Aligning interests for maximum happiness, influence, and general winning at life

I'm notorious for chasing shiny objects. Mention a new idea and I'm listening. I'm getting another degree. I'm trying a new system. I'm into a new band. I'm running after that squirrel (ok, that one's my dog, but still). This is fun, and it makes for a lot of random knowledge, but it also means...

Life lessons from the training plan

Back in the fall, I started working with a running coach. In a raceless, travel-restricted year complicated by various minor injuries and a whole lot of stress, it's been such a win to have this support! It's like having a running encyclopedia, cheerleader, and planner all in one awesome human. Learning her philosophy and training...

When the outside is uncertain, Invest in yourself.

What am I NOT doing this year?  Flying. Going to concerts. Going to movies. Entering races. Eating out in restaurants. Things that use time and money, which I now have but will squander if I don’t look at this reality with intention. Of course, not all that time and money is really free— I’ve had...

Where is your soul?

Stay home, except to get medical care or essentials, and stay six feet away from other people. That was the advice, gentle at first, then more forceful, and finally, backed with a threat of fine or maybe arrest— it wasn’t clear. The change in the city was dramatic. The freeways flowed free. The commercial streets...

solstice vibes: stay safe out there, runners & bikers!

It’s almost the darkest day of the year— and it’s the start of the return of the light. Don’t worry, I’m not going to go all witchy on you (I’ll save that for my own time). Instead, I wanted to share some ways to keep active outdoors in relative safety and comfort when the light...

How (and why) to be an everyday athlete

“I’m not really a runner.” “I’m just doing a 5k”. “I just do this to keep in shape.” "I'm not really an athlete, but . . ." YES. YOU. ARE. People give all kinds of stories to explain why they aren’t athletes. But we can all be everyday athletes-- folks who use our bodies to do...