A Very Wet and Cold Race Day

I arrived in Anchorage 2 days before race day and the weather was bleak. Summer in Alaska is beautiful with long hours of sunlight but it’s never been quite what I would call warm. Growing up, it was rare to see days above low 70’s. However, this was different; the rain was incessant. In the 5 days I was in town, there was not a single hour that I was completely dry.

Race day morning was no different. When I showed up to the start line, it was already raining heavily and the temperature was in the low 50’s. Within 45 minutes I was soaked through my clothes. I ran through puddles that were up to my ankles, more than once I narrowly avoided the ones that hit me mid shin. There were points during the race that I could even see my own breath in the air; it was that cold. By the time I crossed the finish line, there was not a dry piece of clothing on my body; I had to ask a stranger to use his sweatshirt to dry off my camera to get a photo. It was so wet.

The Route

The race route started in downtown Anchorage and took runners down to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, one of the town’s popular running trails. The Coastal Trail takes runners through the woods alongside Cook Inlet. On a clear day this provides gorgeous views of Mount Susitna (commonly known as “Sleeping Lady”), Denali and downtown Anchorage. Race day it showed a lot of grey and clouds which was a bummer because I was really looking forward to this piece. Then, the trail pops out by the airport and we listened to the roar of airplanes taking off and flying directly overhead before turning around at the halfway mark of the race.

On the trail, I saw my first barefoot runner. Barefoot running is naturally impressive but in this weather I was absolutely awestruck. My feet were wet but warm with crew socks on but this guy was running on dirt trails, through mud and puddles, and beating the pavement for over 13 miles. I wish I could have talked to him but he was speedy and totally smoked me for time.

There were moderate hills built in throughout the race, for a total elevation gain of about 700 feet. The most significant was at the very end of the race. You came off the trail and ran right up this hill gaining 75feet in the last quarter of a mile. It was a killer burnout, especially in swampy shoes.

The Event Vibe

Every race event has a different energy and vibe, in part because of the people who organize it and in part because of the people who show up on race day. Something notable about The Skinny Raven Half Marathon was the effort for a culture of inclusivity. For one, this race is the first that I have participated in that offered two different start times: the regular start and a 1 hour head start for participants planning to take more than 3.5 hours to finish. Because of this, I saw a wider variety of ages, sizes, and experience levels than I have seen so far. That was very cool.

The other notable choice was to have volunteers to run the final half mile and burnout hill with people. This race is also the first that I have experienced with anything like this. As someone who runs alone and often without anyone to meet me at the finish line, this was very cool to see. The organizers of the Skinny Raven Half Marathon ensured no runner finished alone, which I think is beautiful.

Takeaways and Areas for Improvement

There is always a way to grow and get better and this race was no different for me. Running at sea level after training in the mountains gave me a natural advantage but this hilly course made it hard to ignore that I have been avoiding any kind of hill training. Going forward, I am going to be more intentional with my training in this area.

I also made a poor choice and fueled poorly. Fueling has consistently been a weakness for me; I struggle to eat before and don’t fuel often enough during. This time, I was underprepared and didn’t bring enough gels. Luckily, they gave me two at the mile 8ish aid station but if they hadn’t I would have been very sorry by about mile 10.5 or 11. This was a good reminder to keep an extra 2 or 3 in my pack.

Lastly, I sadly left my race bib in my rental car which was such a bummer. Luckily, I have my medal but I’d be lying if I said I am not super disappointed by that. In addition to this, I missed collecting my finisher glass at the end of race expo. The organizers said they will mail it but if I had to give any feedback it would have been to have them with medals, not at a separate tent that was not well marked.

Overall, the Skinny Raven Half Marathon was a fun way to experience the town I grew up in. I don’t think I would shell out the money to do this exact race again but I hope to make it back to do another in Alaska. Hopefully in weather that is a little more sunny and a lot less wet!

Next race: The Divide Trail Race - 25K

The Plan

I decided to map a route up the access road to see our lady of the Rockies, over the continental divide trail and down Maude s canyon. The route had a total of just over 13 miles distance with around 2500’ of elevation gain. The easiest way to conceptualize this is in 3 parts:

1. Access Road to Our Lady of the Rockies Viewpoint

2. Continental Divide Trail Connector

3. Maude S Canyon Trail - Top to Bottom

Section 1: Access Road to Our Lady of the Rockies Viewpoint: 6 miles and 1950’ of vert

The first section of this trek was just up the access road taken by the shuttle bus to transport visitors. I have taken this tour one time and I remembre the ride being agonizing. It was slow and bumpy and someone thought it’d be a nice trip with my 3 week old baby. I would never recommend that to anyone

Nearly all of the elevation gained was during this section of the trek. It felt as though I was power hiking uphill the entire time and there was definitely more than one point where I questioned my sanity in this decision.

