Problems pile up, they wear you down and the next challenge can push you over the edge. Physically, you may still be in the game, but the positive mental attitude you need to keep going vanishes. Is there any way to prepare yourself for the 100-mile trainwreck? Yes, yes there is.
A graduate level, if not PhD, ultramarathon, the race has drawn its name and inspiration from Native American legends embedded deep within the Catskills. The name originates from the Algonquian language meaning “mysterious being” or simply “mystery” that represents the unknown power of life and the universe.
We have covered a litany of lower body, core and low back problems that are prevalent in the sport of ultrarunning. While those areas definitely take the brunt of the abuse we dish out as ultrarunners, the upper body can also be susceptible to aches and pains from long miles on the trail.
Abby Hall wasn’t even guaranteed a spot at the race until weeks before, inheriting a Golden Ticket after EmKay Sullivan deferred her entry. Just two years removed from a broken leg that required surgery at the renowned Steadman Clinic, Hall had every reason to doubt whether this was the year—but she didn’t.
This year’s race was once again broadcast across the globe via the livestream produced by the Mountain Outpost team. However, if you were in attendance, the magic at the start all the way up to mile 4 at the escarpment was palpable.
Now that it’s been a while, beyond post-race endorphins, I can truly say that it was the privilege of a lifetime and an experience I know will bond us closer for the rest of our lives.