No Drop Bag, No Service, No Quit with Brianna Mees

After wildfires stopped one 100-mile attempt at mile 60, smoke-related illness kept her from starting another, and a second Oregon Cascades was canceled altogether, Brianna Mees had every reason to wonder whether her first 100-mile finish would ever happen. But at Oregon’s Mountain Lakes 100, the hospital pharmacist and former collegiate runner finally got her shot—and crossed the finish line in roughly 27 hours and 20 minutes. Brianna joins Stephanie to break down the full Mountain Lakes experience: remote race logistics, dispersed camping, long stretches without cell service, rocky trails, tight cutoffs, a missing drop bag, worsening shin pain, and the overnight miles before a pacer finally joins the party. They also revisit the chance meeting on a miserable climb when a quick Happy Endings pep talk helped Brianna stop chasing a perfect time, eat something, reset, and start crushing the course. This episode is a candid celebration of everything ultrarunning can be: beautiful, painful, ridiculous, and deeply communal. From women dominating the race to swollen feet, trail hallucinations, and a mysterious paddle raft in the forest, Brianna’s story is proof that a bad stretch does not have to become a bad race—and that even when the original plan falls apart, you can still do something incredible. @briannamees Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]