What I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Running at 50 Spoiler Alert: Running isn't the hard part. Learning everything that comes with it is. There is a quote that says: "The best time to start was years ago. The second-best time is today." Whew. That one hits differently now. Looking back, I'm not sure I would have listened to that advice twenty years ago, but I sure wish I had started this journey a lot sooner than the ripe old age of 50. About a year ago, I casually asked

Stress shows up in our bodies in more ways than most people realize. It doesn’t just feel like being overwhelmed or mentally drained—it has real, physical consequences that can affect nearly every system in the body. When stress becomes chronic, it can impact: Cortisol levels Cardiovascular health Immune function Mental health Inflammation levels And here’s where things get a little more serious. When cortisol stays elevated for too long, the body can shift into a state where

Sometimes you sign up for a race because it looks fun. Sometimes you sign up because the medal is cool. And sometimes you sign up because it's close to home and think, "How hard can it be?" Spoiler alert: those are usually the races that humble you the most. The Paiute Meadows 30K was one of those races. My husband and I originally signed up because we wanted to support our local running community. We had heard great things about the race organizers and figured it would be a

If you’ve ever been to Reno in April, then you already know the weather spins a giant wheel every morning and decides your fate. Will it be snowing? Will it be windy enough to blow your eyelashes off? Will you need shorts, leggings, a raincoat, and emotional support? The answer is usually: yes. Raven and I at Reno,NV 2026 But somehow, for the 2026 Reno's Biggest Little Half Marathon, we hit the weather jackpot. It was absolutely perfect running weather. Cool enough to be comf

Let's talk about GLP-1s. By now, most of us know someone who is taking one. Maybe it's Wegovy. Maybe it's Zepbound. Maybe it's Mounjaro. Maybe it's your neighbor, your coworker, your cousin, or the person who suddenly lost 50 pounds and claims they "haven't changed a thing." As someone who has been on a GLP-1 since 2023, I wanted to share my experience—the good, the bad, and the "why is my body doing this?" moments. I'll also share some of the information I discuss with patie

We’ve all heard it. Or we know someone who’s on it. The “magic” medication conversation. “They’re losing weight so easily.”“They didn’t even change their diet.”“It just melts off.” And yes—some of that is true. GLP-1 medications can significantly reduce appetite and help with weight loss. That part isn’t the myth. But here’s the part that gets left out of the group chat: Medication alone doesn’t build long-term lifestyle change. And when the medication stops, research is show

Motivation is often described as the internal or external driving force, reason, or desire that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behavior. In simple terms? It’s what gets you started. This absolutely applies to those of us trying to change our lives and get healthier. We imagine we’re supposed to feel motivated all the time—to show up for every workout, every run, every strength session like we’re living in a fitness commercial. But here’s the problem no one rea

Ah yes, getting older—the magical phase of life where you can injure yourself simply by sleeping. One minute you're fine, and the next you're wondering why your neck locked up because you dared to glance over your shoulder too enthusiastically. Pain, unfortunately, becomes one of those uninvited guests that tends to stick around as we age. And honestly? It’s one of the biggest reasons people hesitate to start exercising or focus on their health. I hear it all the time: “Exerc

Let’s have a real conversation—no judgment, just honesty. Why is it so easy for us to come up with reasons not to start? “I wish I had time.” “I wish I had your energy.” “My pain is just too bad.” I hear these all the time. And truthfully? I’ve said them too. Because life is busy. It’s overwhelming. It’s exhausting. When you’re juggling being a mom, wife, provider, daughter—and everything in between—it can feel impossible to add one more thing to your plate. So this isn’t abo

We once again went to Auburn, CA, for another amazing race. This race was so much fun. It was a little warmer than the last run, but the weather is great. We were able to run with tank tops and shorts, but in the last race, I was still in my coat. So, I was so excited. Trail Run 2026 The views for this race was gorgeous. We did not start in the same place as Formidable or Jan 1, but it did not disappoint. We did get to see some of the same places, like the bridge, but the vie

