On October 14th and 15th of last year, I ran 100 miles.

It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

I built up to it for years:

Jeremy Singh @singhcredible Last month I completed my 7-year mission: ✅ 2017: Half marathon ✅ 2018: Marathon ✅ 2019: 50k ✅ 2020: 50 miles ✅ 2021: 60 miles ✅ 2022: 75 miles ✅ 2023:… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1728401610538123713 8:13 AM • Nov 25, 2023 0 Retweets 69 Likes Read 19 replies

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I cruised for the first 55 miles of the 100 miles, feeling good and on pace for less than 24 hours.

But then, in a downhill segment, something happened to my knee.

One second, I was trotting along easily, then suddenly pain shot through my knee.

I came to a complete stop.

I couldn’t run anymore.

I thought about quitting. I didn’t want to hurt myself. 55 miles was a solid run in less than 12 hours.

That was enough... right?

But I kept asking myself this one thing.

You see, there’s a point in an ultramarathon when you'll want to quit. It's unavoidable when you're out there for that long pushing yourself beyond your limit.

When you're deep in the pain cave, your mind will tell you it’s had enough. It goes into protection mode.

But the truth is you still have more. The mind is holding something in reserve in case you need it.

I was out there to give my maximum effort.

So, I kept asking myself this simple question:

How will I feel tomorrow if I quit now?

The answer was always the same.

I'd feel like I hadn’t given it my all. Like I had more to do.

I wanted to leave it all out there on the race course.

Empty the tank.

But I couldn’t run without my knee screaming at me. But I could walk without pain.

So I walked.

I worried I wouldn’t make the 30-hour cutoff. But I kept going. I stopped at mile 90 to deal with some blisters, and when I stood up, I could barely move.

My first thought was:

I’m done. That’s it.

But my wife encouraged me to keep moving - that I was nearly there and I'd feel better once I got moving again. She stayed with the last 10 miles.

She kept me in the game.

And after a while, I could walk at a decent pace.

I finished in just over 29 hours.

Jeremy Singh @singhcredible 100 miles done! Dare to dream big. 2:17 PM • Oct 15, 2023 15 Retweets 793 Likes Read 105 replies

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The problem was I was so slow (and there was a record number of 100-mile finishers) that they ran out of the coveted belt buckles reserved for 100-mile finishers.

They promised to mail me one.

Over the last few months, I had forgotten about the buckle.

But I received the package yesterday and pulled the buckle out.

All the memories flooded back.

As I write this, I can feel the pain, but also the sense of pride and satisfaction of the accomplishment. It gives me chills.

I pushed through.

If the cookie jar is where you store all your past accomplishments and obstacles overcome. The place you turn to when you're in the depths of despair to find new energy and the will the carry-on.

Then this is the biggest cookie I have:

Jeremy

P.S.

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