Canadian trail champ Priscilla Forgie has racked up some top results over the past few years, hitting the podium in races like Chuckanut 50K in Washington State (where she took third in March) and claiming top 10 spots at Western States in both 2023 (when she finished seventh) and 2024 (when she took ninth and ran a near-15 minute PB). Last weekend at Kodiak by UTMB 100K in Big Bear Lake, Calif., Forgie hit the podium in second place—but it was a battle as she rebounded from near-disaster. Post-race, Forgie shared tips on how to make a comeback when trouble strikes mid-race–and her advice is by no means limited to trail runners.
“The universe threw me a curveball with this one,” Forgie posted on social media. “Stomach issues hit me again, this time nausea before the race began. By 60K, I started toying with the idea of DNFing, as I found myself diving off the trail every few kilometres for bathroom breaks, gagging as I tried to eat, desperately holding back the vomit so I didn’t lose precious calories, and shivering from a freeze response after having cold water [to combat the rising temperatures outside] poured on me.” To top all of these challenges, Forgie fell and took a hard hit to the head near the 70K mark.
Fuelling through the struggle
Forgie knew that staying fuelled was crucial to finishing her race, despite the physical challenges she faced. “Calories were key,” she said, explaining how she stayed on her fuelling schedule even when nausea hit. She made slight adjustments, allowing her stomach time to settle. Forgie understood that if she started vomiting too much, her race could spiral out of control. But by sticking to her plan and forcing herself to keep food down, she maintained the energy she needed to keep moving.
Cooling down to push on
Facing extreme heat, Forgie knew she had to manage more than just her fuelling. “The heat wouldn’t help with my nausea, so I cooled all day,” she said. She prioritized cooling her body, recognizing that overheating could make her symptoms worse. When the cold started to creep in, she would stop briefly, then focus on keeping her body moving and staying on track with fuelling. By managing her body temperature, Forgie was able to prevent the nausea from getting worse, allowing her to push through the race.
Riding the waves
Every race comes with ups and downs, but Forgie was prepared to endure the toughest lows. “The lows sometimes felt eternal,” she said, but she kept reminding herself that pushing through for another 30 minutes would likely bring a shift. For her, it was all about riding the waves, even when it felt like she was facing a “tsunami.” With the clear mind that racing brings her, Forgie distracted herself by pondering goals and thinking about things she would usually avoid. By taking things one step at a time, she was able to push through the darkest moments and finish strong.
Canadian ultrarunner Priscilla Forgie loves this super-quick soup
Embracing the struggle
Forgie’s race was far from perfect, but she wanted to share the tough moments as a reminder of why athletes do what they do. “I don’t normally do big race recaps, but I thought this one was important, as it shows the not-so-pretty side to racing,” she said. While many non-runners might think she’s crazy, Forgie knows that, for most athletes, finding strength in the struggle is what shapes them. “Even if it feels like you’re treading water in the moment,” she says, the challenges ultimately lead to growth.
Forgie wasn’t the only Canadian runner who excelled at Kodiak by UTMB—the 100-mile race saw Canadians Coral Buitenhuis of Squamish, B.C., and North Vancouver’s Kate Butcher claim second and third respectively, following race winner Cordis Hall of the U.S. In the 21K race, Calgary’s Brandon Miller took the overall win.
Kodiak by UTMB offers 100-mile, 100K, 50K, 21K and 20K distance over two days of racing. Just a couple hours from Los Angeles, the Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB has runners starting and finishing in the heart of downtown Big Bear Lake, and running through high desert, sub-alpine, and semi-arid climates over each distance. The 100K race features 3300m of elevation gain.
For full results of the Kodiak by UTMB races, head here.
