The Stubborn Tortoise

I dropped out at Snowdrop after 23 miles. It's embarrassing and humiliating, but my mind wasn't right. I didn't feel like being out on the course for over two days, even though I knew what I signed up for. I was surrounded by friends but I felt lonely. I tried getting out of my head, which worked for a while and then the DNF Fairy would return, encouraging me to quit.

I learned that I am not cut out for these 100-milers. It's not my thing. I've been saying for years that I'm going to dial it back to the shorter distances, which are more doable, I think.

I signed up for a 6-hour race in mid-February. Some have questioned whether I should take on such an event so soon. I don't know, I feel like I need to do something to try to get my mojo back.

I may return to cycling, but I need a bike. Some have suggested mountain biking, which is slightly terrifying, but it still is trail adjacent.

That's the thing: the trails and the community are where I feel most at home. I can't bear the thought of losing that connection.

Whee! This week, I reflect on my second time as an AS captain at J&J as I meld my buds from the RGV with SA. I also talk about my cat colony and its successes and sadnesses. Finally, I talk about how Mama Cass' song, "Make Your Own Kind of Music," resonated with me at the end of a run. I may be back. I think so. I hope so. :)

This is a podcast about a podcast. Hence the Russian nesting dolls reference. I got to watch the recording of my favorite running podcast, "Ten Junk Miles," and meet its host, Scott Kummer. He shared a little podcasting intel at the end of the evening. I tried not to fangirl.

Inexplicably, I manage to work in a reference to my new favorite artist, Orville Peck, whom I also met a month ago. Peck has an incredible voice and his debut album, "Pony," is so listenable that I haven't yet tired of it.

Anyway, so yeah, that's about it for this episode. Lots of fun.

Running would seem like an inexpensive sport...until you factor in the extras.

Also, if you're high maintenance, running is probably not for you.

I attempt to strike a lopsided balance between being a girl who loves Sephora and one who becomes a sodden mess after a few miles.

Meg Eckert, a native of Spring, Texas, began her running career seven years ago.

In that time, she has won a number of long-distance races.

Over the New Year's weekend this year, she set the course record for female runners at the Snowdrop 55-hour event, running 100 miles in 16 hours and 6 minutes.

She went on to complete 218.87 miles in hours - another record.

The middle-school special education teacher, who now lives in Santa Fe, NM., likes a combination of road and trail races, but likes mountain trails.

She is super upbeat and generous as a runner.

Photo credit: Susan Kretschmer Leining

Snowdrop 2023-24.