Indiana Trail 100

“3 left ankle twist, a right ankle twist- a right foot massive rock kick and a full trip. My right hand caught me from smashing body.

Kicked a stick with the right leg. Youch.

But we get to hear cow bells. Hahah

Left foot slipped on a step: I went down on left leg. Wrist caught myself.”

Those were some of the notes I wrote during a portion of the race during the day. I quit documenting the stumbles and trips after that last tumble… texting and moving was dangerous. Even at the slow speed I was moving with the trails we were on. A look to the phone could be a fall to the ground. I'll definitely be loosing 1 big toe nail from this.

10-10-2026

Another attempt at the 100 miles.

66 miles actually completed.

However- we are 102% funded! You are reading that correctly!!! That right there is the true WIN for this race! While my efforts to run this race- I do not take it lightly… it’s the donations, the support from YOU- who make this experience 100% worth it.

1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all that you do, be done in love

These runs are wild. They never go as planned… you would think I would know this by now: plan for the unexpected. I tend to not do that. I focus on how I hope it will go...

I often forget about the cluster of people the first few miles, making my mile time slower than anticipated, which right off the bat- changes the plans.
The aid station stops. I did my best to NOT be there long- time moves faster (so it seems) once I’m standing there LOOKING at all the goodness each place has prepared for the runners. (In future, I will set a timer to 1 min while stopped.)
The rest room stops (the only sitting opportunities I give myself). Seemed like I was only there for seconds, but a timer next time will be needed. 1 minute only or less.
How “I can do hard things” is repeated not just during the trail run… It's said time and time again, just simply WHILE changing pants after 50 miles, preparing for the next 25 mile loop! I felt refreshed and ready with all new clothes, teeth brushed. Just did not expect this to be so challenging.

My phone had issues (we were told to be prepared for bad reception), during most of the race. I started out taking videos and photos, but soon into the race, music was a hit or miss, recording a video only was possible every so often and many times, my phone was just frozen not working at all. Many hours passed with just the sounds of nature, the thuds of constant black walnuts falling all around, (this seemed extremely dangerous and was scary at different times,) the rhythm of my feet moving and the songs I would sing to pass the time. During both day and night- I saw hundreds of faces wherever I looked, in the form of art/leaves and many times the trees looked as though they were breathing. This fact is what actually allowed me to stop running when I did. (They realized I was not needing more encouragement, I in fact had to stop.)
I also did not thoroughly understand the rolling hills terrain would be the way it was. Thankfully, all the walking lunges and the leg/hip exercises I did- helped when going up hill, to not KILL me, though, some of the hills running upward, was not possible for me, and forced me to walk. It was the going down the hills that became worrisome to my body. Every time downhill presented a possible slip or fall or knee buckle opportunity so I had to approach this race with caution I was not prepared for. Luckily, my right knee that has encountered 3 past knee surgeries- only had one time when it completely gave out and I thought I was done for…
I never in my wildest dreams thought my second 25 miles would take OVER 6 hours… and did not prepare with my night gear. Which left me in complete darkness once the sun went down. This was by far one of the most terrifying experiences I’ve gone through in my life. As the sun initially set- the sunset was glorious.

Unfortunately, my phone was the only source of light I had. The portable charger I brought during this loop, had already died from doing a phone charge earlier. When the charger died, I stopped the music to preserve the battery to my phone. KNOWING I still had over 5 miles to go till home base.

My phone was at 3% after that sunset photo. When the sun was completely down and the trails were dark- my battery held at 1% longer than I expected. Grateful for every ounce of light it provided. Once the phone died, this is the part of the journey I wish upon no one. For what felt like a lifetime (only about 30 mins) I navigated the ups and downs of the hilly trails without ANY LIGHT. Somehow, I was able to see a bit of the trail right below my feet. At one point though, I did become disorientated and the whole forest felt like it was caving in on me. I no longer could tell the direction of the path and where my next step should be. This was the second major time during the race that I started crying. I'm surprised I didn't have a panic attack. The experience was overwhelming and all I could do was cry and sob out to God. I was desperate and asked for HELP. There was no moving in any direction. Just weeping and pleading. Moments after my surrounder- off in the distance… I could see a fellow runner with LIGHT approaching!!! I waited patiently and then asked this person if I could finish the loop with him. Donald said absolutely and we finished the 50 miles together- using his head lamp to guide the way!

