Mountain to Sea Trail 100 Durham, NC March 8, 2025 #88

I've fallen behind in race reports. Lifes been super busy, I cranked out 3 100 milers in 3 weeks to get my count up to 90. Dealing with some personal struggles, I just havent felt like writing.

This was a great race, very runnable the first third, the course was fairly dry and runnable and I made good time. I've heard in other years it can be quite difficult and muddy. The second 2/3 had a significant amount of roots and vert. I struggled a good 40 miles with nausea and I really felt depressed running alone in the middle of the night. Ran with a preacher for a little while but it was too draining to talk. I slowly pulled ahead of a few runners and took 2nd place female and got the most gorgeous buckle I have. My friend and runner at Froggy Mountain, Jon Frey was the race director and offered me free entry into the race. In support of my mission. I was very grateful. Getting slammed with a huge tax bill from my ex husband, has me on edge about my finances and being able to afford to finish these 100's. but somehow I'll make it happen. The volunteers were excellent, I camped in the car and the short 2.5 hr drive from home made it a very manageable weekend.

I wrote some of my reasons about running this month on FB, included in text below.

Just gonna drop my race pics in this blog and hopefully get back to it later.

This month especially on my heart is LCpl Jacob Crewson and his mother, my friend Jennifer. He lost his life to suicide, and she took her life one year later as she approached the 1 yr anniversary of his death. It was absolutely devastating, but I completely understood and empathized. The risk of a parent dying by suicide is exponentially higher than the population and while I don't know the stats, I do know from personal experience that the trauma of being a suicide witness survivor is an unimaginable catastrophe and in some ways, impossible to survive ...somehow we live through the impossible and hopefully one day thrive, but we will never be *normal and we'll never get over it.

Please if you're ever finding life too difficult, and you can't face another day, call the suicide hotline at 988. You may not see a way forward but please keep reaching out until you will find someone who will walk with you until you can.