The following article was written by Becca Bishop who shares her experience from the 2023 Moab Trail Marathon. Becca is an oncology Physician Assistant at the Boise VA and an avid trail runner. She and her husband are both Marine Corps veterans. They share three kids, two dogs, a cat, a mule and a donkey, and they own a coffee roastery in Boise, ID.
“Go have an adventure,” my husband encourages before races. My Moab trail marathon was an adventure through feelings. Though 2023 has been my best racing year yet with huge PRs in my 50 miler and 55k (with more than 9,000 feet elevation gain), this race…it got to me.
Setting the stage
The experience started happy: a road trip with bestie Sarah Barber, who…by the way…won her age division at the USATF Half Marathon Trail Running Championships held the same day as the Moab Trail Marathon. Though we’re neighbors, there is never enough time to stay current on one another’s chaotic lives.
Sarah Barber gets ready to race the 2023 USATF Half Marathon Trail Running Championships in Moab.
We ran “Run the Rocks” in March and learned that we aren’t just good friends, we’re compatible travel buddies, and one another’s biggest supporters. Furthermore, we learned that an 8-hour road trip is the perfect time to catch up on life. I love that lady.
The day before the race
On Friday, while Sarah did a shakeout run, I walked through Moab. The fall air was invigorating, the scenery inspiring. I grabbed a fresh donut (a treat saved for long runs), and headed back to the hotel feeling content. We then drove to packet pickup breathing in the surrounding red mountains and enjoying one another’s company.
At packet pickup (L-R) Nancy Hobbs, Sarah Barber, and Becca Bishop.
While returning to town, as the sun began to warm the land and things felt whole, we learned of the tragic passing of a friend’s child, and our hearts grew heavy with sadness, guilt, and helplessness. We talked about it for hours, and decided that the best we could do was to be present in our experience. Still, the dark emotions loomed over me, ebbing and flowing through the day and ultimately through the trails.
Moab Trail Marathon race director Danelle Ballengee gives pre-race instructions.
Race day
As soon as the race began, I knew I wasn’t in a groove, and I struggled to the end to find one. My legs felt un-energized. Despite my persistent efforts to take in the majestic backdrop – and to feel gratitude for this race – my emotions kept drifting back to sadness. Wondering if I had come out too fast, I tried controlling my speed, but my ill-preparedness for that level of technicality threw me off. Should I push harder through the sand, or relax back into a comfortable slow stride? During each stretch of that beach-like terrain (which occurred much more frequently than anticipated), I let the sand drag me down both physically and mentally.
I am a sure-footed downhill trail runner, but couldn’t find a rhythm on the rocky descents. The rocks all seemed out of comfortable reach as I tried (and failed) to make easy, hopping steps. I hit my head on an overhanging rock and scratched the entirety of my arm on a branch. I loathed the seemingly endless and steep uphills, one of which was 1100 feet of elevation gain over a 2-mile stretch. Nowhere on the course did I feel strong, or like I could coast. The whole race just felt hard.
When Sarah greeted me at the end, my eyes welled up, but I forced away the emotion. Later, we did a play-by-play recap of our race experiences. “I will never do that race again,” I told Sarah, summing it all up.
A runner heads over the creek during the Moab Trail Marathon.
After the race
Today as I look back, I remember that the race was more than just 26.2 miles. It was my invaluable time with Sarah, and those other-worldly rocks. It was our sadness and our laughter. It was the good food we ate, and the peaceful and needed time away from family. It was pain and thoughts about quitting, followed by a sense of accomplishment. So, I will be back…not just to run, but to feel it all again.
Editor’s Note: Read our race recap from the 2023 USATF Half Marathon Trail Running Championships.
