BY KIM KEDINGER
Goals. There is a funny thing you should know about goals. You don’t know when you’ll be inspired by one. It could come from a conversation with someone, a place you visit, or an experience. It is always manifested by your own drive of what excites you. The best part is that your creativity is what molds it into something very unique and only fitting for you!
Goal: Run 2,021 Trail Miles in 2021
In the late fall of 2021, my athletic goal was to finish out the year by running 2,021 miles. This goal seemed obtainable in January, but as the year went by I realized how big of a challenge it was. On November 1st I needed 502.1 miles to hit this goal. My training was at its best after an amazing month of October with completing R2R2R and over 100 Ice Age Trail miles. I thought this was a perfect time to go for a 300-mile month. I mapped it out and finished the month with 300 miles. I took a step back and basked in the glory of what I just accomplished – 300 miles in a month. Truly grateful for what the human body is capable of, I knew I was set up for success. Coming into December I needed 202.1. This was not done intentionally, but it was fitting that the miles I needed were mimicking my goal of 2021 minus the decimal.
“What are you training for?”
I put in the work. I shared my progress on social media and felt the inspiration to continue on but then something unexpected happened. An outpour of questions started rolling in, “what are you training for?” “What’s your next race?” My only goal was to finish out the year by running 2021 miles. That’s it. After the questions kept coming in, it had me thinking. Should I set a bigger goal? Someone suggested the Frozen Otter 100k in January of 2022. Since it’s a local race, it’s always been on my radar. The Frozen Otter isn’t for the faint of heart; with the brutal Wisconsin temperatures, 64 miles of what can be unexpected snow or ice-covered trails, and an emergency list of items you must carry the entire length of the race. Sounds amazing right?!? Where can I sign up?
I’m a firm believer that if your goals don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.
In mid-December, I did it. I signed up for the Frozen Otter 100k. There was a large amount of fear going into this. The completion rate is less than 25% for this race. My mindset changed from running for fun to preparing to run further than I had ever run before with the added challenge of a winter race. I’m an avid winter runner, so I knew the temps weren’t going to play too big of a factor unless my pace became too slow to create body heat. I had never run 62 miles before, so I wasn’t sure if I could hold my pace for that long. I started my research on what I needed, what to expect, and what to prepare for.
On December 31st, I celebrated my goal of 2021 miles for the year. Then on January 3rd, I received COVID as my reward. The following 10 days I questioned if I should do the Frozen Otter. I was sick, dehydrated, and mentally exhausted from worrying. I tested negative 2 days before the race. I made a last-minute doctor’s appointment to get cleared to run. I got the ok.
January 15th. Frozen Otter 100k RACE DAY.
I rallied my troops (aka my pacers and crew). Everyone had a job to help me reach my goal. The morning brought a thin layer of icy snow to cover the already snow-covered trails. Temps were in the 20’s. The start was a confidence boost. I quickly realized I wasn’t the only crazy one who thought running 62 miles in the middle of winter was a good idea. Off we went.
“One amazing thing about the Frozen Otter is you can have as many pacers as you like. What started as a girl set out to complete her first 100k quickly turned into a trail party with all my favorite people.”
Kim Kedinger, Ultra Runner
The solo miles were magical. I often got lost in thought as we were in a single file line for the first 10 miles. After the big pack of racers started to break up into smaller groups, then down to sporadic runners here and there, I picked up a pacer. Miles went by and I’d pick up another pacer then another. One amazing thing about the Frozen Otter is you can have as many pacers as you like. What started as a girl set out to complete her first 100k quickly turned into a trail party with all my favorite people. The love and support both on the trails and at the aid stations were what fueled my soul to just keep going.
Bring in “The Closer.”
Overall, I was feeling really good. The miles stayed consistent and the conversations kept me distracted. Night fell and the temperatures dropped. Layers of frost covered anything my breath touched. I could feel the hair that was sticking out of my hat form into one solid piece of ice. I did a complete wardrobe change at mile 46 to give me a fresh reset to close out the remaining 18 miles. This was my biggest mistake as it took me over 2 miles to regain body temp. My pace had slowed and I called in “The Closer” to pace me to the finish. I specifically chose this individual to give me the tough love I needed to get me through those hard miles when the negative thoughts and dilutions started to creep in.
After the final out and back, with 9 miles to go, I knew I was in 3rd place with at least a 2-mile lead on 4th place. The final miles were HARD. I had to run to keep warm with the negative temps but every step hurt. I saw a landmark that gave me excitement knowing I was in the last mile. I was almost done!
The finish line.
I rounded the final corner and started pushing hard when I could hear the finish line. Little did I know they weren’t just cheering for me to finish but also telling me that a racer was closing in behind me fast. I tried to sprint but my poles started going in every direction. Right before the finish line was the park’s road crossing. When my poles hit the asphalt I lost control sending me face-first into the ground. After realizing what just happened, I dragged myself the final few feet to the finish.
I was saddened by the fact I was passed in the final feet but beyond grateful to have just finished a 100k in the winter. I completed the 64 miles in 15 hours and 17 minutes. I was the second female and 4th place overall. I’m probably the only person who’s ever received road rash from a winter trail race. Above all, it was definitely an epic finish and one to remember.
“Without my crew and pacers, this accomplishment wouldn’t have been as meaningful. The complete unselfishness these individuals showed by showing up with nothing to gain and everything to give is beyond humbling.”
Kim Kedinger, Ultra Runner
This goal was a far stretch from outside my comfort zone. Without my crew and pacers, this accomplishment wouldn’t have been as meaningful. The complete unselfishness these individuals showed by showing up with nothing to gain and everything to give is beyond humbling. The time spent together on the trails with nothing but each other’s conversations is priceless.