The shuttle passed me twice in this upbound section, both going up to see the Lady and coming back down. This exercise in humiliation saved me $35 since that is the cost of a tour for any interested adult. This also meant I had to scramble over the third gate since it was locked - what a rebel.

This section of my trek was about 6 miles long and 2000’ of elevation gain. It definitely left me questioning my choices.

At the top though, the view was worth it. The Viewpoint of Our Lady of the Rockies has a couple things to see.

View Point

First, there is of course, The Lady. Our Lady of the Rockies is the 4th tallest statue in the United States and stands 90 feet tall, and 48 feet at her widest point, weighing 425 tons (850,000 lbs). She stands at 8510 feet above sea level. It took 6 years for her to be built from 1979-1985. Imagining the manpower it took to build her is worth considering once you get over the breathtaking view.

About Our Lady of the Rockies

Our Lady of the Rockies is one of the most well known landmarks of Butte, Montana. A massive, white statue on the east ridge illuminated by spotlights so she can be seen from anywhere in butte at anytime of day, She is magnificent. But knowing her story, she gets even cooler.

Her story, as told on the foundation website is, as follows:

“In the late 1970s, Joyce O’Bill was sick with cancer. Her husband, scared he would lose her, made a promise. If she survived, he would create a monument in her honor.

Joyce made a full recovery and Bob made good on his promise. What started as a small act of love now stands before you as the fourth tallest statue in the United States.

The culmination of six years of hard work and undying faith placed Our Lady of the Rockies atop the Continental Divide. Construction of the statue started in 1979. The people of Butte, MT, from all demographics, volunteered their time. As well as building the statue, they created the access road that visitors arrive on. Meanwhile, volunteers were working to raise needed funds through memorials and other projects. They poured the 400-ton concrete base in September of 1985, and on December 17, 1985, the statue was ready to be airlifted. Thousands watched as the Nevada Army National Guard, the Montana National Guard, the US Army Reserve from Butte, and teams of civilian workers all moved the statue to the mountain in four sections.

For the community who contributed to the project, a dream had finally become reality. Our Lady of the Rockies is entirely nondenominational and a tribute to women and mothers everywhere. Built in the likeness of Mary, Mother of Jesus, she draws visitors from all over the world to honor, remember, and send love to the women in their own lives.”

The Valley Overlook

There is also the view of the valley below. Butte, MT is known as “the richest hill on earth” because of its historical role as the major copper producer in the United States during the 19th century. The greatest landmark is the Berkeley Pit, once an open pit copper mine, it is now one of the largest Superfund sites in the United States. The pit is an acidic pond that is beautiful to look at but incredibly toxic to plants, animals, and people. But it sure is pretty.

The Memorial Wall

Additionally, around the base of the observatory on the mountain is a wall covered with the names of over 13,000 women who have died around the world. For $25, you can purchase a plaque to have the name of a loved one added to this

Section 2: Continental Divide Trail Connector - 4.5 miles and 500’ of vert

After enjoying the sights at the top, it was time to locate the CDT. I’m not gonna lie: it took a minute. The entrance to the CDT is down from the memorial and off to the side, not amongst the side road that seemed to be going in the same direction before ending abruptly.

Very quickly I realized the CDT was going to be very different and much more rugged than anything I have run on in years.

I’m not a road runner but I have stuck to mostly paved trails this year the CDT is… wilderness. I loved it. I’m talking lots of rocks and fallen trees to climb over. Massive rock formations to look at and not a soul in sight. It was glorious.

For the next 4.5 miles I traversed the rugged trail through the woods and soaked in the views, only gaining about 500 feet of elevation before reaching the top of one of Butte’s most popular trails: Maud S.

Section 3: Maude S Canyon Trail - 3 miles, all downhill

You’d think after all the elevation gain, I’d be grateful for the downhill. And to a degree, I was. But I would also say this section felt the longest and like it dragged on forever.

It felt as though town never seemed to get any closer whenever I peered through the trees. It was filled with switchbacks and surrounded by fallen trees as it went steadily downhill.

