Running has been an odd adventure. It’s something that I took to later in life, something that I don’t enjoy as an activity in itself (if I was alone on a desert island, I wouldn’t run a step), and something that I find boring, exhausting, and even painful.

But it’s been an amazing journey that now defines me. From having no athletic ability in my twenties, thirties and forties, to being a part of a circle of athletes called “ultra” runners. It’s not a definition I like.

Running is hard whether you are holding on to the last curve of 800 meters, or attempting to stay awake on the final climb of 200 miles around lake Tahoe. I get it. Running is hard. However, running has possibility, and I like to think of myself as an example of that possibility. From poor health to robust health. From average bod, to athletic bod. From sedentary friends to some of the finest athletes on the planet. That’s where I am now.</p?

Most importantly, running has opened up adventures that I would never have thought possible. 477 marathons, covering 6 countries and every state of the US. Pacing 42 marathons, where my job is to keep time within seconds per mile, tell jokes, and carry balloons and a sign stating my guaranteed finish time. And then there’s that ultra thing, that includes 100 one hundred milers, and 8 crossings of Death Valley in a classic called Badwater.

But enough about me. Let’s share some time on the trail and you can tell me your own story as we aim for a 5k together. Let the next adventure begin!