Tahoe Triple: A Marathon Journey
How do you run three marathons in three days with 5,500 feet of elevation gain, especially when just a year ago you couldn’t run a mile? The same way anyone tackles a big goal—one step at a time.
When I signed up for the Tahoe Triple, I didn’t plan for it to be my first race. I just knew I needed more training time, so I pushed my original start date back by a month. What I didn’t realize was that by doing so, my first three races would now be three marathons in three days. At least it would be a flat run around a pretty lake, I thought.
That was until I spoke to my mentor, Julie Weiss—the Marathon Goddess. When I told her about my plan, her eyes got big, and she said, “Summer, that’s not a flat course.”
Going into the Tahoe Triple, I wasn’t sure if I could even finish one marathon, let alone three in three days. I’d never done anything like it before. My body was sore, my mind was constantly questioning itself, and every step felt heavier than the last. But after miles of self-doubt and fatigue, something clicked.
I realized I wasn’t just running for myself. I was running for every survivor who’s been told they aren’t strong enough, for everyone who feels they can’t move forward. So, on Day 1, as I climbed what felt like a mountain, I kept going. And on Day 2, despite aching legs and heavy breaths, I pushed through. By Day 3, I wasn’t just surviving the race—I was thriving.
There’s something about that last marathon that makes you forget all the pain. You start to realize that everything you thought was impossible is actually within reach. By the time I crossed that final finish line, I knew I wasn’t just stronger physically—I was mentally unstoppable.
Tahoe was beautiful, challenging, and everything in between, but more than anything, it was proof that no matter how impossible a goal may seem, you can conquer it. One mile, one step at a time.
