desire to divulge all the things that happened out there. When I do a marathon, I can’t wait to share all about it. But after Mamba 100 DNF and Moccasin 24 hour endurance challenge, it was such an intimate experience out there; it is something I will keep close to my heart. So, here is what I have to offer about Moccasin: it was fun, until it wasn’t. It was empowering, until I was falling apart. It was accomplishing, until I was a dead man walking the last few laps. It was the most tired I have been in awhile, until I was running across the finish line. I wasn’t that emotional, until I was sobbing the last 12 miles. It didn’t seem possible, until I did it. I told myself how stupid we all are to willingly choose this and that I protest doing it again, until I finished and am hype for the next ultra.

There are no amount of pictures to show the depth of the mud.

That is 22 hour old mud on top of 30 minute old mud.

So, there ya go. This isn’t as much a race report, as it is a personal reflection and memento for when I go for 100k in November, to remember that the work wasn’t just 2024/2025, but has been in the works since October 17, 2016 (my recovery birthday).

The amount of serotonin happenin' here is unreal.

FUU 2024

Officially: 43.4 miles. 14 5k loops.
Unofficially: about 45 miles.
Time: 11:50:19.9

WARNING: Very vulnerable post of all the physical, emotional, and mental challenges and experiences of the race.

Laps 1 and 2 were full of adrenaline. I was talking to everyone, running faster than planned, and unaware of all that laid ahead. I was happy and in the moment.

Laps 3 and 4 I found my groove, ran my race, still chatted with people, and found what worked for me nutrition wise. I was voice memoing a few friends, sending pictures, and singing songs in my head. I felt happy to be with my people, doing what we all love.

Lap 5 was my first emotional lap. I really wanted to see all the stats on my watch, however, because my watch was seriously 15 years old, the satellite stopped working at exactly 12.94 miles. I started to cry uncontrollably. I voice memoed a few friends, but specifically Risa, because she had finished her allotted time (because she is going to rock IMTX this weekend!!). So, I knew she was hanging at 'base'. Risa called Brittany, who was running, and said that I was having a moment, and to be ready when she saw me on the course. I saw Brittany, fell into her arms so upset, and just cried. In the middle of the road. After running like 15 miles, with many miles ahead of us. It was drizzling, so we were wet from rain and sweat. She was nothing but encouraging to me, and helped me see the bigger picture. So, off I went, and continued to cry, but because I was contemplating other bigger things. I made it back to 'base', got my act together thanks to so many people understanding where I was at, and trotted off to run my race.

 

Laps 6-9 I don't have much to say. Ran a lap. Ate. Repeat. I listened to Taylor Swift. After lap 8 specifically, my quads started to talk to me, and it wasn't very nice. Ya see, Hattiesburg is the flattest city I've ever lived in since starting to run. Fondren is not exactly flat. I did some treadmill incline/stair master work at the gym once a week, however it wasn't enough. So, the remainder of the time my quads kept telling me that I need to consider them more in future races. But, I was still so thrilled to be running well overall.

Lap 10 it POURED. So, I took off my shirt, left my phone, and set off in the monsoon. It was fun to see the other runners who made the same choice as myself. We encouraged each other and laughed at our craziness. I felt pretty bad a$$ that I kept going, despite the weather.

Lauren

Lap 11 is when Lauren arrived to join me for the last 4 laps. She was with lots of energy, ready to help me embark on my goals. My brain was mush by this point, so I said 'huh?' a million times. 😂 I was so happy that she devoted her afternoon to helping me finish my goals. She kept telling me this is friendship.

Tara

Lap 12 is when Tara arrived to support me. It made my heart so happy to see her, because she came all the way from Memphis to sit at a tent and watch me run in circles. Thankfully, my running friends chatted with her, so she got to experience the community that I am so grateful for. I was so happy to have made it this far, and knew I was in it to win it.

