If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be training to run 100 kilometers through the desert, I probably would’ve laughed. Not because I didn’t think it was possible, but because I never saw myself that way. I’ve always admired long-distance runners and adventurers; people who set big goals and go after them. But I didn’t grow up thinking of myself as an athlete. I was…other things. A mom, wife, business owner, and recreational runner. Someone who enjoyed the occasional long run, but whose average run was around three miles.
But something shifted.
Maybe it was turning 48. Maybe it was wanting to inspire my husband, Michael, to change his health and sign up for his first triathlon at 52. Maybe it was realizing that so much of who I am, disciplined, focused, and driven, is exactly what being an athlete requires.
So, I decided: I’m becoming one.
Not in some far-off, ideal version of myself. Not someday. Now. This version of me. The one with a full life, adult kids, and a planner always full of tasks and tabs. The one who still sometimes doubts herself, but gets up early to train anyway.
This year, I’ve signed up for some of the biggest physical challenges of my life:
🏞 River and Back
🌄 Rim to Rim to Rim
🔥 The Javelina 100K
Each one pushes me further, mentally and physically. Each one scares me a little (okay, a lot). But here’s the thing: I’m not doing them to prove something to anyone else. I’m doing them to prove I’m capable. To myself. To the version of me who thought it was too late, or that being strong belonged to someone else. Someone younger, perhaps.
I’m learning so much about fueling my body, trusting the process, managing setbacks, and finding joy in the hard miles. I’ve cried during runs. I’ve had mornings where I didn’t want to move. But I’ve also felt my heart burst with pride over little milestones that felt impossible not long ago.
This is the beginning of a new chapter, and I’m inviting you in. I’ll be sharing everything, from training updates and fueling experiments to what gear is actually working and what absolutely isn’t. I want this space to be real and encouraging, whether you’re already an endurance junkie or just thinking, “Could I ever do something like that?”
The answer, by the way? Yes.
Because it’s never too late. And if I can become an athlete at 48, you can chase whatever’s calling you, too.
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🖊 Have you ever started something that felt out of your comfort zone but deeply right? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.
Follow my journey on youtube too!
You can find lots of planner and lifestyle videos on this channel, along with some of my training videos.
This channel is coming soon!
