One finished the 100 miles. One missed the cutoff. Both walked away with lessons they won't forget.
In this episode of Tribe of Runners, Christie Brinker and I recap the 2026 No Business 100 miler. We get into everything that happened between the starting line and the finish.
After months of training, course recon, and planning to take on 100 miles without crew or pacers, and sharing our journey with you all, here its the raw truth for both Christie and I. Christie crossed the finish line in approximately 33 hours, while I was pulled at the Piney aid station after missing the cutoff around mile 75.
We break down the race from start to finish, including pacing strategy, aid-station efficiency, fueling and hydration, shoe changes, nighttime trail conditions, river crossings, nausea, knee pain, and the decisions that can make or break a 100-mile attempt. Christie shares how she managed her race, adjusted her goals, and kept moving through the long night, while I opens up about the physical challenges that ultimately ended her race.
But this conversation goes beyond race splits and finishing times.
We talk honestly about what it's like to DNF after putting so much work into a goal, how to process disappointment without letting it define you, and why separating your identity from a race outcome matters. I also reflects on the strength training and downhill preparation I wants to prioritize before my next mountainous attempt, while Christie shares the lessons she'll carry into her upcoming Southern States 200.
Sometimes a successful race means crossing the finish line. Other times, it means being honest about what happened, learning from it, and deciding what comes next.
If you're training for a 100 miler, working on your ultra race strategy, or navigating a disappointing result of your own, this episode is a reminder that there is always something to take forward.
A race result is something that happened to you. It is not who you are.
Find Christie Brinker on IG: @cbrink_
Find my Personal IG: @itslizmyers
Podcast IG: @tribeofrunners
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