Since I’m counting down the days until the Great World Race and my training sessions are getting shorter, I’ve been looking back over the past six months.
Honestly, what an incredible ride it’s been. From deciding to sign up (after months of obsessing about it) to finding my running rhythm, being forced off my feet for weeks (thanks, injury 🙄), and then jumping back in for 20-milers… with even one (or two) sneaky marathons thrown in for good measure.
I’ve discovered so much during this time—about myself, about running, and about the world around me.
1️⃣ One of the biggest realizations? I need big, audacious goals.
When I recovered from anorexia, I truly believed I’d never be able to “own” my love for running or working out again. I thought that admitting to myself how much I love exercise somehow meant I wasn’t “recovered enough”—and the pro-recovery culture out there definitely echoes that idea.
2️⃣ Here’s my truth: I LOVE moving my body.
I LOVE challenging my body and mind, pushing past what I thought were my limits. There are parts of my personality—perfectionism, ambition—that made me vulnerable to anorexia. For years, I demonized those parts of myself.
But guess what? Recovery—and life—isn’t black and white. I’m all about living in the messy, colorful in-between 🌈. I thrive on having goals that seem impossible to others, and I love doing things nobody around me would even think to try. That part of me isn’t something to be ashamed of—it’s what makes me… well, me.
3️⃣ Another huge realization: I don’t want to spend my life sitting behind a desk.
It’s just not me. A day without movement? Feels like a day wasted. Over these months, I’ve discovered new routes (and dared to explore paths I’d normally avoid). I now know exactly where to fill up my water bottle (and trust me, this was sometimes the most challenging part of my long runs 🥵☀️💦) and which trails will challenge me the most. These little discoveries have become part of the fun.
4️⃣ I’ve gotten anoooother crash course in patience.
Yeah, patience… not my strongest suit, but necessary when my body needed time to heal. I’ve finally accepted that pushing through pain isn’t heroic—it’s dumb. The real strength is knowing when to rest (even if it drives me nuts 😅). Our body isn’t something we need to control or battle. It’s something we need to listen to, honor, and care for.
5️⃣ Setbacks aren’t the end of the world; they’re just part of the story.
The runs that feel meh or even horrible are so much more common, than those that feel amazing. It’s a very real part of training. What matters most is to welcome these challenges instead of avoiding them.
6️⃣ And, above all, I’ve learned to trust myself.
Setting a goal, working toward it, and seeing it through has given me a renewed sense of confidence. It’s not just about running—it’s about knowing I’m capable of so much more than I ever gave myself credit for.
These last six months have been a wild adventure, and the lessons I’ve learned will stick with me long after the Great World Race is over. Now, however, I’m ready for this wild ride to begin! 🎢🛩️🏃♀️
