From September 21st to 23rd, Summer took on the challenge of running 100 miles. After reaching 50 miles, every step was uncharted territory, pushing her beyond anything she’d ever done before. Despite the incredible difficulty, she finished in second place.
“I didn’t choose what happened to me, but I do choose how I rise from it.”
– Summer Willis
I’ve finally had enough sleep to tell you all more about my 100-miler race. As many of you know, I never imagined running 100 miles in my life—I didn’t think it was possible for me. A year ago, I could barely run a mile, and even now, I’m still carrying some extra weight. Everyone I know who’s attempted 100 miles hasn’t crossed the finish line, but I’m determined to complete my goal of 29 marathons in a year. This was marathon #26, and I needed to finish it, no matter what. So, off to Sacramento I flew.
I arrived with a game plan: marathon, sleep, marathon, sleep, with everything mapped out, right down to when I’d eat, drink, and reapply my sunblock. But as soon as I got there, everything changed. It was HOT. There wasn’t an ounce of shade on that one-mile loop, and the heat was relentless. My tent felt like an oven, like an ant being baked under a microscope. Instead of sticking to my plan, I kept pushing forward, no big breaks, just one step at a time.
It could have been a miserable experience, but the people I met along the way made it one of the most empowering moments of my life. I met a man who had once been addicted to heroin, spent time in jail, and decided he was ready to change. Now, he’s one of the most well-regarded professional ultrarunners in the sport. I met a courageous woman who fled a domestic violence situation after surviving cancer. Running helped her rediscover her strength. Another woman sang church hymns as she ran, and she placed first in the race. Then there was a man who couldn’t save a life and once had plans to take his own but instead chose to teach CPR to over 10,000 people. He now holds ten world records.
These conversations made the miles easier. These incredible people shared their stories of resilience, and through their strength, I found my own.
The race director, Brian, deserves a special shoutout. When night fell, I wanted to sleep. I managed to get an hour’s rest, but then Brian knocked on my tent. I groggily said I wanted to sleep more, and he responded with tough love: “No, you want to finish. You want that belt buckle.” In that moment, he didn’t offer me the easy way out. He pushed me to keep going, and because he told me what I needed to hear instead of what I wanted to hear, I kept moving and crossed that finish line before I would’ve woken up from my alarm.
Mile 90 was my breaking point. I face-planted in the dark, completely spent. My blisters had blisters, I hadn’t eaten anything but broth and pickle juice for days, and I’d barely slept six hours in total. I felt defeated. But then, up in the sky, I saw the first shooting star of my life. It was quick, but it was there—a reminder from my Papaw that he’s with me, that even in the darkest moments, there’s light. That small, brilliant moment gave me the strength to keep going.
When I crossed that finish line, the tears came. I have never been so proud of myself. I was exhausted beyond belief, but I did it. I, Summer Willis, do hard things.
And then, this morning, I received an unexpected email. I found out I placed second in my very first 100-mile race, and my trophy is on its way. This achievement wasn’t because of skill or athleticism. It was because I signed up, I showed up, and I didn’t give up. And that’s something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