Let’s talk about motivation… or honestly, the lack of it. Because in my head, I am 100% going to work out today. I have the best intentions. I’ve planned it. I’ve mentally committed. And then… I get home from a long day. I’m tired. I’m overstimulated. Something random happened at work. Dinner needs to be made. The house needs attention. And suddenly I’m thinking: “Yeah… not today.” Sound familiar? The Mental Battle Is Real There are so many days where I sit there and think: “

Let me just start by saying: I clearly did not understand what “formidable” meant when I signed up for this race. The sign created for the race - 2026 For reference, formidable means inspiring fear or respect through being impressively powerful, intense, or capable. Cool, cool… sounds fun, right? 🙃 Looking back now, I have to laugh because when I signed up for this race in Auburn, I thought, “No big deal. I’ve been on this trail before. I got this.” I saw the medal previe

I’m over 50 and taking up running and walking. I hear all the time how “cool” it is that we’re sharing our adventures. People tell me they wish they could do it too. And every single time I say the same thing: If I can do it, you absolutely can too. We’re all in different stages of life. Our why is different. Some of us want to lose weight. Some are recovering from addiction. Some want to be able to move at 80. Some of us are quietly trying to outrun our own mortality. Whate

We are still training consistently. While we do take one to two rest days per week, we are now following a structured routine that includes strength training every other day with running in between. My husband and I do different workouts based on our individual needs, but we follow the same overall schedule, which helps keep us both accountable. I am still using the Runna app to build and guide my training program. I’ve adjusted my plan to include one full rest day per week,

We have all heard it before—the race itself is only 1% of the work , while the other 99% happens during training . Living in a colder part of California, training outside has been an adventure of its own. We regularly find ourselves running in 30-degree weather , and there are days when we’re training in rain or snow . Learning what to wear to stay warm, dry, and comfortable without overheating has been a process of trial and error. Shoes: Finding What Works for Your Feet For

For those who may not know, I’ve been on a GLP-1 medication for almost three years. I started my journey with Wegovy , and honestly—it felt like magic at first. I took my medication, checked in with my provider, and the weight came off steadily. I wasn’t tracking food, I wasn’t exercising consistently, and I wasn’t really changing my lifestyle. I was simply eating less, and the scale kept moving. Eventually, I reached the maximum dose and hit a plateau. And if I’m being hones

Sadly, I have to share that Disneyland will no longer be hosting RunDisney events . We do know this is temporary, but there’s no clear timeline on when they’ll return. For those of us who live in California, this means traveling to Florida to get our RunDisney fix. It also means that for runners dreaming of earning their Coast to Coast , that goal is being placed on the back burner for now. Our Metals from Wine & Dine 2025 You can feel sad about it—or you can use this time to

We’ve officially completed our first run of the year —well, technically our second. We started 2026 strong with a New Year’s Day run on January 1st in Auburn, California , and followed it up with what felt like our first big race of the season: a 10K and a Half Marathon . After coming home, we took a well-earned recovery week. That doesn’t mean we stopped moving entirely—we still focused on stretching and light gym workouts—but we did step away from structured treadmill trai

The Stressful Art of Getting Into RunDisney If you’ve ever tried signing up for a RunDisney race, you know that getting into the event is a challenge all by itself. Registration day is a sport . You need to: Know the exact date and time registration opens. Be logged in early. Have your credit card ready. Know your race distances. Know who you’re signing up with. If you hesitate—or misclick—there’s a good chance you won’t get in. Most races sell out in under an hour , sometime

We’re just two weeks away from the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, and this one is definitely bittersweet for us. Living in California, we absolutely love doing the RunDisney races here—they’re magical, convenient, and full of nostalgia. But last year, we were told that RunDisney at Disneyland would be on hold again . RunDisney paused the races in 2020 due to COVID, and now they’re pausing again because of upcoming Disneyland construction. That means… no Disneyland races