I had been wanting to run this route for a long time. I'm still dealing with hip pain and sciatica, but every now and then I get a good day where trail running is possible, and I try to make the most of it. I got a late start, which probably meant the trails were a bit drier—but they were definitely much hotter. I brought gummies, 1 liter of fluids (2 bottles of water and 2 bottles of electrolytes), an applesauce pouch, and a Coca-Cola gel. The first half of the run felt great. The second half reminded me exactly why this trail is called HURT. By kilometer 16, I had completely run out of water and had already finished the applesauce. The Coca-Cola gel was the last bit of anything resembling a liquid that I had left. When I caught myself thinking about drinking from muddy puddles, I knew it was time to slow down. Still, I was determined to finish the loop. I had no idea when my hip would let me run this kind of distance again, so I didn't want to waste the opportunity. I made that gel last as long as I possibly could, and then I got lucky enough to find some guava berries growing along the trail. They tasted like the best thing I'd ever eaten and gave me the mental boost I desperately needed. The run took much longer than I had expected, but I finished it. Looking back, it was an adventure I'll definitely remember—and a pretty good story to tell.