Aug. 23—JAMESTOWN — When Alexander Thomas first brought up the idea of running a race with his daughter, Ella, she thought he meant a 5K.

Turns out, that’s not what he meant.

“He really wanted to test ourselves and do something we knew would challenge us,” said Thomas, a soon-to-be senior at Jamestown High School. “He had done the Maah Daah Hey bike race in previous years and knew they had a race for runners.

“So, that was our goal — train for a half marathon,” she said. “We ran a ton last summer and when the time came for the race, we were definitely prepared. Our only goal was to just finish the race. Once we crossed the finish line, I knew I wanted to do it again.”

Ella and Alexander were two of seven runners from Jamestown who completed the Maah Daah Hey half marathon earlier this month.

Thomas’ training for her second half marathon began when the Jamestown High School track and field season ended.

“Training was definitely tough, especially in the beginning,” Thomas said. “My dad and I made a training plan that would fit both of us, as well as our goals for the race. We took it week by week and slowly built up the mileage so we had time to recover and the workouts could actually be effective.

“Training with my dad really helped motivate me because he never left my side,” she said. “We did every single mile every single day together. Training was difficult but knowing I had a race coming up was really good motivation to work hard.”

Thomas’ training plan required her to run five days per week.

“Two of those days would be a shorter distance, faster paced workout, usually either hill repeats or some type of sprinting intervals. On Saturdays I would do the longest run of the week, typically ranging from 8 to 13 miles.

“The rest of the days would just be 4 to 6 miles at a slower pace so my legs could recover,” she said. “Having two days off definitely helped prevent injury and promote recovery.”

After a summer’s worth of training the Thomas’ packed up and headed to Medora for race weekend.

“I could barely sleep the night before,” Thomas said. “I was so excited and a little nervous. Initially when I woke up I was anxious just because of how tough I knew it was going to be, especially mentally.

“But once I saw the big crowd of people gathered at the start line it all immediately turned into excitement,” she said. “I was super excited that the day I had been training for all summer was finally here and I could push hard and prove to myself that all my hard work had paid off.”

While it was exciting, the adrenaline only took Thomas so far before she became subject to external factors.

“Running a half marathon on trail is definitely a lot different than any other type of race, but it was even more different with it being the MDH,” Thomas said. “The heat is brutal out in Medora, there is a section of hills for a few miles and I thought it would never end. The race started at 7 a.m. and it was already hot before we even started.

“… About halfway through the race I started not feeling very well, I was feeling very fatigued and my water pack that I had was almost out of water,” she said. “My mind was telling me there was no way I could finish. My dad was running with me and he just kept encouraging me and telling me to keep running. Eventually there was a water station and my dad and one of the race workers took the big jug of water and dumped it on my head. I felt so much better and at the next water station, he did the same thing. That water saved me and I was able to push away the thoughts of not finishing and focus on putting in everything I had left into this last part of the race.”

Thomas wound up crossing the line at 2 hours, 44 minutes — a full six minutes faster than her previous best time.

“Crossing the finish line was a very surreal feeling,” Thomas said. “I had my dad right beside me. My mom, little sister, and grandpa were all watching at the finish line, cheering us on. Coming up to the finish line a huge smile crossed my face because I knew I had achieved my goals and had a great race, regardless of how I felt. The second I crossed the line I immediately was so happy because I did it. I laid down under the big tent and replayed the entire race in my head. I was so proud of myself for pushing through and finishing.”

A little more than a week after climbing hills in Medora, Thomas was on to her next running challenge.

“Running this half marathon didn’t just make me a better runner, it also shifted the way I think and how mentally strong I am — especially while running,” Thomas said. “Training for this race was really good motivation for this upcoming cross-country season.”

Thomas joined cross-country for the first time in eighth grade.

“My first memory of running was my first day of cross-country practice ever,” Thomas said. “I was terrified. I didn’t really like running and I didn’t know anybody on the team. But my teammates … they welcomed me, made me feel included and they cheered me on. I had tried many sports before joining cross-country, but this sport was the first one that I actually enjoyed and wanted to stick with because I felt like I fit right in.”

That feeling has never gone away.

“I have specifically stuck with cross-country because I love my team,” Thomas said. “Practicing together, bus rides together, and just being a part of this tight-knit group makes me feel so supported and it’s so fun. Even if you don’t have a good race, your teammates are still there cheering you on. Your coaches are uplifting you. I definitely consider my coaches a part of my support system. They are very encouraging and supportive of my goals and are genuinely there for me.”

The Blue Jays began practices on Aug. 11 and opened the competitive season on Aug. 23 with the team’s annual Orriginals Meet at Parkhurst Recreation Area in Jamestown.

“My goals for this cross-country season is to just keep improving,” Thomas said. “I will work hard at every practice (and) encourage my teammates. I want to feel satisfied at how I finish out my final season in my favorite sport.”

Thomas is entering her final season with a much improved mental game — largely thanks to the MDH.

“It helped me to learn my strengths and my limits,” Thomas said. “It also shifted my perspective on running. It taught me that running can be fun, even when it’s tough. It taught me that I can push myself far more than what I think. And lastly it taught me that even when you hit a wall during a race, the race doesn’t end there. Your race only goes as good as you want it to, and if you want it bad enough, you can push through that wall and achieve your goals.”