Sugg Farm Ultra - 41.67 miles/3600 ft of gain/9:08/4th female
The best thing about ultras is that no two races are ever the same. Every race throws something new at you - distance, terrain, weather, competition, problems. Each one feels like its own adventure. And every time, you walk away having learned something new about yourself and what you’re capable of. When you race multiple times a year, that’s a lot of opportunities to expand your perspective. Over a lifetime of racing, you can look back and see how far you’ve come, and it’s honestly awe-inducing. This sport has given me the most fulfilling, interesting life.
At Sugg Farm, I tapped into a level of willpower and focus I hadn’t experienced before. The course was a bit hillier than I expected - and coming from South Florida, “a bit hillier” makes a difference. Like any ultra, things got uncomfortable halfway through. A past version of me would have checked the watch every mile, taken extended walking breaks, or gotten frustrated. But not this time. Instead, I leaned on positive mantras and self-talk, reminded myself how strong and prepared my legs were, and stayed grateful for the opportunity to test myself. I just kept going.
The miles blurred together. Tunnel vision set in. My job became simple: take the next step, enjoy the trail, fuel and hydrate. In hindsight it was hard, but in the moment it felt…neutral. Fatigue and discomfort just existed - I didn’t need to escape them or make a story about them. That’s something years of practice has taught me: to let things be, without overthinking or resisting.
What frequently pulled me out of that focus was seeing the top three of the women’s field on each lap. It was an out-and-back course, so I got to watch the leaders all day. They were on another level, and it was inspiring. The leading woman finished 3rd overall, ahead of almost the entire men’s field. Cheering her on, encouraging her, and celebrating her every lap was one of my favorite parts of the race.
With 2.5 miles to go, at the final aid station, a volunteer looked at me as I was dunking my hat in ice water and said, “How do you look so cool, calm, and collected?” It was a really meaningful compliment. Six years ago at my first ultra, I was anything but cool, calm, and collected - I was frustrated, emotional, and crying at aid stations. To stand there at Sugg Farm - nearly nine hours into the day - feeling relaxed and confident, was such a stark and beautiful contrast.
I finished surrounded by family, friends, and the new faces I’d met along the way. I finished knowing I showed up in each moment as the athlete and person I wanted to be. I finished with a broadened sense of what my mind can do - and, like always, with excitement for how that lesson will shape the challenges I take on next.
Yeah, I got 4th. I ran a solid, consistent race. The past year has brought improvement in my fitness and race results, and that’s exciting. But what stays with me isn’t the placement or the performance. It’s the intangibles - the fulfillment of testing my limits, the joy of celebrating other runners, and the gratitude of sharing it all with the people waiting at the finish line.