Finally the trail popped out into a beautiful meadow area with the choice of a fork. I took the right fork through a grassy and flowered winding route, finally entering familiar territory. It was beautiful and picked up speed as well as brought a couple mountain bikers. I jogged the final stretch from the tracks down to the parking lot, ending on a high note after a very long day.

Final Thoughts…

This was probably my 7th real trail run ever and my 1st with significant distance. I spent about 6 hours out that day but I’m not sure how much of that was taking in the sights at the viewpoint. I used about 8 gels and drank 1.5 liters of water. And two days later, my calves and my glutes were wrecked. All in all, it was a success.

I plan on running this again before the end of the year, and hiking it at least once with my family. My next trail run though will actually be The Divide 25K, I was inspired to sign up by this experience. There isn’t as much elevation but it’s in the same area.

Here is to my next adventure!

“Can I post this photo of you?”

She flopped down beside me and immediately slipped into her comfortable spots. With her sharp little chin nestled into my clavicle, she peered at the phone in my hand; her fleshy little hand wrapped on my waist, and her smooth legs intertwined with mine as little kids always seem to do. She smiled at the FaceTime screen grab and seemed to contemplate it for a second. Then she said, “yeah, that’s a good one; you can share it.” She quickly unentangled herself and went back to jumping, jostling me on the hot trampoline.

It felt awkward, but also right in a way hard to describe.

She is only seven and already seven, all at once. We teach her to ask before hugging and to tell people if they’re making her uncomfortable. She knows her body is hers and that her voice matters. We talk to her both explicitly and non explicitly about consent.

So why does consent not extend to others sharing her photos and memories with the world?

This is one of the hard questions I asked myself about 6 months ago as I was considering the role of social media in my own life. Ultimately, I decided to scale back the photos I share of my children (for a multitude of reasons). Then I deactivated nearly all my social media anyway.

However, I still frequently consider this question and can’t say I am confident in the “right” choice. I’m sure my opinion will continue to evolve. But in the meantime, the bare minimum feels like asking before I share.

And honestly? I’m still not sure if I will post that photo, but now I have permission to if I decide to.

One of the things I considered as I was planning my race line-up was how to keep myself engaged and on track. I knew that, for me, this meant challenging races and beautiful locations.

I started by browsing RunSignUp and noting every race that looked fun or interesting locally before expanding my radius. I created a spreadsheet with dates, races, distances, costs, locations, causes, and cutoff times. I then worked through my list, ruling out the ones that didn’t work before selecting my final choice. In addition to my initial list, I have had friends reach out, and opportunities have arisen that I haven’t been able to turn down.

The Final Line Up

In the end, I ended up with far more than 12 races, a mix of distances and locations, as well as novelty, challenge, and beauty. Below is a breakdown of the races I chose each month, where they are, and why they made the list.

March 2026

Run to the Pub Half Marathon - Bozeman, Montana

This half-marathon was chosen to complete with a group of friends, so that I had made a promise to someone other than just myself.

St. Patrick’s Day Color Run - Butte, Montana

This fun run was perfect for the whole family.

April 2026

River Road Half Marathon - Gallatin Gateway, Montana

I chose this half-marathon because it was the next one available to me and FREE. The local running club hosted it and was the first time I ran with a longtime friend.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day Color Dash - Bozeman, Montana

Another fun low-pressure family event that coincided with our family trip to Yellowstone.

May 2026

Beaverhead Half Marathon - Dillon, Montana

This half-marathon checked the box and kept my travel budget low. It also came with a neat corduroy hat instead of a race shirt and an embossed leather finisher “medal”

Montana Women’s Run - Billings, Montana

This 5-mile race wasn't originally on the docket, but a friend who had moved away reached out to say she was coming back to run it for her first race, and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to connect and experience it together.

Billings Skyline Races - Billings, Montana Virtual

I signed up for this inaugural race, excited for the course, a brand-new addition to a running path I loved years ago. Unfortunately, my child care fell through, and I had to change to a virtual option; I completed my half-marathon by tackling a local route with over 2400’ of elevation gain. This one was way outside of my comfort zone, but a great challenge.

June 2026

Missoula Marathon Weekend - Missoula, Montana:

• Tony Banovich 5K - this marked my 13-year-old niece’s first-ever race, and I got to complete it alongside her.

• Missoula Kids Marathon - both my kids ran this one and received a medal; my one-year-old even crossed the finish line on his own two feet, and it was very, very cute. The opportunity to include them in this sport I love is on my high list of priorities.

