The Bear Trifecta: Day Three – Garden City, Utah, June 10, 2023, Marathon #21
The third and final day of the Bear Trifecta was one I won’t soon forget. After running mountains at high altitude for two days, I suspected I’d be sore. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the nausea and headache that greeted me at the start of Day 3. On top of that, I had some pain in the front of my feet, just above my ankles, which I assumed was from running downhill to protect my knees.
The race directors had already warned us that Day 3 would be the toughest of the three races, so mentally I was prepared. But physically, my body was definitely feeling the strain.
I packed up my things, checked out of the hotel, and drove back to Garden City, Utah from Idaho, where I had been staying for the past few days. When I arrived, I started seeing familiar faces—one of the best things about running multiple races over consecutive days is that you get to reconnect with people you meet along the way. It didn’t take long before the race director gathered us for the usual pre-race announcements.
She started with, “Got some good news and some bad news!” Now, any runner will tell you—those words are never a good sign. It turns out, the night before, weather had caused a mudslide that made the rugged terrain too dangerous to run on, so the course had to be changed. While that was a relief in terms of safety, the sacrifice was that we now had to run loops. I personally despise loops, and on Day 3, I wasn’t excited about running in circles.
I stepped off to the side for a moment to adjust my mental state. I said a silent prayer that I would start feeling better once I got moving.
But 13 miles in, I’d cried three times already. I was frustrated with my time, exhausted, and struggling to stay positive. I felt like I might never make it. Yet, I knew I had come too far to quit, so I pushed on.
Thankfully, after some much-needed reflection and encouragement from new friends I’d made over the past few days, I started to feel better. My headache disappeared, my stomach stopped hurting, and I picked up my pace. The second half of the race went much better than the first, and I couldn’t have made it through without the support of my fellow runners.
A huge shout-out to my new friends—Bob, Reich, and Julie—all fellow runners who encouraged me along the way. There was also a group of ladies who ran the half marathon; knowing I wasn’t feeling my best, they finished their race and then got in their car to make two laps around the course, cheering me on and urging me to keep going. That’s the beauty of the running community. We are competitive, but always there to support one another.
I also have to mention the man who was there supporting his wife. He was amazing—not only cheering her on but supporting all of us. His wife had been slightly behind me during the races, so I got the benefit of his encouragement throughout. During the last big hill, he ran up with me and a few other runners, providing that final boost of energy we all needed.
And of course, there was the race director’s mom. She was stationed at aid stations every day, cheering runners on, and her energy was contagious.
All of these little moments and acts of kindness helped me finish the race. I crossed the finish line with a time of 5:53:02—my second-worst marathon time—but I couldn’t have been prouder. I collapsed on the ground and cried, overwhelmed with exhaustion and gratitude. Then, I stood up, received my medal, and found my friends who had already finished. I thanked them for all their support and called this three-day series a wrap.
What a ride! This is one I will never forget.