Race Report!!

“HOLY SCHNIKES”… 2 a.m. came around fast!

“Wakey, wakey, sunshine!” The butterflies were flying around in my tummy—meaning I was nervous. I know that sounds crazy, but I absolutely love that feeling… at least until the race starts! I got ready, walked out of the hotel room, and thought, Let’s do this! That was our saying for the race.

I was carrying around 500 names with me, and I felt so honored and blessed. I’ll share more about that in a minute.

We got on the bus and headed to the start. I run different pieces of this race, so after stepping off the bus, I gave out hugs and wished everyone luck: “Let’s get after it!” We usually don’t see each other again until the finish.

I went to the bathroom, looked up at the stars, and tried to take a video—but my camera couldn’t capture the beauty of that Door County sky. Then I headed to the start line, found my place, and talked with some of the other runners. I don’t like lining up right at the very front.

There’s something incredible about running in the dark and seeing headlamps stretching out in front of you—and all the way behind you, too. As you keep running, the darkness slowly gives way to light. It’s so beautiful that words can hardly describe it. Before I knew it, I’d reached mile one and had 49.7 miles to go!

The day was wonderful. The wind eventually picked up to around 50 miles per hour, and that was rough, especially on the way back. And the hills on this course are incredible! But the views, the fall colors, and the people you meet make every bit of it special.

I stopped at every aid station and got to visit with the volunteers. At the halfway point, I changed my shoes and socks, and I had some chicken noodle soup—which definitely helped! I also accidentally put pickle juice in my handheld, thinking it was Gatorade. Let me tell you, that was a weird awakening when I went to take a drink!

The people you meet out there become your friends. That’s one of the things I love about this sport. You talk with people, check that they’re doing okay, and keep one another going.

So many runners read the names on my bib and called them out as they passed: Avery, Sandi, Tony, Jenna, and so many more. Every time, I thanked them. I didn’t know who was calling out the name or who they were running for; they just saw that I was carrying the names of people affected by cancer. It touched me more than I can say.

Several people asked if I was collecting donations because they would have loved to contribute. That was so kind—and it gave me an idea. Next year—and yes, I said next year—Ann and I are signing up again! I want to find a way to make the tribute even bigger.

The Fall 50 is a beautiful race, but because you aren’t surrounded by people the whole time, it really does become you against you. It takes mental toughness, and I love that challenge. When I looked at my time afterward, I realized I had taken seven minutes off my time from last year—and I went 51 miles! I’m so proud of that.

As I neared the finish, I kept thinking, “I can’t believe my day is almost over.” During a race, you might wish it were over—but once it is, you think, “Wow. That’s now a memory.”

So if you’re reading this, get out and do the things you love—or try something new. Time passes, and those experiences become memories. Don’t be left saying, “I wish I had done that.” Go do it.

After the race, I took a little time for myself, got changed, enjoyed a massage, and ate pizza—even though I’m really not a big pizza person. And of course, I had about 16 cookies! We waited for my friend Ann to come across the finish line and got to hear her name announced, which was so cool. She got a massage, too, and then we headed back to the hotel.

There’s a huge party after this race with more than 500 people, and it’s absolutely incredible. But I wanted to get back to the hotel, take a hot bath, and relax. I watched the Brewers game for a little while, then fell asleep. Now I’m awake at 3 a.m. writing my race report.

To everyone whose loved one, friend, coworker, or someone special had their name on my bib: I was so honored to carry that name with me. I hope you felt your person with you today. Sometimes, especially when someone has been gone for a long time, we don’t talk about them as often as we should. Today, their names were out there with me.

Thank you for sharing those names with me. I am truly honored.

And now… on to the next adventure!