• Missoula Half Marathon - the Missoula Half Marathon was my first BIG race event, with an entire expo, official marathon photos, and an entire city-wide celebration. This experience was what first prompted me to sign up, and I do not regret it.

July 2026

Skinny Raven Half Marathon - Anchorage, Alaska

This race is my first out-of-state race and also my first time returning to the place I was raised in 10 years.

The Divide Trail Race 25K - Butte, Montana

This one is my first technical trail race as well as my first distance greater than a half-marathon. It will be 25K and somewhere around 2100’ of elevation gain.

Christmas in July Half Marathon - Virtual

The chance to chase another PR on that mountain trail where I completed the Skyline Half Marathon deserves a medal. Finishing it will undoubtedly feel like Christmas, and I might even see some snow up at the 8100’ peak.

August 2026

Smelter City Scamper 10K - Anaconda, Montana

The Smelter City Scamper is a race I was too afraid to sign up for 5 years ago, so I am doing it for my younger self. It also makes a great B-race to run with my niece as we prepare for Cape Fear in October.

Double Race Weekend - Washington State:

• Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon - Tacoma, Washington

  This half-marathon will be the first for the friend who came for the Montana Women’s Run, and I am beyond honored to run it with her.

• Iron Horse Half Marathon - North Bend, Washington

  This race came up as I was registering for the Tacoma Narrows, and the idea of the challenge excited me, so the proximity made it hard to pass up. I’m already paying to travel there, so I might as well get as much bang for my buck by squeezing in 2 half marathons back-to-back.

September 2026

Carpe Diem/Carpe Noctem (Double Half Marathon) - Virtual

I would have loved to travel to North Carolina to complete this race, and it is now on my bucket list. However, I could not pass up the challenge of running 2 half marathons in 1 day. It also comes with a very cool interlocking medal - one for the day and one for the night. I intend to mirror the in-person event schedule by running the Carpe Diem at 6:30 am and the Carpe Noctem at 4:30 pm. I will use this opportunity to run along the Skyline Trail in Billings for at least part of it.

Bozeman 10K - Bozeman, Montana

• The Bozeman 10K was the 1st official race I ever did, back in 2015, when they still offered a 5K. Returning to my roots and getting a bottle opener medal to celebrate the achievement? Sign me up.

Montana Marathon Weekend - Billings, Montana

• Little Buzz Run

  Another opportunity to share this hobby with my littles and another finisher medal to add to their collection, as well as a 1-mile shakeout for me before I tackle my biggest race yet.

• Montana Marathon

  I signed up for the full marathon as a challenge to myself. This will also mark nearly exactly 6 months since I completed my first half-marathon.

October 2026

Cape Fear Half Marathon - Bald Head Island, North Carolina

With family in the area and having read David Goggins’ memoir no less than 4 times, I could not turn down an opportunity to run a race put on by Badwater. Maybe one day I will tackle the Badwater 135, but Cape Fear seems like a good compromise for this year.

November 2026

Hot Cider Hustle 10K - Virtual

I am traveling to Pennsylvania for work and was looking up races. I am unsure if I will arrive in time to complete this one in person, but I intend to do it in the state.

Harrisburg Half Marathon - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I will already be in the area for work, and what better way to check off my November half-marathon than to find one in the area I am already traveling to. It was rad to find a half-marathon that aligned so nicely with my travel plans.

December 2026

Honolulu Marathon Weekend - Honolulu, Hawaii:

• Kalakaua Merrie Mile

  This race will be a 1-mile race that I will do with just my daughter. After completing 4 others this year, she will be more than ready to push herself and truly earn the medal.

• Honolulu Marathon

  Honolulu Marathon is an untimed marathon in Hawaii and was the perfect addition to our winter family vacation. I bet the views will be absolutely unmatched.

Goodbye 2026, Hello 2027

New Year’s Double - Virtual

This felt like the perfect way to ring in the new year: a half-marathon on New Year’s Eve, followed by a half-marathon on New Year’s Day. I cannot travel to Texas, but I do like that I have to submit proof of tracking and dates to receive my medal for this set of virtual races.

January 2027

SnoFlinga 5K - Butte, MT

This will be a fun festival 5K that is free and perfect for the whole family.

Sorry ‘Bout That Half Marathon - Polson, Montana (part 1 of the Frozen Fool Challenge)

Another 2-part challenge? Surprise, surprise. It is also nearly impossible to find a half-marathon in Montana in January, so this was the pick.

