Sarah found herself living her life in a body she no longer recognized. After a friend snapped a photo one day, she knew she wanted to make a change. It wasn’t long before ultra racing helped her find her power.
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A JOURNEY OF 1,000 MILES BEGINS WITH 0NE STEP
LAO TZU
Sarah didn’t intend to run 100-miles.
One day while playing on a playground with her children and a friend, a photo was snapped that would change the trajectory of Sarah’s life. She took a look at that picture later that night and realized that she was living in a body that she no longer recognized. She decided to do something about it.
She bought herself some nice running shoes and hit the streets.
Immediately, she discovered that running a solid mile would prove almost too much for this former cross-country runner.
Not to be dissuaded, she showed up for herself again the next day. And the next. And the next. Eventually, she found herself competing in the endurance world of ultra racing.
The first race
After consistently making improvements, Sarah found herself completing 8-miles for fun. The idea crossed her mind that she might like to try racing.
She skipped running a 5K and a 10K and registered for the Prince William Half Marathon.
Towards the end of the 13.1 mile race, a stranger gestured to her to finish with him. After crossing the finish line with a very impressive time, she decided she was home.
Ultra racing begins
In a very typically Sarah fashion, it wasn’t long before a friend invited her to check out a local 50K ultra racing opportunity. Without thinking much, she agreed!
But first, training.
The two of them set off for a 50K training run through the community together. In the end, Sarah found herself crawling to a water fountain for a drink of water.
(This is a sign that ultra racing is for her!)
For a period of time, she enjoyed these distances between a full marathon, 50k, and eventually a 50-miler at the JFK 50 Mile ultra racing experience.
Ultra racing lore: double it!
When asked how she decided to try running 100-miles, Sarah says that she heard somewhere that whatever you can currently run, double it!
So she decided to kick her ultra racing up a notch and register for the Massanutten Mountain Trail 100 Mile Run, one of the hardest in the country.
ALWAYS EARNED. NEVER GIVEN.
Ultra racing at the 100-mile distance certainly didn’t come without difficulty.
In fact, it might have seemed impossible to anyone else.
Sarah attempted the distance twice, with one time ending with a visit to the emergency room after completing 90 miles.
With each setback, Sarah become only more determined to earn the finish swag of 100-Mile ultra racing, the coveted finisher belt buckle.
Third Time is a Charm
On her third attempt, Sarah found a course consisting of many laps of a 7-mile loop at the Greebriar Ultra. She showed up at the race site nervous but ready. There, she made some incredible connections in an aid tent that is second to none.
AND SHE DID IT!
final thoughts
Sarah wants everyone to know that no matter what your “100-miler” is, whether it is running one mile, starting a business, or running 100 miles, anything is possible if you just refuse to quit.
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