100 Miles and the things I learned

What a goal can do to perspective!

Nov 03, 2024

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The date is September 29, 2024, I wanted to do a small walk on the Huckleberry Trail. I heard people talking and participating in the Hokie Half Marathon, which happened to be going on that day specifically on the Huckleberry Trail. I decided to hit the trail after the event. With just getting back into my health journey, still holding myself back due to my back injury, I didn’t want to do a lot of miles. More importantly I didn’t believe I could do it.

I started to walk, and walk, and walk. Next thing I knew I walked all the way to Foxridge a local apartment community. That happened to be 5.5 miles from my starting point. This meant I had to walk back another 5.5 miles. A half marathon is 13.1 miles. I figured at the 5.5 miles mark if others can do this so can I. I turn around at the end of the sidewalk and start heading back. By the time I hit 9 miles, I was so over this. I was kicking myself in the ass and became extremely discourage (look how easily I threw away that accomplishment by feeling like I couldn’t do it, news flash I was doing it). I hit the 11 mile mark, calves were cramping, back was seizing up, I rubbed two giant blisters in the back of my ankle, I ran out of water. Two thoughts at the same time hit me:

· Give up 11 miles is amazing, and no one will fault you, this rang through my body

· The other thought, you said you were going to attempt a half marathon length walk. You are 2.1 miles away from this goal. You would not be proud or content with 11 miles

I literally stopped on the trail and said out loud, get your shit together, you can do this. I punched my calves, stretched my back, and started to walk again. I hit the local Walmart and said let’s detour in and grab a Gatorade, water, and protein bar. I went back to walking. I got back to my car and finished 13.11 miles. It took me 4:18:16 averaging 19:42 mile.

I was hurting, out of breath, drench in sweat, chaffing in areas that made life miserable… but you know what (excuse my French… not sure why we say that I must look it up) I FUCKING CRUSHED IT!

This gave me the idea what else can I do that I thought was so out my wheelhouse. I remembered the Run Club I am apart of did 100 miles in January. Thus was born my October goal of 100 Miles.

What are the stats?

Here are a few stats that came from this goal:

· Starting Weight 265.8, BMI 36, Body Fat % 35.9%

· Ending Weight 253.6, BMI 34.3, Body Far % 33.3%

· Total Miles 101.87

· Total Hours 36:14:58

· Average Pace 21:35 a mile

· Completed my second official 5K on 10/26 in 45:31 average pace 14:25 per mile

Things I learned

Lesson 1:

I learned I am amazing. I don’t say that often. To be frank I don’t believe it that often. But when I do watch out. I can truly accomplish anything I decide I can do.

Lesson 2:

My body is more resilient that I thought it was. If you have known me these past 5 years you might now know this, I used to never get sick, I didn’t break any bones, rarely went the hospital unless it was something stupid like a kidney stone lol, overall a health guy except for my weight. Then the last 5 years happened. Broke a toe, had two surgeries (one major and one minor), a couple major health scare, mental health down the drain, hormones completely devasted and so much more.

I sometimes believe is this it, is this the circumstance that takes me, but I overcome it. Just like I overcame the mental hurdles this goal put, the emotional hurdles, and the physical hurdles, I wanted to give up so much but I pushed my body past it limits on so many days.

This was one of my biggest wins realizing that I can hold up.

Lesson 3:

I don’t need to compare to anyone else. I am surrounded by some amazing athletes. They do things I cannot today fathom to do. This was a major mental hurdle to overcome. I am me, they are them, this is not a competition. My Run Club was so supported and cheered me on. It didn’t matter if I much slower, if I didn’t run, it just mattered I was doing it for myself.

A huge shoutout to all my friends that joined me and pushed me to be better.

Lesson 4:

The time commitment to do this was intense. Just shy of 40 hrs worth of walking. I realized how much time I was just giving up to laziness. I was able to reclaim time and create habits.

Lesson 5:

This part is for my bigger brothers and sisters, smaller people can skip this. Invest in good shoes, compression shirts and shorts, make sure you eat and drink plenty of water, and often overlooked by me bring protein and snacks with you. The number of times I forgot these things and made my life harder than it needed to be.

You will chaff no matter what, but you have less irritation with proper compression. Blood blisters suck so much, but you are going to get them. Shoes are the most important. I bought new shoes halfway through the challenge and that brought so many positive benefits to second half of the goal.

You are going to get shakey, feel weak, feel like giving up, DON’T.. Grab a drink with tons of electrolytes, slam a protein bar, apples, cheese sticks, nuts, WHATEVER. Get the calories, the protein, the carbs (This is not evil and don’t let fad diets lie to you), and most importantly replace the sodium you are losing and hydrate.

Lesson 6:

The mental gymnastics I went through to complete this were insurmountable. I think I talked myself out and into this daily, multiple times.

The biggest devil on my should was, “You are fat and no one expects you to do this, just give up no one will care”. DO YOU KNOW WHO CARES? I fucking do. I care about the way I feel, I care about the way I look, I care about how my body is, and most importantly I care about caring for myself

What’s next

I decided for November to goal myself 1 mile a day. This is to build consistency. If I make it I am gifting myself a weighted vest, ankle and wrist weights. Then I will repeat this goal but with weights.

I have transformed my body and my mind to enjoy this. Cardio was always the bane of my existence but now I am growing to love the ability to center myself and feel a bit of peace in a crazy world.

What have you goaled yourself? What are your aspirations? Let me know and let’s support each other.

See you on the trail!