My plan was WAY off track. I didn't get back to home base until after 8:30pm. Okay, at this point, I knew I had very little time to change into my night gear- re stock and head back out. New plan, If I am back on trails by 9 pm, and if I can keep an average of 16:30 per mile, I should be able to make the 75 mile cut off time and go the distance.

Originally I thought I would be done with 75 miles around 1 am… wow was I dreaming.

A positive during this run- was my nutrition and how my body accepted the food. The honey packets, gummy bears, grilled cheese and romin noodles with potatoes and butter were heaven.

When I finished the 2 loops clocking in 50 miles, about 80% of me wished I was just done for the day. But I came to accomplish a goal and reminded myself of the kids and my why. I ran, so they could learn. At this point. We were over almost 70% funded. Once I was changed, and ready to hit the trails again… IT WAS 9:30 pm already. This was devastating for me. 30 minutes gone that I needed on the trails. This meant I had no wiggle room. I must RUN with everything I have the next 7 hours to make the cut off. (and actually, that last 7 hours would be the same. RUN faster this last half than the first 50 miles to complete!!!) Determined, I DID head back out. Locked in and ready. After the first few miles into the next 25, when I felt like I was cruising and doing great, and would look down at my time, it was discouraging seeing mile 3 (53 miles in) 18:32 pace. The next 2 miles I pushed myself and was able to get 17 minute miles… but that is where the hope of finishing was dwindling. Not only would I have to go faster than I currently was, though I felt like I was moving fast, but was not… I would have to keep that pace up for over 10 more hours!!! WOW. A few more nasty falls during the night hours, made even pushing to finish the 75 miles feel like pure insanity at this point. After I arrived at the aid station 57 miler… and after a solid conversation and prayer with my best friend- it was then that I decided 100k was going to be the distance once again (like NYC race) for my efforts. Though upset and discouraged and originally feeling defeated, I was fueled with encouragement and honest conversations that helped push me to the 62 mile mark. At 1:30 am… I thought my run was finally done. I gave it my all. I did my best and the kids would continue to learn and we were continuing to get donations!!! When I made it to the 62 mile aid station, they had a different plan to me. Doing what they are trained to do. They encouraged me and told me to run to the next aid station… I did my best to explain I was done. I could not go on. I will accept the 100k and be done for the night. They said NO. You have to keep going. I left so upset, and emotional. I couldn’t believe I had to head back out into the forest for another four miles till the next aid station. And my Garmin watch died! Luckily, I remembered another app that helped track the last bit and kept me knowing how much longer I had to go, plus my timing. At this point, my miles were lasting more than 20 minutes per mile. So, I knew I wouldn’t make it until after 3 am. My body, mind and soul was done. But I had no choice and kept on. Nighttime gives off a different experience. The trees, the trails, the brisk air. Life is still, in a way that I loved and appreciated but I was okay with never experiencing again!

When I finally arrived at the Pirate Aid station 66 miles away around 3:15 am… now going my farthest distance to date. I told them I could not continue. If they sent me back out for another 5.5 miles to the next aid station, I would not make it. I would end up on a trail and they would find me in the morning and need to assist me to safety. I shared that I had been hallucinating unlike any other run before and that it started during daylight. I did not feel safe going back out even to the next aid station. Yes, I was calling it quits at 3:26 am. The trails and hills got me in ways I didn’t expect and I had to be done.

Once they got me safely back to home base, it started raining and my brain instantly thought, HOW would my knees have held up going DOWN those hills in that rain? Grateful and beyond glad to be curled up in a ball in the back of my vehicle to pass out and sleep by 4 am!!!

100 miles. Many accomplished it, and that is so incredible for them! I did not.

For the first couple days, that is all I kept thinking about. I ONLY did 66 miles. HOW did they continue on? How did they push through? What could I have done differently? Yes, I’m 42. In the ultra community many are well into their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. I don’t see age as a factor in this. I do see where my training could have been better. Actually training- running up and down hills would have been beneficial (I clocked over 4,000 elevation gained, when used to training a max of 150 elevation.) I also must remember to plan time for all the rest stops, aid stations and the UNEXPECTED

But at the end of all of that. The MAIN thing to all of this is- Funding Love Wins Now so that the children we support can learn and have a brighter future. By October 16th- we had done it!!! I ran 66 miles… but the biggest WIN is we are fully funded for the children we support for 2026.

Will I attempt a 100 miler again? For now, we are stewing up other options for fundraising… maybe someday…probably… but today- we will focus on celebrating the victory of our community coming together fully funded for the education of LWN 10 children!