I had my first blog around the time I ran Big Sur the first time. It was simple and fun and took off in ways I didn’t expect. It became overwhelming and I abandoned it completely. Lately I’ve been wishing I kept it going and all these lessons I’m learning now would be in the past. But, alas, life keeps charging forward. Here are the differences in my training and my life between my first Big Sur and now:

1. AI. Holy cow. No, I don’t think it’s the best solution for every instance but I’ll take this weird AI image of a woman running into the ocean because I think it’s kind of funny. It is funny, right?
2. Walking pads! My first Big Sur was trained for outside in Minnesota in January. Completely road training. Now? I have a nice little walking pad that maxes out at my race pace and it’s small enough to sit in my living room.
3. My oldest niece was at my first Big Sur–not talking, not walking, but she was at the finish line. This year? Providing she doesn’t injure herself overtraining she’ll be running the course herself.

I know the course now after being on it a dozen times so well. I know the daunting challenges, the twists and turns, and I know that if I prepare well having a day where it’s just me and the road will be transcendental. And if I don’t, it’ll be hell. Maybe there’s something related to this blog in that lesson. In both the blog and running, the only way to cross the finish line is one foot in front of the other. Here I come.