The morning of July 5th, waking up early in a campground is an experience. When my alarm went off, I wanted to close my eyes and try to get a little more sleep, but I got up instead.
Outside our camper, it was already warm—warmer than it had been the past few mornings. The campground was still and quiet. The sun lit up the remnants of the night before: toys, coolers, Fourth of July decorations scattered around every site, like snapshots of joy frozen in time. It made me smile.
But I had work to do.
Running Through Summer
I’ve never wanted to do a fall marathon because I don’t like doing the bulk of my training in the summer. I love running—but I also love summer and my family. Running all those miles often means missing out on both.
Plus, the heat has always been tough for me. I think I have a high sweat rate, and in warmer temps, I often finish my runs feeling drained, even sick. Still, I was determined to give this training cycle my best shot.
So I woke up even earlier to hydrate for my 11-miler. By the time I started running, my stomach was full of fluid—I felt it sloshing around, and I was a little nauseous. But I knew my body would thank me later.
Running with Friends Makes All the Difference
I ran the first 8 miles with one of my best friends. We’ve logged countless miles together—in high school, college, and beyond. We push each other in a good way.
There was a long hill on our way back, and if she hadn’t been there, I probably would have stopped to take a breather. Even after all that hydration, I was definitely feeling the effects of the heat.
After she finished her miles, I grabbed an electrolyte drink and guzzled 8 ounces, followed by a GU energy gel. I usually don’t take fuel unless I’m running 13+, but I’m learning that even on shorter long runs, it can help.
The last 3 miles I ran with her husband. That helped too. When I’m alone, it’s easy to get stuck in my own head and focus too much on discomfort. Having someone beside me, even just for accountability or pride, makes a difference.
Comebacks and Conviction
I finished all 11 miles. It was the longest I’ve run since January, when I was training for a spring marathon I never got to race due to proximal hamstring tendinopathy.
Was I tired? Yes. Dehydrated? For sure. But also proud. It felt good to complete a hard run and know a rest day was coming, followed by a lower-mileage week. I’ve used a “2 weeks hard, 1 week easy” structure for years—and it works for me.
“Running is my exercise true love—and I believe my body can still do it.”
Now that I’m over 40, I’ve had a few health professionals suggest I scale back—run fewer days, cross-train more, or even (gasp) switch to walking.
I know they mean well. But in the politest of terms: I don’t think so.
I like walking. I cross-train occasionally. I stretch and strength train and fuel wisely. But running is still what I love. And my body, even after injury, still shows up for it.
Why I Still Run
Completing that 11-miler, including a few legit hills, at a pace I once ran in my 20s? That’s a victory. It felt hard—but I did it.
Yes, I’m aging. We all are. But there are plenty of runners much older than I am still doing this—and doing it well. Why not me?
I talked about this with my friend’s husband during those last 3 miles. We’re trying to actually live the rest of our lives. And for me, that includes doing what I love—even when it’s hard.
Maybe especially when it’s hard.
Later that day, I pulled out my massage gun and worked on the same hamstring I injured back in January. It felt tight but okay. I stretched. I paid attention. I took care of myself—because I want to keep doing this for a long time.
Hard Things Are Worth It
Running is hard sometimes. Parenting is hard. Life is hard. But pushing through something physically hard helps me face the other hard things with more resilience.
And that’s why I’m still running.
Filling Up the Cup 