turn around and hightail it straight outta there

Problem was, every time I turned up at gym for real,
just one whiff of the wood and chalk and sweat sent a cold
sense of dread right through me.

Maybe today is the day when
something will go wrong. It took all of my inner strength not

to turn around and hightail it straight outta there.

can you explain me this sentence with a basic english, please??

not to turn around and hightail it straight outta there.

not to turn 180 degrees and rapidly depart.

Thank you, konungursvia :up: