Part II.
Last time I ran at Miwok, it turned out to be one of the best running days I've had.
The aftermath—protracted fatigue and a prolonged disinterest in running—were not so great.
So why am I going back?
If I'm honest—and knowing what these distances do to me—it's because Miwok is a Western States qualifier. If I'm going to deplete myself to the point of debility, it better be for a damn good reason.
Western States is it.
To be clear, Miwok is a legit 'A' event. The Marin Headland trails are spectacular, and in 2017 I accomplished something there that for me was a serious stretch. Getting it done a second time is no certainty.
But I've learned a lot since then, and I'll be better prepared to deal with the physical and emotional fallout—before, during, and after.
With a couple of amazing exceptions (especially Backcountry Rise 50k), 2018 was a down year of racing. It was, however, a very up year for adventure running. If someone told me I had to give up racing completely but could continue with the adventure runs until I drop, I would make the trade in a heartbeat.Fortunately no one's telling me that. Yet.
Standing here today, my mind and my body feel back to where they were pre-Miwok 2017. I'm ready to put in the time and do the miles—at least one more time.
My window for doing this kind of thing—not to mention a theoretical 100-miler—isn't getting wider.
If it's going to happen, it should probably be soon.
