One could say that I’m obsessed with ultra distance trail running.

It’s so interesting to me how as humans living in our modern world we have an untapped potential to do hard things. But our modern world is designed for comfort. For many of us, we have a comfortable place to sleep at night, plenty of food in our cupboards, cars to provide our transportation and a lifestyle that continues to create more of those things. We are so fortunate. But what about the strength our previous generations had to use to simply live. You had to walk long distances to harvest food, gather water, and explore new landscapes. Ultra distance trail running in some ways allows the participant a way to uncover that strength in a modern world.

In my experience, time on the trails brings me closer to those generations before me. The grouse drumming in the distance reminds me of my grandfather, the cardinals singing their songs from the tree tops remind me of the strong women who have passed before me - grandmothers, and friends that seemed like family; the mighty oaks and busy squirrels remind me of the forests I explored as a kid. Traveling across the land as our native predecessors did reminds me to honor and respect the land and all of those who have walked before me.

Zumbro Trail Races are the unofficial kick off to Minnesota trail running. I love Zumbro. I have participated in this event for many years in varying roles - pacer, volunteer, runner of the 17 & 34 mile distances. This was my first go at the full 100 mile distance here. The race location is only about 2 hours southeast of the Minneapolis/St Paul metro, but can feel like a different world. As soon as you drop into the valley that becomes race headquarters, you lose 100% of your cell service. It’s so cool to be in a place where you cannot be distracted by your phone. The geology of the area is fascinating (as I learned from my pacer, Kelly, who always brings her geology A game to pacing duties) and beautiful with the bluffs, rocks & rivers. Weather & course conditions can, and has been anything. This year we were blessed with ideal temps and a dry course.

My goal for Zumbro was simple - to run a strong race that I would be proud of. Using my times from the 17 & 34 miler the last few years, I anticipated that if the course was in good shape, I could probably run under 29 hours. But Zumbro will Zumbro…. So even though I regularly checked the weather forecast, I didn’t really believe that it would be cool and dry.

I arrived at race headquarters on Thursday evening with Matt, the dogs & camper in tow. The race headquarters/start/finish area is in one big open field that is used primarily for horse camping during the summer. It was later than I would have liked by the time we set up camp, walked the dogs, ate dinner & crawled into bed. The race started at 8am, so I set my alarm for 5:30am to give myself plenty of time to get ready (coffee, breakfast, multiple bathroom stops, & final preparations.) Sleep wasn’t great, but I tried not to stress about it. Soon enough morning came.

Friday morning was brisk, with temps in the high 30’s (I’m guessing based on the last weather forecast I saw before losing cell service on Thursday night) but it would warm up into the 50’s as the day went on. As 8am approached, a group of about 60 of us made our way to the starting line. Hugs, photos, and a few words from the race director, John, and we were on our way. My goal for the first loop was 4 hours.

The loop starts off on a wide stretch of gravel trail that quickly heads up the first climb. I was cold to start, but hiking that first hill I warmed quickly. Soon we are at the top of the bluff overlooking the race headquarters

The view of race headquarters from the top of the bluff. By Saturday this would be packed with racers of the shorter distance events.

It didn’t take long for the group of us to start to spread out as the early race leap frogging of runners finding their groove and shaking off the early mile energy was underway. There was some light conversation among runners, but everyone was pretty mellow as we made our way along this first loop. I ended up running a lot of this loop with another runner named Chris. We hiked the big climbs, picked our way through the rocks, hiked the endless sand section and soon found our way to the big downhill gravel road that would take us to the first real aid station at 13.5 miles (there was an unmanned water stop at 5 miles, but otherwise no additional aid before the 13.5 mile mark.) From the 13.5 mile aid station to the finish was just over 3.5 miles of mostly flat road/two track trail. Another goal of mine was to be able to run this section every loop.

Grinding up one of the big climbs Friday. Scott Rokis Photography.

After leaving the aid station, Chris & I headed down the road that would parallel the river almost all the way back to race headquarters. It was nice to have a little company on this first loop, as the miles ticked by quickly. I rolled into race headquarters at 3:40 elapsed time.

My crew was ready for me & within a few minutes, I was back out on the trail for loop 2. I saw Chris as I headed out & he acknowledged that he’d be heading out soon. I hiked up that big climb again & settled into loop 2. A few miles into loop 2 Chris caught up to me and we shared the remainder of this loop together.

My new friend, Chris, and I as we cross the infamous bridge over the Zumbro River. We would cross this bridge 2x each loop. Jamison Swift Photography.

Loop courses can be a blessing or a curse - of the 13 100 mile trail races I have finished, only 4 have been looped courses. The others were point to point which can feel like an adventure. You’re going somewhere! Loops, well, they can feel redundant, and potentially mentally tough. Except I actually do like them. You know what to expect. You can game plan your pace, when you eat, when you hike, when you push, etc. They can ease some of the mental decision making. And they are easy to crew - your crew doesn’t have to drive between aid stations, haul your gear or worry about getting lost. They can just hang out & have some sense of when you might be back around.

Loop 1 energy! Jamison Swift photography.

I was able to finish loop 2 in 4 hours. This was slower than loop 1, but I knew I’d fade from my initial loop 1 pace. The goal was to not let that fade get too extreme!

Loop 3 is where things started to get interesting. I’d been running for over 8 hours and the sun was going to be setting soon. I had grabbed my lights, just in case I wasn’t able to finish this loop before dark. My energy started to fade a little bit and I could feel those first 34 miles start to sink in. I continued to try to eat, drink, and be patient. I put in some headphones this lap and finished up an inspiring audio book that I had been saving for this exact moment. Soon enough I was running down the hill to the aid station, I needed to make sure I got some calories here. At the aid station they had mashed potatoes. Heavenly mashed potatoes! I had a cup of coke & then took a cup of mashed potatoes and a spoon to go. I left the aid station ready to run and eat my mashed potatoes. I was curious if I could make it back to race headquarters before dark. One spoonful of mashed potatoes and they were terrible! I was so disappointed. They tasted like mushy cardboard. I wanted to toss them to the side of the road but trail etiquette is to leave no trace. So I carried them.