February 2027

RunSedona Half Marathon - Sedona, Arizona

Falling the day before my birthday and marking my 12th consecutive month of half marathons, this race felt like it was made for me. My husband and I have also planned it as a couples trip, celebrating my birthday and leaving the kids with family for the weekend for the first time.

Snow Joke Half Marathon - Seeley Lake, Montana (part 2 of the Frozen Fool Challenge)

This was the 2nd part of the Frozen Fool Challenge, so there is no way I was leaving this box unchecked.

March 2027 (Bonus Month)

Run to the Pub Half Marathon - Bozeman, Montana

This will be an opportunity to see how much I have achieved in a full year since running my first Run to the Pub. I can’t wait to absolutely demolish my performance from 2026 and taste the win.

Cool Factor

This challenge feels super cool just for the accomplishment. To say I completed at least 1 half marathon per month for 12 consecutive months is pretty rad. However, there are more accomplishments I feel add to the cool factor of the entire experience.

My Top 3 Fun Facts:

1. My 20th Half Marathon will be Run to the Pub in March 2027, bringing me full circle from my very first (even though it does not fall within the 12 months)

2. My 31st race will be the day before my 32nd birthday. This will mark my 12th consecutive month of half marathons. You truly cannot beat that for serendipity.

3. My half-marathon-per-month promise is not fulfilled by running full marathons. Even in the months I run a marathon, I have stayed committed to my promise to myself of a half that month.

Total Events: 32 Races

• 2 full marathons

• 19 half marathons

• 5 family races

• 6 other distances - 5K, 10K, 25K or somewhere in between

Locations:

• Races in 8 Cities in Montana: Bozeman, Butte, Dillon, Missoula, Anaconda, Billings, Seeley Lake, and Polson

• Half Marathons in 7 States: Montana, Alaska, Washington, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Arizona

• Half Marathons on both East and West coasts: Washington & Pennsylvania

• Half Marathons in both states outside the continental United States: Alaska & Hawaii

Cost

• My least expensive race was the River Road Half Marathon at $0

• My most expensive race was the Cape Fear Half Marathon at $169

• The total of race registrations was (don’t tell my parents or my husbanas just under $3000, including those purchased for family and friends who joined in the ,fun but not including race insurance that I purchased.

3-2-1 Challenges:

• 3 back-to-back race events with double half marathons

• 2 race weekends with multiple days of events

• 1 event with 2 races in one day

At the end of the year, I will provide an update on how everything went. But in the meantime, I will post notes with my 6 favorite pictures from each race day. Thanks for your support, I might need it.

How We Got Here

In December 2025 I had a crazy idea. After roughly 18 months of minimal movement I was going to start running again. And to motivate myself and keep myself on track I was going to sign up to complete my first half marathon… 10 weeks into the new year.

Less than 36 hours after finishing my first half marathon I signed up for my second… one month later. And 2 weeks after that decision I signed up for 5 more races, including my first full marathon 6 months later.

By this point I had put in around 365 miles since January 1 so I was clearly committed to running. But the few people I shared this with thought my race schedule was a little ambitious.

So naturally, I set my sights on an even loftier goal: 12 half marathons in the next 12 months.

Not eager to hear the naysayers I kept this little plan to myself and began to research and plan races.

The Reality of Coordinating

I am not a 22 year old with minimal obligations nor am I an independently wealthy retiree. I have a full time job. My husband has a primary job that has a rotating schedule as well as a second job that pulls him away for atleast a weekend each month. Plus we have 2 small children and unfortunately not a huge circle that is willing or able to drop everything to care for them. Oh, and we live in rural Montana. The logistics of it nearly killed me but I was determined.

As I began to plan my roster I considered a few things:

• Schedules - my job, my husband’s schedule, school events, sports, social obligations, and childcare definitely left my head spinning at times.

• Cost - race registration can get pricey but there are other factors to consider as well such as gas, other transportation (like flights and rental cars), lodging, and food.

• Location - living in rural Montana has its perks… and abundance of close races is not one of them. I found a lot of opportunities around the state but 3+ hours of travel is pretty standard for consideration. Also: might as well take advantage of opportunities to see good friends and check out cool experiences while I’m at it.

• Cool factor - if I’m going to pay to run, I’d like to find some cool opportunities. Destination runs aren’t always in my budget but I sought out views and challenges to keep myself interested throughout the year

Final Race Registration Count:

33 Events with 19 half marathons, 2 full marathons (and a smattering of other events)

You can read about the races I chose and why I chose them here:

The Journey So Far…

So far, I have completed 10 events; this includes five half marathons, two 5Ks, one 5 miler, and three family “fun” runs.

