3:41:10

...and then right back on a cross-country flight!

If you look closely, you will see remnants of a chocolate gel near my lower lip and, inexplicably, near my eye?

Another newsletter written in transit! I’m writing this while sitting on top of a perfectly-made bed at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport hotel, watching planes taxi, take off, and land out my window.

Brian, Annie, and I adjusted to west coast time just in time for our flight from Eugene to Boston on Monday. I unpacked, enjoyed three nights in my own bed — and did three loads of laundry in that same amount of time — and repacked.

On Friday morning (as you’re reading this), I’ll be on another west-bound plane, this time heading to California for the On Track Fest meet. (Have you seen these fields?! Stacked! Here’s how you can attend or tune in.)

I’ll be one of the night’s emcees, alongside Peloton instructor (and multiple-time Ali on the Run Show guest) Kirsten Ferguson.

Working a track meet on my birthday isn’t how I expected to ring in 38, but word is they’re equipping me with a T-shirt cannon, which is really all I asked for for my birthday. I tried to find a way for the whole family to stay on the west coast for the full week between trips, but it didn’t work out.

And so, two west-coast trips in one week. Then: a week at home, an NYC trip, two days at home, and then a work-and-family trip to Michigan for the Bayshore Marathon. It’s a busy time, it’s an exciting time — and then I am staying put for the summer!

That finish line feeling, baby. Totally spent.

But hey, how about that Eugene Marathon?! By now, it’s likely you’re thinking, “OK, Ali, we get it. You ran a marathon! We’re happy for you! Congrats! What else can we talk about?”

And honestly: same.

(I know you’re all incredibly kind and will say things like, “Ali, celebrate! Be proud of yourself! Hype it up! It’s exciting! Keep talking about it!” And that’s one of the many reasons I love you so very much.)

I thought I would be really excited to sit down and write about the race in a blogging-style recap (sometimes I really do miss the early 2010s).

I feel like I’m good, though. After recording this week’s podcast recap with Keira D’Amato, plus a solo episode answering additional listener questions (that’ll be out on Tuesday), I think I’m all talked out when it comes to the Eugene Marathon. (Registration is open for next year’s events, by the way, and code ONTHERUNEUGENE will help you save!)

The great thing about being excitingly busy right now is that I am not too worried about the post-marathon blues. It also means I rarely have time to process these big, exciting events and occasions, though. (See also: working this year’s Boston Marathon. I did it, and I moved right on.)

So while I maybe haven’t processed it all in the big, dramatic way I like to process things, I did have a major realization this morning.

When I committed to training for the 2023 Eugene Marathon, I had one big goal: get to the start line healthy, and the finish line happy.

I did that.

I did it!

Training went so well. And even though I was so done by the time I got to that famous finish line at Hayward Field, I was happy! Proud, happy, relieved.

I made it through an entire marathon training cycle and a 26.2-mile race while staying healthy.

No injuries.

And the best part: No Crohn’s flares.

I don’t know how I didn’t realize that until this morning. When I did, though, I got a little choked up.

This is what I dreamed about for a long time. Not a time on the clock. Not a magical finish line moment.

I dreamed about being healthy enough to put in a full marathon training cycle, and to make it to race day healthy. I didn’t even bother dreaming about running the marathon without making bathroom stops. I just figured those stops would be a part of my race day in the same way they were a part of all but one of my long runs. That’s who I am. It’s what I do.

On April 30, 2023, though, I got to be one of the healthy people.

I got to run a race that I worked really hard for, and I got to do it without thinking about my stomach the entire time.

The race may not have played out perfectly. It did for the first 18 miles, and then the legs seized up and the wheels came off. I slowed down. I positive split the hell out of that race. (Truly living my own catchphrase.)

It was still a pretty darn perfect day, though.

A victory lap in every sense.

No porta-potties needed.

Not a single one.

(!!!)

Anything I haven’t covered? Any questions? Anything left unanswered? Let me know in the comments below.

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This week on the Ali on the Run Show:

• LIVE at the Eugene Marathon with Shalane Flanagan: This show was exactly what I needed the day before running the Eugene Marathon. It was relaxed, it was low key, and it was filled with fun nuggets from Shalane’s life, updates on how she and her teams are doing, and a “you are enough” pep talk to bring it all home.

• My Eugene Marathon Recap, with Guest Host Keira D’Amato: I finally got to sit down and begin processing this race, and I can think of no better person to get to do that with than Keira D’Amato.

• Run Your Way with Molly “Your Running BFF” Hernandez: You know her, you love her, it’s everyone’s running bestie! Molly is a total joy, a ray of sunshine, and a truly lovely human being. This was a fun one.

What I’m watching: So much! Marathon recovery + long plane rides = time to watch things!

• John Mulaney’s new Netflix special, Baby J. Not my favorite of his specials, but I LOL-ed enough to make it a worthwhile watch.

• A Million Little Things. Oh my god, the last two episodes of this series destroyed me. I cried more at the second-to-last episode than the last one, but maybe because I was so dehydrated when I watched the finale? Just…brutal. Why do I delight in fictional emotional torture?!

What I’m wearing: This On Running sweatshirt. It’s so cozy! So soft! I’ve been living in it all week, and will be wearing it all weekend in California.

And so…

Take good care of yourselves. Take good care of each other. I’m super proud of you. Thank you so much for being here. And whatever you’re going through, keep going.

Love,

Ali