When I turned 49, I realized I would need to do something BIG and suitably impressive (to myself at least) before I turned 50. I decided on running a marathon — even though, or perhaps because, I has never been a runner in my entire life. I started training, trained for a month or two and got a twinge in my left knee/calf. I stopped, and waited a month for it to heal, and then just .. didn’t start again. Months went by, then I started training again without a marathon in mind. While training, I went to a breakfast with a board member and she recommended the Rehoboth Marathon as flat and not super busy but allowing lots of support. And it was on the weekend after my training was finishing! So I signed up, and my son signed up for the 1/2 marathon, and we got an Air BnB, and I did it! It took just over 6 hours and I walked the last three miles with four best friends who came to cheer me on, but I did it!

This year, for fitness, I decided to try and run every run in the Nike Run Club app. As a friend pointed out to me, I’d already done most of the long runs … so I had to run a half marathon, and several 5 mile etc. runs, but most of the long runs were done, and so I have done it. Well, I am doing it — but I keep taking months off and then time ticks by. I am now in the final stretch and needing to run every day for three months … which means lots and lots of short runs, but annoying when I am traveling.

Sept. 1 was my husband’s 54th birthday, and I thought — oh, I won’t run cause we will have such a delicious day! And we did! Until our flight was cancelled, late at night, and we had to drive the 13 hours back to DC that night and the next day. And Oliver stayed up with me and chatted while we drove — so we made it to North Carolina by 2:30 a.m., and then checked out by 8 a.m. and my husband drove the rest of the whole way home. Made it at noon, and got grocery shopping done, and started laundry (Jason and kids did) and … still had to run (yes, we were eventually getting back to running). Even though I only did a 15 minute one, I was just so drained and tired.

But! It’s RARE but it happens — that 15 minute run felt like I had improved a whole lot, and that I was doing well. So, I guess it’s good that the slog continues … And even though our transportation was terrible going down and back, we had really important times with my husband’s beloved mother and family.