Winning the overall female title at iDaph’s RAD 10K road race in Asheville, NC, this past June was a monumental achievement for me. At 38, a mother of three, and in the midst of one of the most challenging transitions of my life, I set a significant personal record. This victory wasn’t just about the race; it was a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the unexpected rewards of unstructured training. Five weeks before the race, I stopped all structured training and began tackling my hometown trails fueled by raw emotion and heartache.
The true magic unfolded when I started running solo in the woods. Without a formal training plan, I found strength I didn’t know I had. Even in the midst of emotional turmoil, the trails became more than just a place to run -- they became a sanctuary. The solitude of the woods became my ally, helping me break through personal barriers. If you’re lucky enough to live near trails or anywhere close to nature, I highly recommend making it a part of your training.
While training for my 10K, I had a breakthrough day climbing to the top of Tennent Mountain via the Art Loeb Trail. The journey up the mountain was both terrifying yet liberating. That day, I discovered a new courage and a deeper understanding of myself. This newfound strength ignited a desire to explore more trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. Then I stumbled upon a link to the Looking Glass 100K, featuring a stunning photo of a sunrise over Tennent Mountain. In that moment, I knew I had to do it, even though my only previous ultra experience was a 50K eight years earlier, which I signed up for on a whim without any training. I mention this because sometimes you choose to accept a new challenge and run a longer distance when you least expect it!
For me, and many other ultrarunners I know, these races are about more than just the distance. We run to transcend our physical and mental limits, to discover something new about ourselves in the woods, and to experience the beauty of nature from a unique perspective. The Looking Glass 100K isn’t just another race; it’s an opportunity to challenge myself on a deeper, more personal level.
As you can imagine, the 100K distance brings new challenges, particularly when it comes to fueling. For a 10K road race, which usually takes me about forty minutes, I’ll typically eat a JAMBAR beforehand, and mid-race nutrition isn’t much of a concern. But for a 100K, a well-thought-out fueling strategy is essential. Covering over 60 miles with more than 13,000 feet of elevation gain means I’ll likely be on the trail for 12+ hours. Along with my run training, I need to ensure my body gets the right combination of real food, gels, and liquids to keep going. After hours of running, blood flow tends to shift to the muscles, which can slow digestion and make it harder for the gut to handle nutrition.
Preparation for the Looking Glass 100k required real food to sustain my energy levels throughout the race — and this is where JAMBAR became a game-changer. What I initially thought would be a great pre- or post-race snack turned out to be crucial mid-trail fuel. During my long runs, I’ve found that eating half a bar and finishing the other half 30-60 minutes later works perfectly. JAMBAR’s organic fuel provides steady energy with no GI distress. It’s not just about staying upright on the trail — it’s about keeping both body and mind in harmony as I tackle this extraordinary challenge. If your gut goes sour during a long ultrarun out there in the woods, it can make for a really long hike back to home base.
Nutrition is not just about race day, it’s about fueling your best life. Just as I need to be well-fueled to tackle the demands of this technical, trail ultra marathon, I similarly need to be nourished to show up 100% for my children, my career, and my laundry... egh, laundry pending.
Cheers to many more runs in the woods!