Everything Starts Somewhere
and sometimes it ends at Dunkin.
Whenever I sit down to write something new, I think, “Where do I begin?”
The problem is rarely that I have nothing to say, but rather that I have too much. Alchemizing my thoughts into writing feels like trying to coax a pit full of hyperactive weasels into marching single file. Somehow, it never gets easier.
Where to begin this side project felt doubly daunting because there is so much I want to say. So many thoughts, recommendations, observations. So many TOPICS.
So, I set off on this week’s long run hoping it would bring me clarity. Perhaps it would be one of those runs where sentences land, fully formed, as if by magic; where I find myself stopping to record my thoughts in the notes app before they can be lost.
It wasn’t one of those runs.
The temperature was downright ovenly, the sun relentless overhead. The air was so thick with humidity it felt like I was holding little clouds in my palms. I felt creaky, my joints greeting me with every step, like a plastic Halloween skeleton rigged to wave at passersby. As soon as I took off, it felt like a mistake, but this was the time I’d allotted, so it was going to happen.
It was meant to be an eleven miler. I made it nine before I threw my hands up, exited the park, and hightailed it to the nearest Dunkin’ where I procured an iced latte that was — this is not hyperbole — the most satisfying thing I have ever consumed.
Then I returned to the running path, sizable cup in hand, and resumed my shuffling. It felt like cosplaying Ben Affleck in a not-so-heated foot pursuit. I am sad this footage does not exist.
On the way home, I noticed a few people giving me funny looks. Was there something on my face? Was it the sight of my hair in its frizzled braid or the salt streaked across my tank top? Did I look as gross as I felt? I chided myself for being so negative. Perhaps they thought I looked athletic, effervescent, in possession of a quiet power.
A few minutes later, I found my answer. My shorts had ripped along the seam, creating a sizable hole in a less-than-ideal location. I felt like something from the “say anything” embarrassing moments roundups from YM magazine circa 1996.
OKAY, I thought. We shall start there.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned about marathon training — or writing, or pretty much anything in life — it’s that it never quite goes as planned. Sometimes you run like the wind. Other times, like an overheated, caffeinated Sasquatch.
We start where we are. We work with what we have. We learn as we go.
Since we’re at the beginning of this journey, I’d love to hear if there’s anything you’d particularly like to hear about. Gear, training, goals, running books, random thoughts, recommendations…I’m game for anything! Feel free to comment with any questions or suggestions.
Thank you so much for reading.
In 79 days, I’m running the 2025 New York City Marathon with Fred’s Team to raise money for cancer research. 100% of every dollar I raise will go directly to the labs at MSK, where doctors and scientists are working to find new cures. To learn more, you can read my story here. A very heartfelt thanks to those who’ve already donated. ❤️
YM Say Anything!! Core memory unlocked!! Oof that’s a rough one! Truthfully, I follow another Substacker’s running tales and they’ve been quite glowy, so I appreciate the unglamorous view from the other side of the tracks. When I was a runner, my favorite part of long runs was thinking about food the entire time. Once I craved a cob salad and picked one up at the end. Another time I “drank” an entire dipping cup of ranch at a BW3s.
I just found this and am so excited! I’m in week 5 of Hal Higdon’s half training program - I’m getting back to running after 3 years of ignoring it (previously I had been running for over a decade, mostly trails and half marathons with one marathon in 2019). So I, selfishly, would love to hear anything about getting back into routines and having patience for one’s self - I was always a mid-pack runner so I’m not expecting to run a sub-2 half, but I’m currently hitting 14min/mi and it’s hard on my ego.