09/06/2026
A few days prior to my race, I went for a run/hike in Whistler. I was giggling to myself, talking to trees, animals, myself. This was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. Exactly what I wanted.
Races immersed in nature have become one of my most important priorities. Most road athletes go to the most runnable courses that suit their speed, then build up to the tougher ones. Both of my 100ks have been aggressive (14,000ft and 17,000ft) and technical.
I knew I was ready. I wanted to see what I was capable of. But even I didn’t know how ready I was.
On race day, after climbing and descending Whistler Mountain (5000ft)
I said to Ryan Montgomery, “should I be worried that I am 30 minutes ahead of where Sarah Allaben was last year?”.
Ryan: Laughing, “NO! How do you feel?”
Tina: “Good, comfortable”
Ryan: “Then keep going!”
And so I did.
By the end of the next mountain ascent and descent I was in 1st place. I made the most of the cement (literally running through the town center!). I thanked my road marathon legs for assisting me, moving me at a pace that I have spent tens of thousands of hours at.
During the next climb, I pushed, but stayed controlled. Listening for sounds behind me, hearing nothing.
The fatigue was building, my mind was jumping between, “just 4 hours left, one long run” and “ONE LONG RUN LEFT?! There is no way!”
Then it was three hours to go (“THREE HOURS! I cantttttt!”). One step at a time, just keep trusting.
And meanwhile, Ry tells me “you may have put a couple more minutes on them” (when really, it was around 30 minutes)!
And somehow, someway, even though at times it feels absolutely impossible to imagine running for another 19, 16, 11, 8 miles when it feels like your body is crumbling before you, you do it.
And in this case, you make it through the gnarliest, fingers in the dirt and hoist yourself up, turn 90 degrees, take 2 steps, then down again, turn 90 degrees, kinda running for the last 8 miles.
And when I crossed the line, I knew it was one of those rare magic days it comes together. I felt that. I also knew, I was just scratching the surface.
And today, I started my next building block. Time to get curious❤️
