Day 3,619-20 —Latest start Ever —

I was tempted to do a run during the day, so I wouldn’t be so anxious thinking that I had not run yet today. I wanted to start on the trail at 10 p.m., but it was cold, and it was hard for me to get packed. I saw it was getting down below freezing overnight, so I wanted to be prepared. I brought clothes and drinks, but not much food.

         I felt nervous driving there late at night, and it was so cold when I started down the trail. I was struggling to get moving. I finally got in a groove on the softer parts by the river. I didn’t bring any water. I made it to the end of the trail and back without much incident. The second out and back would put me at a marathon, and I was feeling it as I started. I fell at some point and reopened the wounds on my hands, but not badly. I was wearing my gloves.

         I saw so many groups of deer throughout the night. They were on the rocks and by the river. They barely reacted when I saw them.

         At this point, the cold was getting to me, and my hair kept freezing. I really wanted to call my run then, but I knew I would regret it if I didn’t make it to the sunrise. I changed my clothes and warmed up in my car.

Suddenly a small black compact car rolled into the parking lot and parked at the end. They had tinted windows, so I couldn’t see them. Five minutes later, they left abruptly.

         I started my last out and back after that. I knew I would be close to 40 by the end, but I was still trying to think how I was going to do 50. It wasn’t an easy 13+ miles, but the sun came up, and I felt revitalized. I made it to the end loop with my hair frozen and wet clothes again. I kept looking at the time, and it was already almost 9 a.m. I wouldn’t be getting home until after 11 a.m. if I went back out.

         I am not sure now if I was listening to my body and thinking about the time I needed for recovery today, or if I just didn’t want to keep going. My mind was scrambling to make up excuses, but it wasn’t a bad run. And I did it! Not the 50-mile run on Thursday night like I planned, but still an all-night training run that left me exhausted.