Yesterday felt perfect. The weather, my energy, the trail — everything lined up. I was fueled up with electrolytes, snacks, sweet potato chips, and a sub for lunch. Dinner came courtesy of the Cave Run Chapter of the STA — hearty chili and a slice of cornbread that warmed me after a great day outside. I felt strong and was sleeping soundly, warm and cozy in my sleep system with no cold spots or discomfort.

Then, at 3 a.m., it all changed. It started with a wave of nausea, followed quickly by vomiting and diarrhea. I was stunned — I’d felt so good just hours earlier. After the first episode, I managed to drift back to sleep, but by 5:30 it hit again. I tried to hydrate with Liquid I.V., get dressed, and wait it out, but my body had other plans. Safety had to come first, so I made the tough call to pull out at 8 am when I had to make a decision.

It was a gut punch (literally and emotionally). I’d been so ready to conquer those second 12 miles, and to stop short after such a strong start felt crushing. Still, I know I made the right call. Dehydration and exhaustion out there could’ve turned dangerous fast. Amy had been sick just a couple of days earlier, so maybe it was a stomach bug that finally caught up with me. It’s hard to say if it was that, something I ate, or maybe just bad timing.

What I do know is that I’ll be back. I’m determined to make up those miles before month’s end. Tears didn’t come until I was in the car driving away. I gave myself a few minutes to feel the disappointment, then took a deep breath, wiped my eyes, and admitted the trail had rewritten the script I’d planned for the day. It wasn’t the ending I wanted, but it’s still part of the story — and I’ll be back to finish my walk to campus. This wasn’t the start I wanted, but it’s not the end of the story.

I will do a gear review soon after my headache takes a hike!