Guys, it has been so long since I’ve been able to say this…I had the most amazing race over the weekend!

Elya and I ran the Point Defiance Ultra – the 15K (10 mile) distance. It was so perfect!!! It rained, like the hardest downpour I’ve ever run in, there was mud…lot’s and lot’s of mud, it was slippery and splashy, and so much fun!

We left puddles in my car seats, and I had mud in places I didn’t think could get muddy running. It was crazy, and so much fun!

I was stressing out about this one big time. Training on Whole30 has sucked pretty much, so I was anticipating struggling to get through to the finish line. But, my race day breakfast and fuel plan came together perfectly and I felt amazing. I didn’t feel tired or worn out until the last mile, which is exactly what I want in a race!

Laughing my way through a race with Elya really is the best thing ever. There wasn’t a single step in that race that we didn’t have huge grins on our faces. Rainy trail runs are the adult version of kids puddle jumping in the rain…so much fun!

The last 3 to 4 races I’ve done have been pretty rough. I have struggled to finish them, pushed harder than I probably should have, and felt like death for days after. Mentally it had gotten to me, I was not loving running, not excited about races, down right terrified of double digit miles, and thinking it may be time to think about being done with it.

This race was just what I needed to get my running game back. It’s the first race I’ve finished in a long time that made me think “hey I really want to do this again…whens the next one?!”, and it’s the first one I’ve finished with a smile on my face.

Trail running has always been where my true running heart is, and I let myself drift away from it. So, my goal for next year is more trail running, lot’s more…I may not even do a road race next year at all. I’m happy in the woods (hello we camp all the time!), and my body is happier running on trails. I feel less pressure on trails to. It’s ok, heck it’s expected, to be slower on trails, and the views….they can’t be beat.

I mean really….that sunrise….great start line view!

I know one race I’ll be doing for sure…Point D Ultra October 2016! Who want’s to run it with me?!