In training, I have logged 842.5 miles of running this year and have spent a shocking amount of money on race registrations. I also now own 4 pairs of running shoes, have discovered the joy of open ear headphones, and 20% of my diet is comprised of Gu gels.

These last four months have been some of the most rewarding and challenging in recent years. They have definitely been the most dedicated I have been to myself and some people would even say the most selfish. But I’ve never felt more secure and confident and stable.

“You’re so unhappy”

Don’t get me wrong: I’m incredibly grateful. But I have a horrid little creature that creeps in, especially late at night.

I’m disgusted with My Discontentment. I try to close doors on it by doing things like deleting social media and running until my big toes feel like they will fall off but it always thrusts its ugly head back in through the cracks. Cracks of frustration and overwhelm. Cracks of exhaustion. Cracks formed by feelings of inadequacy.

My Discontentment is an expert at exploiting the chaos and has the patience of a saint. She slips in between the dirty diapers and the ceaseless sound of pings from Microsoft Teams. Slithers amongst the 5 schedules I constantly juggle, afraid I am forgetting something.

My Discontentment worms her way in and stares at me with big unblinking eyes, daring me to acknowledge her. Daring me to do something about her.

And lately, I haven’t.

Instead I just ignore her and browse RunSignUp, searching for another half marathon even though I know I have looked at every race and filled every available weekend.

But I do it anyway.

And My Discontentment, bored with me, slips away for the evening.

And I sigh a shallow breath of relief as I close the browser and open Substack.

I win. Again.

As much as people want to talk about how “different” it is than social media, it’s still social media.

Is it the lack of endless videos?

Is it the completely formed thoughts?

Is it the vulnerability that feels (even if it’s just slightly) less performative?

All of these things have been a bit of a breath of fresh air after over a decade of Instagram’s increasingly monopolistic grip on my attention.

But it’s more.

It’s the lack of “likes” and followers. It’s the anonymity. It’s the fact that no one knows me or is watching me or really gives a damn about what I’m saying.

Not once have I thought about what the ambiguous “they” will think about what I’m posting.

Or wondered if “they” saw my post.

I haven’t considered the silent quid pro quo of liking something since I downloaded Substack.

Or felt that twinge as I wondered why “they” saw my reposted post on my story and still didn’t like it.

I don’t agonize over whether my caption is the right degree of interesting and informative but also nonchalant.

Or what story the order of the pictures in the carousel was telling.

Or whether the spacing of the song on my reel is *just* perfect.

Substack is just me and my thoughts and what I feel inspired to share, when I feel inspired to share it.

It’s just me and my iced chai and breakfast sandwiches enjoying the perfect 70 degree weather.

Will it always be like this?

I can’t be sure but, honestly? I don’t really care. This is what it feels like right now.

And that’s really what is freeing.

What I brought:

The recommendation for fueling is about 60-90g of carbs per hour but that feels like a lot for me. However running for 6-10 miles on 3 gels and vibes just isn’t cutting it anymore either.

What I used:

My run today was roughly 3 hours and I fueled with 137 g of carbs and 585 calories. I drank about 72 oz of water. I had a scoop of preworkout and a protein shake about 45 minutes before heading out as well.

Next Time:

Overall, I felt pretty good and wasn’t nearly as gassed by the end of the run like I have been. I also didn’t sweat salt like I have been on my previous long runs.

Based on recommendations I should be consuming 180-270 g of carbs on 3 hour runs. Next time I will try about 50g more carbs and 2 electrolyte mixes instead of 1 and this should place me right in the correct range.

Several years ago I started setting goals on a quarterly basis rather than annually and found it so much easier to stick to them and stay focused. However I am not great at going back and reflecting on my wins. So this year I am doing things a bit different.

At the beginning of 2026 I sat down and wrote out some goals and intentions for the quarter and last week I made a note of some of the wins for the first three months of the year.

And let me tell you… 2026 has been good to our family so far.

Here are our wins:

☑️I completed my first half marathon event

☑️I lost 20 pounds

☑️I intentionally Ran/Walked 422.8 miles

☑️I established a skincare routine (and stuck to it!!)

☑️G ran her first race (on her own 2 feet)

☑️We celebrated R’s first birthday

☑️R has chosen his first (clear) word: “hi”

☑️N started back with the department (and accomplished it within a year of moving back, as we intended to)

☑️N earned a promotion and a new unit

I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish with the next three months!