For the last maybe three years, since I learned about Mammoth March, I've been wanting to complete one. However, 20 miles, at least for me, is a feat! Two years ago I actually signed up for the one in Alabama. It was less than a year since my ankle surgery and I knew that I wasn't ready. Last December, I found out that they were finally going to have one in my home state, Georgia. I decided that was the sign to do it so I signed up for it and got the earliest start time. I had 10 months to prepare.
The training started off pretty well. I started to increase my mileage each week. However I found that as my miles got longer, I started getting various injuries that I had to stop and recover from. Training in the Summer heat was also not fun. My thought was to bring my dog with me but while training I found that she wasn't really into long hikes. 12 miles was her limit and she didn't seem to enjoy that. I'm also short and slow so I was worried I wouldn't make the cut off. The goal is 8hrs but they let the race continue until dusk so I had about 10ish hours with my early start time. My longest hike was about 13 miles.
With the event day drawing close, I made the decision to show up and give it my best. There are rest/aid stations about every 5 miles and you can drop out at those points. You had to make it to the last aid station by 3:50pm or you would be forced to drop off. I figured if I could get to mile 15 and that aid station, I would have already beat myself.
Race day, I arrived, checked in and was a nervous wreck. It was coldish so I had on layers so I could strip it down as it got warmer. The weather was perfect for the hike. I started off with a bang. The crowd and adrenaline pushed me on. There were people running and others speed walking. I walked fast for awhile then reminded myself not to go too fast and burn out. I arrived at the first aid station at 4+ miles in about 2hours. The station was stocked with different snacks, fruit and pb&j sandwiches as well as water and energy drinks. I grabbed some snacks and half a sandwich, ate and drank some of my gatorlyte. Saw a few injured people who dropped out. I thought about using the pottapotty but the line was so long I decided not to go. I spent about 15 minutes here and got myself back up to continue. The next 5+ miles wasn't too bad until I hit mile 9. My left calf started to cramp everytime I hiked uphill. I had to take tiny steps to keep moving then slowly walk the cramp out each time. Several people asked if I was ok and encouraged me on. I finally heard the sounds of the rest/aid station and it motivated me on. There I grabbed another half sandwich and drank all of my gatorlyte. Saw several more people drop out at this point. A guy at the table I was sitting at said he was contemplating dropping out. Many people talking about how they will try to push it to the next station and drop out there if they need to. Oh the idea of dropping out sounded so good. But I had the goal in mind to at least make it to the 15mile station. I fixed up some hot spots on my feet and rested for about 20 minutes before getting myself up. It was so hard to get up. Before you leave this station there's a huge sign that the next drop off point is 5 miles away. Mile 10-15+ was hard. It felt like it was neverending... where are the mile markers?? Then you start passing people coming back from the other side after the aid station (the route has you go back the same way for a bit). They said things like almost there (LIES lol) and lots of other words of encouragement. I stopped a few times to rest. My other calf started cramping too but after awhile both calves calmed down and I actually started to feel good. Finally made it to the last rest/aid station at 2:50pm. An hour before the cut off! Not gonna lie that a part of me kind of wished I missed the cutoff and had to be bussed back. Several more injured people and more people on the bus this time round. I got myself a whole sandwich and a banana. Forced myself to eat it and washed it down with my other bottle of powerade. I laid down on the grass and stretched some. A guy I met on the way to the last station asked if I got my blood flowing. We talked for a bit about how much more we had to go. There was some confusion with the mileage. I then went to use the potty and got myself ready to go on. The big sign said to continue only if you're sure you can make it. One of the volunteers started yelling that if we don't leave by 3:50pm we'd be bussed back. So at about 3:20 I started the final stretch. About a mile in, the cramps started back with a vengeance. The guy I was talking to came up from behind me and said hi, saw my face and asked if I was alright. He gave me some electrolyte powder to mix into my water. I think stopping for a bit to talk to him while I got the mix into my water helped. I drank that bottle through most of the way. The last few miles were pretty much uphill so the cramps would come and go. It took a lot of grit to keep going. Tiny steps helped, along with prayers and silent tears. I took several breaks through the way, just sitting down and resting for short periods. But I kept pushing on. At one point I wondered if I was dead last because I could see a few people ahead of me but noone behind me. I felt the presence of Zoe, my Dad and my friend Noelle, pushing me on. At this point it was simply to keep moving forward. Then suddenly you hear music and voices. You know you're close. Mile marker 19 comes about and you're on the home stretch. Then you emerge from the woods and see mile marker 20 along with the finish sign ahead of it. And I realized I did it. I cried happy tears. Got my medal, my certificate, bought myself a finisher shirt because I earned that shit and got my finisher picture taken. And suddenly, it was all over. Just like that. 9hrs 48mins. I was not the same person who entered the woods that morning. I was stronger, more confident and absolutely humbled.
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