Each summer, 6 Days in the Dome is held at the Petit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After finishing the race in 2023, it was an honor and exciting opportunity to get to run it for a second time, and I learned more than I could ever imagine from running laps around an ice rink.
The indoor temperature is set to just below 50 degrees with large vents blasting the air conditioning on one end of the track. Knowing what to expect with the temperature and hard surface is an advantage and makes it easier to pack and prepare for six days of running, and after finishing with 324 miles in 2023, I knew I would be back.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was that it is so much more than running. There is a strategy behind this race, and while it looks different for everyone, the main goal is to keep moving, minimize pain and make it to the end. It’s great to have a mileage goal, but be prepared for problems when they arise, along with shifting goals and expectations. The track, sleep deprivation and temperature take a toll on your body and mind. As much as this is a running, jogging and power-walking race, it is also a race of mental toughness.
There were many times when things got really hard at the race this year—from an upset stomach to blisters around my ankles and not being able to sleep—it’s moments like these where, despite all that is working against me, I had to dig deep and stay focused.
Having small “wins” along the way helped a lot. I never pushed snooze on my alarm once, though it was tempting. I also didn’t take unnecessary breaks, which was also very tempting. Winning these small mental battles helped boost my confidence.
In a race like this, feeding off the positive energy of others or keeping pace with someone else can be very beneficial. On the flip side, I learned not to let the negativity of someone else hinder my progress or mindset. I always made a point to give a thumb’s up or “good job” whenever I passed someone. And in turn, having others offer me the same encouragement when I was tired or deep in the pain cave really helped. I learned to smile often, be positive and move forward by choosing positivity over negativity.
The format of this race helped when it came to breaking up the distance into smaller chunks. Every 6 hours, runners would switch directions on the track, and a meal would be served by race organizers, which allowed me to focus on a point in time to look forward to. The hardest sections were at night from about 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., as I was usually tired, there were fewer people on the track and the Ice Center was very quiet.
While there were many highs and lows during 6 Days in the Dome, I left the race with some incredible memories. Ultrarunning is an empowering sport that makes me feel proud, inspired, motivated and hungry for more. It is true that the pain fades, but the feeling of accomplishment lingers on.