50 Miler

I arrived in Canandaigua Friday night, got some dinner, and tried to sleep, but that is pretty much impossible the night before an ultra. I got up at 4 in the morning, got ready, and left. After getting lost for a little while, we arrived at the starting line just minutes before the 6 a.m. start. It was still dark out, so the group stayed together for the first hour. 

The hills were ridiculous and we started to spread out quickly. I spent most of the race by myself on back country roads.

The first 20 miles went pretty smoothly and then I stopped at an aid station to refuel and visit with my family. 

Things started to get rough somewhere along the next 10 miles. I stopped at another aid station and headed back out wondering how the hell I was going to run another 20 miles. The pain was everywhere! The bottom of my feet hurt every time they hit the ground, my laces caused pain to the top of my feet, the backs of my shoes rubbed my skin raw, I could feel blisters forming on every toe, and I knew I would be losing many toenails from this race. The uphills were difficult, but the downhills were torture on my bad knees. 

My ankles were swollen and throbbing. Then I began to feel a pain I had never felt before. My legs were giving out and my hips became so stiff that it felt like my legs could snap off at any moment. My family began meeting me at every aid station because they could see that I was in a ridiculous amount of pain. They even got out and walked with me for part of it, but even walking hurt. 

The last 15 miles were extremely difficult. I was in excruciating pain, but I knew I had to keep going. I was so excited when I saw that there was only one mile left that I missed a turn. When I realized that I had to turn around, I broke down in tears. I wasn't even sure I could make it another mile and now I had to go even further. I kept pushing forward with tears in my eyes and I finally saw that glorious finish line. Crossing the finish line with my son running next to me was the greatest feeling in the world.