It’s a spectacular feeling to cross the @wser finish line and know, deep in my heart, that I gave my all. Somehow, I knew this race was going to be a fast chase over the final 20 miles, so I prepared for exactly that. I reached Green Gate in 6th and set my sights on reaching the podium by the time I hit the track. After moving up to 4th, I reached Pointed Rock AS with 6 miles to go and finally spotted Arlen disappearing into the oaks, I looked at my crew and they said GO. We chased as hard as we could to No Hands with no change in the gap, and I questioned if it was a hopeless cause. But I’d made a promise to myself to give this a #fullsend and started up the hill, planning to run the entire thing like I’d trained. I caught small glimpses of him in the distance, and when we reached the concrete with a little over a mile to go, my legs found some new life and I saw the gap finally start to dwindle. I crossed the white bridge and @rachelraedrake joined me, somehow #27weekspregnant and sprinting along with me, screaming at me to keep going no matter what as we hit the track. The gap had shrunk to 100 meters but I’d run out of real estate, so I pulled the plug to enjoy these final moments of a beautiful race. What I’ve decided on, following Saturday’s monumental day in ultrarunning, is that greater satisfaction in racing is the deeper understanding (s/o @warondrugs) of ourselves and what we are capable of. I’m truly proud of a full day fighting for my best. I don’t always get there, but I’ll celebrate it when I do. To all the spectators, competitors, volunteers, race organization, my top-notch crew, coaches, and astounding wife, THANK YOU for another opportunity to complete a day so clear-eyed and exhausted. 📸1-2: @tonywithasony 3-4: @ericschwindt 5: @kirk_reynolds47 #nike #niketrail #nikerunning #ospreypacks #ospreyathlete #thePak #hydrapak #leki #lekipoles #lekitailwind #tailwind #tailwindnutrition #gotailwind #trailbutter #betrailready #petzlrunning #petzlnightrunning #petzl #running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #mountainrunning #garmin #garminfitness