On Wednesday, I headed out for a 20-mile run.
Around mile 15, my left glute started making its presence known. I was dealing with the normal hormonal fluctuations that come with being a woman, and by the end of the run, I definitely knew I had put my body to work.
But here’s what I’ve been thinking about over the last few days.
Not the discomfort.
Not the fatigue.
Not the fact that marathon training is hard.
What stands out is how grateful I am that I get to do it at all.
For years, I’ve heard people talk about getting older, hormones changing, perimenopause, and all the things our bodies supposedly won’t be able to do anymore.
And while change is part of life, Wednesday reminded me of something important:
My body is still incredibly capable.
One thing I noticed this week was how different this phase of my cycle feels compared to years ago.
Do I still experience hormonal fluctuations?
Absolutely.
Do I still get cramps and have a period?
Of course.
But the extreme bloating, fatigue, and discomfort that I used to assume were just part of being a woman aren’t nearly what they once were.
And I don’t think that’s an accident.
Over the last several years, I’ve learned that how we fuel our bodies, move our bodies, manage stress, and take care of ourselves matters.
A lot.
I’m not saying healthy habits eliminate every symptom.
They don’t.
I’m saying that taking care of yourself can change your baseline in ways you may not even realize until you look back.
This week was a reminder of that for me.
My body was navigating a 20-mile training run, hormonal fluctuations, recovery, and everyday life.
And it handled all of it far better than I ever could have imagined years ago.
Last weekend, I ran a half marathon in 1:56.
A few days later, I completed a 20-mile training run.
Today, just a few days after that, I feel ready to get back out there and train again.
That isn’t something I take for granted.
People often ask where they see themselves in five years.
The older I get, the less interested I am in predicting the future.
What I care about is being present enough to appreciate today.
If I had one goal, it would be simple:
To stay healthy enough to keep moving.
To keep exploring what my body is capable of.
To continue running, lifting, hiking, adventuring, and showing up for life.
I want to be the kind of person who can run at least one half marathon and one full marathon every year.
Not because I’m chasing a number on the scale.
Not because I’m trying to look a certain way.
Not because of the medals.
Not because of the finish times.
Because movement is one of the greatest gifts I’ve been given.
This body has carried me through so much, recovery, pregnancies, sleepless nights, healing, and growth.
And this week, it carried me through 20 miles.
For the record, after six kids, hormonal fluctuations, and a 20-mile training run… I didn’t even pee my pants.
That’s worth celebrating too.
Today, I’m not focused on what my body can’t do.
I’m grateful for everything it still can.
And if there’s one thing this week reminded me, it’s this:
Health compounds.
The small choices matter.
The walks matter.
The strength workouts matter.
The vegetables matter.
The sleep matters.
The water matters.
The recovery matters.
Day after day, those choices add up.
Until one day you find yourself doing things you never thought possible and realizing that your body isn’t working against you.
It’s carrying you.
And for that, I am deeply grateful.






















