Up until then, everything had been driven by motivation, ego, or curiosity. Run more. Buy better shoes. Try harder. Hope for the best. And letting go of that mindset was harder than any long run.

The pain wasn’t just in my legs — it was everywhere. My back. My ribs. Even breathing felt uncomfortable. I couldn’t get settled in the bed, so I ended up lying on the hotel floor.

I’d never run that far before. I hadn’t eaten properly. I didn’t understand glycogen, hydration, pacing — any of it. I just knew I was cooked.