Well, the time has finally come! In only five days, on Saturday, July 13th at 7:30am, the gun will sound and my ultramarathon experience will begin.
The Journey
When I made the decision to run a 50k trail ultra last fall, I knew that it would be a long and challenging journey. To help myself remain accountable I decided to create a running blog. I didn’t really know what that would entail, just that it would be a handy motivational tool.
And so, on September 21, 2023 I made my first Head for the Hills post.
At first it was just going to be a small project where I could document my progress. However, I eventually shared the link with a few close friends and family. People were fantastically supportive and I gained so much motivation from their encouragement.
I created the HFTH Instagram and used that as a place to post pictures of my journey. A few more people started following along.
My whole Sinister 7 adventure has been made even more special because of the opportunity to share the experience.
Ramping Up
In the last few weeks before a long race, it is best to begin slowly tapering off. This allows the body to get fully charged before race day. Although I have been easing up on the distance and intensity, the planning and anticipation has really been ramping up.
Back when I signed up for Sinister, I did a read through of the entire Racer Info Package. It is extremely extensive, and covers all the details of the race. After I finished pouring over the web page, I immediately realized that I needed to do some serious planning.
I started creating lists…
Supplies to pack, items to buy, foods to test out, strength workouts, physio exercises, training schedules and patterns of elevation throughout the course. This is on top of all my blog idea notes for HFTH!
Well, as they say, “too much of a good thing…”
In the last few weeks I have been combing through these notes, trying to pick out the things that are actually applicable to race day. Happy to say I have come out the other side with a very detailed Word doc entitled “Gina’s 50k Game Plan” (nerd alert!).
The Dream Team
When running Sinister 7, it is suggested to have a support crew. This is the team of amazing people that provide much needed assistance between the different legs of the race. They refill water, fix up aches and pains and make sure the runner is getting proper nutrition. Without this incredibly important team, Gina’s 50k Game Plan is just a pipe dream.
Before signing up, I made sure that my partner Kolten was aware of the duties that he would be tasked with as my one man support crew. Of course, he was on board and encouraged me to go for it!
However, I was absolutely overjoyed when my parents also volunteered to help out. My Dad has participated in Sinister 7, so having his wisdom and experience will be a great asset. And my Mom is an absolute rock, I know she will have my back no matter what the day brings.
I guess the news spread because a couple of my siblings and their families have also volunteered a precious Saturday in July to come down to Blairmore and support me!
Everyone has been so enthusiastic and it truly means the world to have these special people there to support me. When the going gets tough, they will be my motivation.
Let’s Go!!!
Although the start line is where my first steps of the race will begin, my ultramarathon adventure really began about nine months ago. During this time, I have learned a lot. Certainly lots about long distance running, but also about what I can accomplish in this life.
Before signing up for Sinister 7, I always considered running a trail ultra to be a ridiculous notion for me. I am not an inherently “athletic” person. Running has never been easy. I still don’t really know what caused the switch to flick in my mind.
All I know is that I signed up, I put in the work, and on Saturday I am going to crush it.
P.S. You can definitely expect a Race Day post where I will share the good, the bad and the ugly. However, I will need some time to turn back into a fully functional human after the race. Expect the post in a couple weeks 
