About 3 weeks ago I ran the @runmalibu half marathon after a grueling 10 week training cycle that had its fair share of challenges. I’d set a big goal to go from out-of-shape slow, casual runner to an attempt to be in my best shape in a very short time frame. I did it because I needed a goal. Something to push me to get out the door when there were a thousand excuses to not. So, I laced up my shoes even when I didn’t want to. I went out there and put in the miles. And sometimes I went out and I failed. Walking home sometimes 4 miles. That’s a long time to be dejectedly strolling and considering all the reasons I couldn’t keep going — stress, travel, poor sleep, heat and humidity, just getting old. The brain is wiley like that. Then one day it all clicked. All the different ares of my fitness — flow, push, burn — coupled with the old standbys of stamina and endurance just locked in thanks to a brilliant #runflow training plan developed by Coach @blue_benadum And on a very hot and humid race day on a hilly course, I ran a PR with the fastest pacing I’d ever maintained for any race and clocked a 1:39:41 (7:37/mi), ~10 mins faster than my prev PR. That I CELEBRATE. But that’s only half of what this post is about. The other part is about how hard fitness is and how elusive it can be and how much dedication it takes to maintain it. Because 3 weeks after, guess what, I’ve gotten lazy. And my fitness has fallen apart. So I want to acknowledge everyone that laces up those shoes when it’s hot or when it’s cold or when you’re just not feeling great or... there are any number of excuses to not move. So hack the the feedback loop. Set a goal. Lace ‘em up. Persist. And let’s get back out there. And if anyone wants to run a race, let’s do it. And if you need a training plan or are dealing with an injury, I’ve got a coach for you. My next race, for now anyway, is the @SBWineHalf next year. And lastly thanks to my fiancée @sophiabush for cheering me on through the whole journey and for somehow happily supporting me even while i was whinging about it ❤️ And thank you peanut butter and homemade honey English muffins for fueling my 13.1 🤘🚀