I ran the Red Moon Trail Run 10K two weeks ago. This happens to be my longest ever trail run race! Yay! So, technically I ran a PR of 1:02:01.
This race was MAGICAL in so many ways.
Originally, I was signed up for the 15 miler, but life had other plans. Earlier during race week, I asked the race director if I could change distances and they were really nice about it. But, I really let this get in my head. All week, I thought, I might as well not even go since it’s “only a 10K.” Even a few hours before the race, my anxiety convinced myself I wouldn’t be racing. “There’s no point,” my brain kept telling me.
How happy I am I didn’t let the lies my brain was feeding me win the day!
The race is in Midland, an hour and forty-five minutes from me. The 10K race also happens to be at night. So, I wore a trail vest and headlamp. It started raining before the race and rained during it, but this ended up being one of the best parts of the race.
I got a little nervous when the race started because this was also my first ever race at night! I wasn’t sure what to expect. I could’ve stayed on my couch, doomscrolled my way throughout the night, or engaged in some other meaningless task. Instead, here I was, in the woods, at night, while it’s raining, headlamps flashing around me as I run and dodge the branches and rocks on the trail. The runners high kicked in and I started crying about a mile in. I was overcome with emotion.
There’s something healing about running in the woods with strangers at night. I loved every part of that race. The exploration of a new trail, the trying a new distance and race, all of it was exactly what I needed to stave off the severe depression I’ve been feeling the last few weeks.
I even met up with a few friends at the race. One was volunteering and the others were running. Instead of couch rotting, I did something good for my mind, body, and soul.
Included in registration is a finisher’s medal, drink koozie, t-shirt, and two drink tickets.
Leave a Reply