This spring, I stepped away from collegiate swimming after one of the hardest mental health battles of my life. Around the same time, I picked up Andy Glaze’s Smile or You’re Doing it Wrong. What I found wasn’t just another endurance sports memoir - it was a reflection on hardship, purpose, identity, and learning how to smile anyway. This book challenged the way I think about success, suffering, and what it really means to “find your trail.”

A semester defined by setbacks, growth, and figuring things out in real time. From stepping away from collegiate swimming to earning the highest GPA of my college career, training for endurance racing, and preparing for law school, this spring forced me to become far more intentional with how I live and work.

From early race nerves to grinding through the final miles, this is a lap-by-lap look at my first 50K. Constant climbing, brutal creek crossings, and lessons in pacing and nutrition all led to a second-place finish and a strong start toward bigger goals.