Two years ago my puppy was grown up enough to not need to be watched 24x7. My first success as a dog daddy!

So then it was time to focus on myself for a little bit. I knew that consistent running was my goal since it has helped me so much over the years. However, it had been a constant battle for consistency in the past 10 years.

I started with the goal of running for 20 minutes without stopping. After weeks of that, soreness and muscle tightness set in, and I knew that I was progressing.

Then it was running 5ks again for training. 3.1 miles. In the winter, outdoors. It wasn't pleasant, but I got it done. Listening to podcasts and audio books got me through the monotony of pounding the pavement, treadmill, and trail.

Eventually my muscular system caught up with my aerobic system, and all was well.

Fast forward two years later, and I just completed my first 50k mountain trail ultramarathon. I completed it with more gas in the tank - I could have gone further. I felt great, and knew my training effort was worth it.

This weekend is the final race of my Spring 2024 racing season. I will be running a 25k mountain race that is supposed to be more difficult than my 50k. I know it will be, too. There will be rain, thunderstorms, lightning, steep and slippery rock faces and boulders and ladders to climb up and down from. I'm not going for the win overall - this is a "B" race to me. I hiked/ran the course last weekend to prepare, so now I just need to show up.

After I complete this race, it will be heads-down work for me until the annual beach trip in late-June.

Let's get it.

Brian