With the Mount Mitchell Challenge canceled due to Hurricane Helene, I found myself with a free weekend. Naturally, I signed up for the 24-hour race down in Cheraw, S.C. Like every ultra I’ve done so far, this one overlapped with a school dance.

I’m deeply grateful that my daughter gave up her dance to crew my race. She helped me execute the plan perfectly, and I realized that without her support, this effort would’ve been impossible.

Friday Night: Pre-Race Setup

Dinner was in downtown Cheraw, where Ellie and I found ourselves sitting under a quote by Banksy:

“If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.”

This felt like the perfect metaphor for what lay ahead.

We arrived Friday evening to set up our race tent and campsite. The temperatures dipped to 24°F, and despite layering up with a T-shirt, hoodie, puffy coat, sleeping bag liner, sleeping bag, and a weighted blanket, I still woke up cold at 2 a.m.

Saturday – Race Begins (8:00 a.m.)

• Course: 4.3-mile loop (vert)
• Goal: Complete 15 laps to hit my first 100K

I’ve been reflecting on the Psalms of Ascent lately, and they became my motivators for this race. These were the songs that pilgrims sang on their journey to Jerusalem, leading them from their homes to the House of the Lord. I began each loop by listening to a different Psalm from this collection.

Lap 1 (4.3 miles – 42m 7s) – The Journey Begins (Psalm 120)
The starting horn didn’t work, so the adventure began with a simple, “Okay, y’all can go.” Today was about pacing anyway so it was the perfect sendoff.

Lap 2 (8.6 miles – 44m 20s) – Lift My Eyes to the Hills (Psalm 121)
This lap I assessed the course noting the 2% grade because it would later feel steep as the race progressed. I also tried to memorize where the major tripping hazards for when darkness descended.

Lap 3 (12.9 miles – 41m 39s)  – “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122)
Having assessed the course, I turned to assess the runners. I tested conversations—some ignored me, others engaged. As someone once told me: “Trail running is a pack of individuals.”

Lap 4 (17.6 miles – 42m 38s) – “Our eyes look to the LORD.” (Psalm 123)
Settling into rhythm, I focused on reaching the tent—my place of reprieve. Ellie, my amazing daughter, was managing my race and cooking fresh meals because “ultras are eating events with some running thrown in.” My nutrition would very from gels to omelettes, bacon, ramen noodles and half an avocado (at mile 54…this was amazing)

Lap 5 (21.5 miles – 44m 13s) – Maker of Heaven and Earth (Psalm 124)
As familiarity with the course grew so did confidence until a runner fell on the root-heavy, and I nearly tripped too. I was fighting against the back half of the course. So I decided it was time to take in God’s creation—the scent of fresh pine, birds chirping in a field, the starts later in the night.

Lap 6 (25.8 miles – 47m 23s) – “Those who trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 125)
Ahead of pace, I skipped my planned break, fearing my body would think we were done. But as I began this lap Benson Boone’s Slow It Down started playing, reminding me that it was essential to walk when needed.

Lap 7 (30.1 miles – 49m 33s) – “Those who sow in tears will reap with joy.” (Psalm 126)
I was now too far from the start to look back, too early to think about the finish. Like the Song of Ascent pilgrims, I thought back to the tough training runs and how I sowed the work in order to find joy in the journey.

Lap 8 (34.4 miles – 54m) – “Beloved” (Psalm 127)
At 50K, I paused to reflect at the mid-point. This Psalm is the central psalm of ascent, and the center word of this Psalm was the word Beloved. This has been my prayer for the year — becoming centered on my status as God’s Beloved. Allowing myself to be-loved.

Lap 9 (38.7 miles – 53m 39s) – “Blessed are those who walk in His ways.” (Psalm 128)
Ultras involve strategic walking—power hiking. And as I needed more and more walking breaks, a memory from the Mount Mitchell Challenge came back. I was filled with self-criticism at mile 35 for walking until a stranger’s encouragement reminded myself of the stupidly amazing feat I was attempting. It reminds me that rather than be blasted by self-criticism, I should see myself as blessed.

Lap 10 (43 miles – 57m 27s) – “They have afflicted me, but they will not prevail.” (Psalm 129)This lap took me beyond my previous longest race. It is also when knee pain began to creep in. However, affliction is part of this journey so I kept moving forward.

Lap 11 (47.3 miles – 1h 10m) – “Out of the depths I cry.” (Psalm 130)
Passing by 45 mile, I reflected on my age. Your forties are a blend energy and depletion. Therefore, pushed hard to finish before sunset, then took a longer dinner break to refuel.

Lap 12 (51.6 miles – 1h 6m 26s) – “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up.” (Psalm 131)
Hitting 50 miles, I felt my body shutting down. The mind prepares for the distance it expects. Like the Psalmist, I sensed frustration setting in. The tone of the race shifted to get ‘er done.

Lap 13 (55.9 miles – 1h 6m 23s) – “I will not give sleep to my eyes.” (Psalm 132)
Fully in the dark, I lost track of laps. My headlamp dimmed, and my AirPod fell somewhere on the trail—realized it too late.

Lap 14 (60.2 miles – 1h 27m 47s) – “How good and pleasant it is.” (Psalm 133)
This lap contained a simple mission – find my AirPod, which meant I spent extra half mile wandering the trail trying to use the FindMy device app. While it announced that they were “within reach” the reality was I could not see them until I finally uncovered them from a pile of leaves. The joy of finding them gave me the burst of energy I needed to go out for one final loop.

Lap 15 (64.5 miles – 1h 11m 26s) – “Praise the Lord, all you servants.” (Psalm 134)
Ellie joined me for part of the final lap. I praised her—not for her accomplishments, but for the incredible young woman she has become. With her Dartmouth journey ahead, I’m beyond grateful for the strong daughter God has blessed me with. I couldn’t have done this without her.

Results

• Total Milage — 64.5miles
• Time on the Trail — 13h 59m 1s
• Total Time — 16h 18m 07s

Final Thoughts:

There is something beautiful about ultras. Painful but beautiful. Your body, mind and soul are fused together. You discover comfort in the silence. Your brain empties as does your energy.

Psalm 134 was a fitting close: Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. This race wasn’t just about mileage; it was a pilgrimage, a journey of gratitude and perseverance.

Most of all, I’m thankful for Ellie. She wasn’t just my crew chief—she was an anchor. As she steps into her next chapter at Dartmouth, I see the strength, wisdom, and kindness in her.

📸: @rubenfelixcosme