Falling Waters 100K — Part Two of the Trifecta

This race was part two of the New River Gorge Trifecta—a three-part ultra series that’s testing every ounce of endurance, strategy, and stubborn optimism I’ve got.

Part one? That was February’s Cabin Fever 50K, where I set a personal record in some of the most miserable conditions I’ve ever raced in. Freezing temps, soaking wet clothes, and fingers so numb I couldn’t use them at the finish line. But I crossed that line stronger than I expected—with a new PR and a surprise visit from my sister and nieces that left me beaming.

In between Cabin Fever and Falling Waters, I squeezed in another 50K as a training run, because, well… that’s what we do.

Enter: Falling Waters 100K

April rolled around and I was fired up for Falling Waters 100K. My mom and 9-year-old daughter came along to “crew” me—and while I use that word loosely, they were there for something even more important: emotional fuel. And the race directors? They really understand how to turn this into a family-friendly event. They even hosted a kids’ run halfway through the day—and my daughter was stoked.

The course is no joke: a 25K loop with 2,400 feet of elevation gain per loop, including a gnarly, rock-crawling section that demands respect.

My goal? Get through the first two loops before the kids' run started so I could watch my daughter race.
Loop 1 felt effortless. I cruised into camp feeling great—and too early.
So on Loop 2, I slowed my pace intentionally. No point in burning energy just to stand around waiting.

That strategy paid off: I made it back in time and watching my daughter run was easily the highlight of the entire event. She ran with both the older and younger kids because one loop wasn’t enough for her. She was so proud—and I was completely overwhelmed in the best way.

After cheering her on, I jumped back in.

Loops 3 & 4: Mind Games and Headlamps

Loop 3 felt mentally heavy. The long break threw me off rhythm, and my body had cooled down more than I liked. But I got it done and reset for Loop 4, which took me into the dark. My lack of night running showed—I was tentative, especially on the rocky scramble. I was more focused on staying upright than moving fast.

Still, I crossed the finish line strong.
In fact, the race director said, “You came through so fast—you looked fresh!”

And here’s the thing: I was fresh.
That’s the good news... and maybe the bad.

What I Learned

I had gas left. A lot of it.
And if I’m being honest, racing is still something I’m figuring out. I know how to finish—but do I know how to race? That’s something I hope to refine as I head into my first 100-miler in October. I was also nervous about blowing up and DNF-ing—which would have cost me my shot at the Trifecta buckle—so I played it safe. Maybe too safe.

But I woke up the next day feeling great. My legs weren’t wrecked. I could walk. I could parent. I could run, if I wanted to. That’s a credit to the work I’ve been putting in—the early mornings, the strength training, the fueling strategy, the commitment to recovery.

Our bodies are capable of incredible things… if we let them.

Well, except for my feet. I’ve lost three toenails and might be losing one more.
My daughter says I should leave them out for the toenail fairy.

Onward to 100 Miles

The final leg of the Trifecta is coming: Rim to River 100 in October. My goal? A sub-24 hour finish and two buckles—the 100-mile buckle and the Trifecta buckle.

Big goals. Big mileage. Big heart.
Let’s see what these legs—and this mindset—are really made of.