It was late the night before The Rut 50k in Big Sky, and Erika Flowers felt conflicted.

Ten months into motherhood, life looked completely different for the professional trail runner. Gone was the freedom of doing whatever, whenever. With her husband, Andy Newell, slated to spend the weekend sweeping the race courses across the Madison Range, she figured her time would be better spent resting and caring for their son.

Besides, her summer had already been packed with efforts and payoff: Third in the Rut VK, a lung-busting 3.8-mile climb from Big Sky Resort to the summit of Lone Peak; a top-30 finish at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc 57k in France; and a win at the Bridger Ridge Run in August. She wasn’t sure her body needed another grueling 50k.

Still, what tugged at her wasn’t the compet

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