Corbett 18 Miler-The Beginning of Belief

So much of what you can achieve comes down to what you believe is possible.

-Jasmin Paris

After my car accident in December of 2023, I was told that running ultras would no longer be possible for me anymore due to the injuries I sustained. My few attempts at trying to do so in 2024, Funest 50k and Tick Tock 6 Hour, only confirmed that to be true. After each of these events I was left unable to even run at all for weeks.

Late last year I began once again months of concentrated physical therapy, from October to January to be exact. I then slowly built up my running, with a long range view of tackling shorter distances while I continued to focus on shoring up my injury weaknesses via strength training.

I also worked with the talented Kat Jankowski at Total Health and Wellness to help my body perform efficiently despite its deficits. I was determined to gain some semblance of my former self back.

Today’s race, while not without a few obstacles, was the reward for all these long months of work, and the past year and half of disappointments. I executed my pacing, nutrition, and mental plan to a tee. And even though in the bathroom when the start went off, I thought I had time!, I lead the race from mile 1-18. Due to that mishap at the start, I had no idea I was in first till the 9 mile turn around.

I was just running happy, admiring the MANY beautiful wildflowers, listening to some good tunes, while staying dialed in on my body and enjoying a feeling of strength I have not felt in a very long time. As I was approaching the turnaround I began to realize no female was ahead of me. On my way back I saw multiple females behind me and had no way of knowing what race they were in. I knew I still had to stick to my race plan and not run scared or I would blow up.

It began to get hot, and all I wanted was to walk, but I then just focused on one mile at a time, and remembered the quote above from The Finisher movie I watched this past week prior to my race. I kept telling myself “believe in your ability to do this”. I then literally “paced” myself the back half of the course into the finish referring to myself in 3rd person. ??

I also focused on the energy from the nature surrounding me and was buoyed forward by it. The weather was getting HOT, but there was an amazing breeze. I remembered one of my athletes telling me to “run like the wind” and so I tried.

I also thought back to running with my friend Philip Nam through this section in 2023, where we met. Of course I also got plenty of strength from seeing my friend Ernie’s memorial bench at miles 1 and 17. I reflected on how much this course has given me over the many years I have run it and thanked it, out loud.

Today was not really redemption for my 50 mile dnf in 2023, which ironically enough I was reminded of by someone before the race start, but in a way it was, as I ran down that last stretch executing a win that was in my hands to lose if I didn’t believe I could.

I am far from being able to race 50 miles again just yet, but there is a part of me that believes that maybe with time and a lot of hard work I will be able to. The trail gave me that today too.

Thank you to all the volunteers. Also the amazing RD Leo who is so passionate about his races and it shows. Congrats to all this year’s finishers. This course is no joke. If you have not run this race you should. It is special. Lastly, thanks to my sponsors, family, and friends who have never stopped believing in me. I love you all.