Tally in the Valley, 56K of Lessons, Laughter, and a Podium Finish

There are races like Tally in the Valley, where you spend six hours running through the woods, cheer for your friends, wear a mermaid costume, hang a shark from your aid station, and somehow end up standing on the podium.

Honestly, those are my favourite kinds of races.

The Plan

Tally in the Valley is a six hour race. The concept is simple.

Run as many 7 km loops as you can before the clock runs out.

This wasn't an "all out" race for me.

It was a training day with purpose.

My goals were simple:

• Run a steady effort.
• Practice race nutrition.
• Learn what works before marathon season.
• Aim for seven and a half loops.

Everything else would simply be a bonus.

The Crew

The best part was getting to spend the day with two of my favourite running buddies. Angela was running the six hour race alongside me. Xavier had signed up for the infamous Gong Show, where runners complete one 7 km loop every hour, on the hour. Finish early and you wait. Miss your start and you're done.

We started together, chatting, laughing, and naturally doing what runners always seem to do...

Starting a little faster than we probably should have.

Within a few kilometres Xavier and I had settled into a comfortable rhythm, laughing as he casually ran through the forest wearing a jellyfish hat.

Trail runners are wonderfully strange people.

Loop 1

Forty minutes. Exactly where I wanted to be.

Xavier finished his loop and now had twenty minutes to wait before the next hour started.

I didn't have that luxury. Quick bottle swap. Back onto the course.

Loop 2

I remember telling myself... "Slow down."

Apparently my legs disagreed. I finished even faster than my first lap in just 37 minutes.

Not exactly according to plan.

Loop 3

This was when the effort became noticeable. Nothing dramatic. Just enough to remind me that six hours is still six hours.

I stayed patient, focused on quick feet instead of speed, and crossed the line in 39 minutes.

So far, everything was going exactly as I hoped.

Loop 4

The heat started making itself known. The forecast was calling for around 33°C, and it certainly felt like it.

I swapped shirts, grabbed a fresh ice bandana, changed bottles, and headed back out.

One thing I love about looped races is that you get lots of opportunities to adjust before little problems become big ones.

Loop 5

This was the only loop where someone passed me.

The eventual women's winner came flying by looking unbelievably smooth. I tried to tuck in behind her for a few seconds before reality quickly reminded me...

She was simply having a better day than I was.

And honestly? It was fun to watch. Sometimes you just appreciate great running when you see it.

Racing While Being a Woman

At the end of Loop 5, I made an unexpected bathroom stop. My cycle had decided race day was the perfect time to arrive. As someone who also deals with endometriosis, that's always a bit of an unknown. Thankfully this wasn't a flare up.

There were some cramps, some nausea, and all the usual challenges that many female runners quietly deal with. Fresh supplies. Quick reset. Back out onto the trail. It's not something race reports often talk about.

Maybe they should. Because it's simply part of the sport for many of us.

Loop 6

This is when the mental game began.

Instead of counting kilometres, I started counting loops. Brian, one of the amazing volunteers, helped refill my ice bandana while I got organized. Those few extra minutes of help meant I could spend less time standing around and more time moving. Volunteers truly are the heart of these races.

Loop 7

Ironically, this became my slowest loop. The funny part?

It never actually felt bad. Sometimes the watch tells a very different story than your body.

Loop 8

This became my favourite loop of the day. Not because I felt amazing.

Because I raced smart. With about fifty minutes remaining, I knew I could finish another full loop if I made good decisions.

I ran the first couple of kilometres along the rail trail before deliberately slowing things down. I walked close to 800 metres. Not because I had given up. Because I was investing in the finish.

By this point I knew dehydration was becoming an issue. At the aid station around the 4 km mark I drank an entire flask before leaving. Then I immediately turned around, filled it again, and drank even more.

That's how much my body needed. From there every decision had a purpose.

Run.

Walk.

Drink.

Check the clock.

Repeat.

When I reached the 6 km marker I looked at my watch. About ten minutes remained.

I smiled.

I knew I had it.

The final kilometre became my victory lap.

Not because I was winning the race. Because I had executed my race exactly the way I wanted.

What I Learned

Every ultra leaves you with homework. This one certainly did. The biggest lesson?

Nutrition.

Around 32 kilometres I simply couldn't swallow anymore. I was hungry. I wanted real food. But nothing seemed appealing.

That's something I need to solve before marathon season.

Hydration also became a huge takeaway.

I managed it well enough to finish strong, but I waited too long before recognizing I was behind. And then there were my shoes. My feet were very sore. The retirement papers on the shoes have officially been signed.

The Fun Was Just Beginning

Once I finished my race...

The fun really started. I changed into a ridiculous mermaid outfit. Picked up an oversized green horn. Started cheering.

The inflatable shark became our aid station mascot. The jellyfish hats made another appearance. And I spent the next several hours helping cheer Xavier through his remaining Gong Show loops.

That's trail running.

Sometimes your race finishes hours before your day does.

The People

Angela absolutely crushed her race. We hardly saw each other all day because we had each settled into our own rhythm, but she had an incredible run.

Xavier learned that the Gong Show is a completely different challenge than continuous running. Pacing is everything.

He also became my personal pit crew, refilling bottles every time he came back through camp.

Brian kept my ice bandana cold all afternoon.

Little acts of kindness like that matter more than volunteers probably realize.

And finally...

Britney. She smiled all day. Her knee wanted her to stop. Instead of fighting it, she adapted. She walked. She managed the problem instead of letting the problem manage her. She kept moving until 1:00 in the morning. She reminded all of us that walking isn't failure.

Walking is strategy.

Walking is strength.

Walking is often what gets you to the finish line.

More Than I Planned

I came to Tally hoping to complete seven and a half loops.

Instead, I finished eight full loops, covering 56 kilometres in six hours.

Even better...

I stood on the podium as the 2nd female overall. Was I excited? Absolutely. But if I'm being honest, the podium wasn't what made this day special.

The laughter did.

The costumes did.

The volunteers did.

The conversations.

The problem solving.

Watching friends accomplish hard things.

Learning more about myself as a runner.

Those are the things I'll remember years from now.

The plaque will eventually gather dust.

The memories won't.

Until Next Time

Every race teaches us something. This one reminded me that progress doesn't always come from running faster. Sometimes it comes from making smarter decisions. Sometimes it comes from slowing down. Sometimes it comes from cheering louder than you raced.

And sometimes...

It comes while wearing a mermaid costume with an inflatable shark hanging from your tent. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Trail Notes

Distance: 56 km (8 loops)
Time: 6 Hours
Overall Female: 🥈 2nd
Biggest Win: Smart pacing in the final loop.
Needs Work: Nutrition after 32 km.
Gear: Hoka Challenger 7 trail shoes. Life Sport Vest
Best Moment: Dressing up as a mermaid and cheering Xavier through the Gong Show after finishing my own race.