2025 Winter Solstice Frolic

Morning Trail Run

Morning Run

Uphill tread workout

The Mantiou’s crew and volunteers are like no other. After seeing the atmosphere last year, I knew I had to run this race. All of the individuals and aid stations were the best I’ve ever experienced. It is a logistical nightmare too, volunteers having to hike up water, ice, food, chairs, tables, etc. The women at Mink Hollow <3 always show up, and getting to see Angela Legg Carter  and Vanessa Vaglio was a highlight! Ian - thank you!! Thank you everyone! Congrats to all the finishers and to the PA/LI/+NJ Dan crew! Josh, Amy, Dan, Justin D, Justin L, Ken. And Erica for the win and crushing it out there!! Also, congrats to Nick (sad I missed you) and Christa (what an amazing first 50 miler!)

I wanted to resent my body and stomach during the race, even be annoyed at it, but instead I was channeling my emotions to be grateful for my strong legs. They carried me the whole day. No falls. They let me run all the downs, even at my lowest points, on almost all the flats, even on the most technical of terrain. I didn’t even really trip at all, still have all my toenails! When I had nothing left - my legs knew what to do and still responded quickly and kept me moving and safe. I felt so fortunate that despite everything I went through on race day, my legs were so well behaved. 

For the long recap:
Race day went exactly how I didn’t want it to. After a rough stomach at Breakneck, I went back and practiced more nutrition options and electrolytes. My goal for Mantious was to try and have fun and take it out conservative, if I felt good later on, then I’d push. When we hit the first climb, I backed off, lowered my heart rate and just took it easy. I got to run with some amazing women early on. Running with Kehr for a bit was amazing, she has inspired me (and others) for years! After the first aid station, at mi 9 I took a gel, I was feeling better, and 10 minutes later threw it up. Took it easy to North/South Lake, saw Josh around mi 16! Another highlight, he started in wave 6 and we thought he’d pass me around mi 30 at Platte Clove. Was so great seeing him crush it. Soon, Amy was right behind me. She gave me words of encouragement, we were still on good splits, despite not feeling well. 

Came into Platte Clove, mi 30, the mental halfway point, reset, ate a little solid food. Thank you Ian Shultis  for your help, it was amazing seeing you everywhere! Had an amazing woman apply sunscreen on me and take care of me <3. I felt a little better after emptying my stomach and just sipping electrolytes and nibbling solid food. Was bouncing around with Amy, and sitting in all the cold streams! 

We hit Devil’s Path, and although I dreaded it, having Amy DeMarco with me was the best part of the day. I latched onto her and it was my favorite part of the race. We went fairly quickly on the downs and flats, still moving well. Both of us stopping to throw up, true sisterhood. Amy has been dealing with stomach issues for a while during races and had Laryngitis this race, I don’t know how she does it. She’s the strongest person I know. We kept a positive attitude, if we could keep going at our current pace we’d finish sub 15, we were still moving okay even with feeling horrible! I wanted to finish in the daylight. After a bad spell on the final climb up Sugarloaf I said farewell to Amy and took it a little easier.

The Mink Hollow aid was the best. Angie and Vanessa, you are the best! Was in a good mood, stuffed salted potatoes in my pocket. Forgot to ask for ice, found a bunch of ice on the trail and used it to cool. The climb up Plateau was slow but not horrible. Was very sick at the top, and then the run down to Silver Hollow went well! I was so proud of my legs and I wasn’t tripping. After Silver Hollow, another amazing aid station, I just had to get up the final two climbs. Lack of calories was really setting in, around mi 44 climbing up Tremper was tough. The last climb usually is, but this was next level. I started losing control of my body. Was dry heaving constantly, throwing up any little sip I took in, and made friends with the trail creatures to distract myself. kenneth hite passed me on the climb, and that helped. He was in the best mood, everyone else all around me was a zombie as well, but not Ken.

Finally made it to the last aid station at Willlow, everyone was so nice and helpful. I was holding on for dear life and was feeling so sick. I tried to drink some ginger ale and coke, but couldn’t. Walked ahead a few hundred feet and then lay on the trail and threw up, I think I lost my soul at that point. Luckily there really wasn’t any climbing left, but I think I lost a little of myself there. I told myself no more sipping water or electrolytes, I could get back 5 miles on nothing. I was so thirsty, but would take water in my mouth and spit it out. I texted Josh, that I was in rough shape but I’d finish. If I wasn’t so close, I probably would have DNF’d there out of safety. I wasn’t tough or strong, I just knew I had to get down one way or the other. 

My legs carried me on though, they are amazing. Despite how wrecked I was, I could jog flats and run downhills. I pretended I was just on a nice 5 mile jog out. Finally hit the Tremper tower and ran the whole downhill, darkness set in, it was hard to see, but I just rolled down. Trusting my constant hammering of downhills that I would survive this last one. I thought a lot about the people still out there, and how I just had to spend a little bit of time in the dark. I did feel fortunate in that moment. My legs and feet took care of me and I was so proud of them. The final descent takes forever, everyone warns you of this, and it does. Finally hit the road and somehow made it to the finish. Everyone waited for me at the finish to cheer me on, I appreciate you all so, so much and was so happy to hear that everyone our group finished.

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Emily Walker

Manitou's Revenge

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2025 Winter Solstice Frolic

Morning Trail Run

Morning Run

Uphill tread workout

Morning Run

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