Growing up immersed in nature was an amazing privilege. Thanks to my involvement in sports, particularly cross-country and track, I was out in the elements pretty much no matter what. Rain, snow, heat, or cold — none of that stopped my family or teammates. We prepared ourselves for whatever Mother Nature threw at us. We were swept away as she transformed our various playgrounds from the lush green of summer to the majestic colors of fall, then blankets of snow giving way to the magic of springtime. 40 years later I can still hear the crunch of leaves beneath our feet as we ran through the wood ..read more

  Have you ever had a day when the thought of working out is unbearable and nothing seems to go right? Thankfully, those days have been few and far between lately – until yesterday. It was one of those days where even the sound of birds happily chirping on my way into the gym seemed to mock me. My brain was engulfed by a thick, suffocating fog that magnified my irritation. I felt disconnected from the world. My body was tired and sore before I lifted a finger. Everything was off. Even my favorite playlist failed to improve the situation. Once I started lifting, it was no better. Between e ..read more

Despite an ongoing battle with lupus, a year ago I said screw it and signed up for a half marathon. My episodes of pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of my heart causing chest pain and fluid buildup) were under control at last. I was no longer taking prednisone and was finally able to run consistently. My blood work had returned to normal and my cardiologist informed me that despite occasional heart rhythm irregularities and annoying palpitations (thanks perimenopause and covid!) my heart was strong.  What better way to celebrate than with a challenge? I knew I could cover the dista ..read more

There’s nothing like that moment of panic after receiving an email confirmation from a purchase that suddenly makes a long-term commitment a reality. Once I grasped that my membership to Planet Fitness was now indeed reality – requiring me to actually GO TO THE GYM – fear and doubt washed over me, causing me to second-guess everything! The first and last time I joined a gym  was during my senior year of college. I own dumbbells, a kettlebell, and a stability ball along with a treadmill, bike and an elliptical.  I prefer to run outside. Why would I need to join a gym? Well, for the pa ..read more

It blows my mind how unnatural, robotic and disconnected our lives have become.   This realization consumed me early one morning at Planet Fitness. I was mindlessly running on the treadmill when I glanced around and was struck by the absurdity of what I saw. On one hand, it was inspiring to see men and women of all ages and fitness levels taking time out of their schedule to pursue health. But what gnawed at  me was the feeling like I was trapped in a science fiction movie.  We were reduced to a long row of zombies perfectly lined up running and walking on machines going nowhere ..read more

It blows my mind that I haven’t consistently lifted weights since my senior year in college. Despite understanding and experiencing the benefits firsthand, I spent decades neglecting this essential  form of training. Sure, I dabbled on and off throughout the years and even bought a Crossbow machine that still sits in my basement after years of inconsistent use. But regardless of the different types of equipment I’ve accumulated over the years, and despite my best intentions, I’ve never managed to stick to a consistent routine.  Last year after extensively researching the benefits of ..read more

Don’t you love it when you read something that really penetrates your heart, subsequently triggering a wave of thoughts and revelations about your life that you never contemplated before? While reading an essay from a Christmas Bible study by Hannah Brencher, two sentences hit home. She wrote: You will miss the magic if you don’t look up…You don’t even realize you’re already standing in the once-in-a-lifetime. I’m not sure why, but those words launched my mind into soul searching mode. Memories from the past few years flooded my thoughts illustrating that God has been teaching me this all alon ..read more

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always made it a point to go for a long run on Thanksgiving morning. Hitting the pavement nice and early wakes me up and mentally prepares me for a day that revolves around food and friends. It’s also the perfect opportunity to reflect on all the things I’m grateful for. But if I’m being completely honest, what gets me out the door is the critical voice in my head insisting that if I don’t get a good run in  before the festivities begin, then I don’t deserve to enjoy the food, and I’ll be consumed by guilt all day. That sounds like a crazy thought, even ..read more

A big misconception is that you need to be motivated to get rolling. You don’t. Research shows that motivation follows action, not the other way around. You don’t need to feel good to get going, you need to get going to give yourself a chance at feeling good. – Brad Stulberg This has quickly become my favorite quote because it speaks directly to something I constantly struggle with — motivation and getting started. I’ve never been one to jump out of bed, ready and willing to take on the day. Even if what awaits me is something I’ve been looking forward to forever, the first thing I sense when ..read more

Wait! What did my rheumatologist just say?! All of my labs are back to normal, and all the markers that previously indicated lupus are now negative? It took a while for that to actually sink in after my rheumatologist appointment yesterday. But as I sat in my car pouring over my blood work results, expecting to find something he overlooked (because he has before!) I slowly realized that it was true. Once I was satisfied that my labs did indeed support what the doctor had said moments ago, I replayed the encounter over in my mind. I was convinced I would remember something that would prove it w ..read more