Lap 13 is when I hit 40 miles. I cried happy tears from the overwhelming feelings of though I am in a body bigger than I've ever been in before, I ran the second farthest distance I've ever run in my whole life. (50 miles is my PB. But when I ran the 50, I was in a significantly smaller body, entangled in my eating disorder.) Lauren reminded me about how this race is the culmination of the last few years of my journey. How I had to come back to the USA from Peru for eating disorder treatment in 2022, with a stop in a psych hospital to be involuntarily committed. I was unsure of if I would make it back to live in Peru again, unsure of if I'd get to the place in recovery where I could do endurance sports again, and unsure if I would get the life back that I desperately desired. I cried grateful tears over how many people showed up for me Saturday- physically and emotionally. All my friends at FUU were nothing but encouraging to me on the course, telling me how great I was doing, how courageous I was, how strong I was, and many other encouraging things. Everyone at 'base' was nothing but ready to help me meet my goals, and helped me get nutrition down my throat; including, but not limited to: pizza, pancakes, donut holes, various fruits, pickle juice, coke, brownie pieces, and other random snackies. And of course my friends who were messaging me, letting me ramble and rant about all the things happening- all day. This lap was the one that helped me see that I truly couldn't have made it this far without my tribe.

 

Lap 14 is when I struggled emotionally (and physically) to finish. Kilometer 1 I was so physically tired, I closed my eyes while walking. Lauren had to be like MEG YOU CAN'T WALK/RUN WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED. Kilometer 2 is when I was looking for the kilometer 3 sign, so I could sit down, and call Tara to come get me- that I was done. I mean, I did 42 miles! However, Lauren didn't allow that to be an option. I hated her through and through. Kilometer 3 is when Lauren asked me a question that I will use for future endurance races, "Is it your mind or body that is making you not be able to run right now?" I was pissed at the moment because I just wanted to lay down. However, after a few minutes, I realized she was right. I trained for this race- hard. I put in the work. My mind was what was done. So, kilometer 4 I decided to finish, and started to 'run'. I use quotes because honey- you could've crawled next to me and still kept up. But it was still the mental difference of 'I am still running after 42 miles.' Kilometer 5 have the '2 stupid hills' as Lauren and I called it. I ran up the first one- and Lauren kept telling me how awesome I was for doing that. We approached the second one, and I lost my mind because I was so close. I rounded the last turn, texted Tara I was close, and attempted to clear up my sobbing red face (newsflash- it didn't work). Lauren left me to run the finish line by myself, cheered for me alongside everyone else there. I crossed the timing mat, and fell into the arms of Lauren and Tara crying over how crazy the experience was. My friend, David J, got his goal mileage, and he hugged me while I cried over finishing. I hugged everyone there, trying (and failing) to not cry over the emotion of it all. Honestly, it was such a cathartic experience. I wouldn't change a thing over my reaction to finishing. 

After crossing the finish line, crying my eyes out from the emotion of it, hugging everyone, and realizing just how badly my quads hurt, I sat down, and started shaking uncontrollably because I still didn't have a shirt on because my sports bra, shorts, and socks were soaking wet. Thankfully, Tara went and got the car. I ended up sitting in the blasting heat for 30 minutes warming up. (Sorry Tara for putting you in a literal sauna.) We got Raising Cane's for dinner. It was delicious! I slept about 4-5 hours because any time I moved, pain radiated through my thighs, so I woke up.

I want to share what I *think* is everything that I consumed.

6am: 3 cinnamon rolls
5 min before: piece of crumbl cookie
During: Like 3 cuties, 1/2 apple w caramel, 2 pieces of cheese pizza, piece of watermelon, 2 pancakes (1 w syrup), 2 donut holes, 3 brownie pieces, 2 pieces of crumbl cookie, 10 "shots" of pickle juice followed by a chaser of 2 shots of coke- per pickle juice shot, 80% bottle of root beer, 3 gels, 1/2 pack gu gummies, 1/2 pb and j, and the star of the show, 12 running bottles of tailwind (12 oz). (For you normal people- Tailwind is kinda like Gatorade, but a better formula for endurance sports. It provides all the electrolytes and carbs needed.)
After: At the finish line, a bottle of body armor flash IV, then a few hours later when I was feeling it, Raising Cane's.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed 85% of the day, so I count that as a major win. (I enjoyed 12/14 loops- which equates to 85%. LOL) I have big goals for the fall season, and can't wait to start training for them. I learned a lot during FUU that I will implement in future endurance races.

For now? I will spend the next few weeks letting my body heal and recover, before jumping into triathlon training. I will have a few Saturdays where I don't spend the whole day training- what ever am I supposed to do?! Hit a girl up for some plans plz. 

If you made it this far, congrats- you are a trooper.

Love,
Meg