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Hey {{first_name| Friend}}
I’ve run Dances With Dirt 50K six times, and I’ve puked all six times and finished every time…
Tomorrow’s forecast calls for 84 degrees, heavy humidity, a 60% chance of rain, mud, hills, and 3,500 feet of climbing.
So the real question isn’t whether I can rally, it’s whether I’ll puke again.
That’s the whole point of mental toughness. It isn’t pretending conditions are perfect. It’s executing anyway AND learning from past mistakes.
This year, the process goals matter more than the finish time:
Don’t puke.
Stick to the hydration, nutrition, and race plan.
Still be running during the final 6 miles.
Be able to eat the post-race meal afterward.
Training has been strong, and my elevation work is up more than 60% compared to last year.
The wildcard is the heat because I haven’t been able to train in serious heat since last September. Trail running doesn’t care what worked six months ago, and the conditions always win when you ignore them.
That’s why process goals matter so much.
You can’t control the weather, but you can control pacing, hydration, nutrition, and whether you panic when things become uncomfortable.
At some point, everyone faces their own version of mile 30 in the mud. Plans fall apart, conditions change, your body starts fighting back, and everything inside you wants to slow down, stop, or quit.
Puke & Rally
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It’s not about the SETBACK, it’s about the COMEBACK