But I also knew I needed to eat them. So one spoonful at a time, I got them down. Calories are calories. And with night coming, I would need every calorie I could consume.

While running the last couple miles I came across my friend, Bruce. After a fist bump, and words of encouragement, I continued on - until he reminded me to check out the moon. It was amazing. I’m so grateful for his reminder to look up & soak it all in. It wasn’t dark yet, and a full moon was just starting to show in the evening sky over the river. I finished my loop with a grateful heart ready for some miles with my pacer, Kelly.

Photos don’t do it justice, but the moon over the river was really amazing.

Back at race headquarters, Kelly was ready for a night cruise. I needed to get ready for the cold overnight temps, so I took time to change out of my shorts and into long tights, dry shirts, and a clean pair of socks. Meanwhile, my run coach, Jeff Miller, was cleaning my garbage out of my pack and taking inventory of calories consumed. I needed to do a better job this loop of getting in calories. Matt had a fresh cup of mashed potatoes for me as well as the bacon I had cooked before leaving home. Now this was fuel! With mashed potatoes in hand, Kelly and I headed into the night.

I was cold to start, as would be the case with each loop. The valley floor was cold, but as soon as you got up into the trees and climbed the bluffs it was always ok. We took a minute at the top of the first bluff to see the lights from race headquarters below and the stars above. It was going to be a lovely night.

A pacer is someone who can join you for part of the course to help keep you on track. I enjoy having a pacer to keep me company, remind me to eat, and help solve problems as issues arise. On a point to point course, they can help navigate and keep an eye out for course markings. I always enjoy miles with Kelly. As an environmental scientist, she comes armed with details on the local geology and it’s so fascinating to learn about the ground we are traveling over. We always laugh and share personal stories. It is time together that is unlike anything else one can experience in real life.

We wrap up loop 4 in 4 hours 52 minutes. Back at race headquarters, it’s 1am, and Matt has more bacon and mashed potatoes for me. I changed my socks again - the sand section is no joke & I would like to prevent blisters as much as I can.

A river of sand mid way through each loop.

Jeff is ready for loop 5 pacing duties and we head out. We move well through this loop. I’m not having any big highs or lows. Just steady forward progress. I’m well ahead of my projected sub 29 hour time.

When we make it back to race headquarters, Matt & my final pacer are nowhere to be found… we are over an hour ahead of my forecasted time. Jeff makes some quick arrangements, and agrees to join me for loop 6. I know the sun is going to come up soon as it’s just after 6am. I take the time to change out of my tights into shorts and another pair of clean socks. Just as we’re making our final adjustments, Matt & my other pacer show up. Luckily Matt brought the mashed potatoes! Those are going down well! The ones we make I can eat hot or cold, and I place the cup of them in my pack pocket. After taking a little longer here than usual, Jeff and I are heading into my last loop!

Saturday morning sunrise as we move into loop 6.

I’m cold in my shorts, but I trust that I will be warm soon. That first big climb does the trick. It’s light out and I’m excited to be on my last loop well ahead of my predicted time. Eating, running, hiking, eating, running, hiking. This loop feels like it’s taking longer than usual.(In reality it was faster than loop 4!) The sand is extra sandy, the rocky technical climb seems more rocky & more technical. But I’m moving forward and passing other runners. The shorter distance races have started and I’m also being passed by those runners, but it’s so fun. I see so many folks I know and they all offer encouragement. It is now a Saturday morning party in the woods.

Jeff & I making our way through the sand section on loop 6 as we ready to pass a 50 mile runner. Scott Rokis Photography.

Jeff & I eventually hit the gravel road downhill to the 13.5 mile aid station. I have run this section every loop so far. I pack away my hiking poles, say a few words to my quads which are barking in protest, and convince my legs to run downhill. The faster I run, the sooner I’m done. The hard stuff is over. This is just a cruise to the finish line. I’m hesitant to think about a finish time just yet. It’s almost like I don’t trust the fact that I can ACTUALLY RUN after 100 miles on my legs (the 17+ mile loops put the total distance at over 103 miles.)

One final stop at the 13.5 mile aid station and I’m so excited to see a couple of friends who came in to volunteer that morning. Another cup of mashed potatoes and a cup of coke and I’m off. I tell Jeff I’m putting in music for this section. I want to run & will need every bit of motivation I can get.

That first mile out of the aid station was lit! Not only was I running, but I was running at a pace that I would be happy with on any typical Saturday morning. We crossed the river the final time & I saw my friend, Steph. Thank you universe for putting her there at that moment. It was such a highlight. 2 more miles to the finish line. I check my watch, could I be done before 11am? That would be almost 2 hours ahead of my original projected time. Let’s go!

Running across the field to race headquarters, I hear cowbells and cheers from spectators. The valley is full of energy. Crossing the finish line at 26:53 I am thrilled with how my race went.

Those finish line feels! Jamison Swift Photography.

These races are always a team effort. A team of folks who put the races on, thank you Rocksteady Running & all the volunteers. A team of people who continuously support my big adventures; Matt, my number one cheerleader & best crew ever, Kelly who’s always ready for a good night cruise, and my coach, Jeff Miller, who’s guidance leading up to and during this event are key to my success.

Thank you to each of you for following my journey! And remember to keep moving forward!