There’s one rule in ultra running: Do nothing new on race day.

At the Pedernales Falls 60k, I convinced myself that rule didn’t apply to me. One handheld bottle. No vest. Texas heat. A night race that I thought would get easier once the sun went down.

Instead, every small decision started stacking up.

What began as a simple training run slowly turned into one of the worst physical experiences I’ve ever had on a trail. Throwing up. Severe cramps. Hallucination-like sensations. And the realization that sometimes the race is already over long before you’re willing to admit it.

This is a story about heat, ego, dehydration, bad decisions, and the dangerous space between pushing through and ignoring what your body is trying to tell you.

Music used in this episode:

Assasins creed kind of guitar by AndreyPsyche -- https://freesound.org/s/751593/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

Foggy window view by Jim-Bretherick -- https://freesound.org/s/730265/
-- License: Creative Commons 0

FarmersMarket_1-2.aif by canetoad -- https://freesound.org/s/29924/
-- License: Attribution 4.0

swell pad.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/34141/
-- License: Attribution 4.0

Time Suspended Cinematic Drone by Mantice by bassimat -- https://freesound.org/s/854837/
-- License: Creative Commons 0

Stoic guitar by AndreyPsyche -- https://freesound.org/s/751614/
-- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

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