Over the past year, I trained for and ran four marathons.
(Technically, three marathons and one ultramarathon. Semantics.)
I was in a season of life where pushing myself felt possible. I had the margin, the motivation, and the space to lean fully into training. Most Saturday mornings, you could find me running endless loops around my neighborhood before the sun came up, logging the many miles required to cross each finish line.
That season taught me a lot. It stretched me in ways I’m grateful for. But like all seasons, it eventually shifted.
And fast forward to today — I’m in a very different place.
Right now, I don’t have any races on the calendar. No training plan taped to the fridge. No Saturday long runs plotted out weeks in advance.
And I’m okay with that.
Pressing Pause, With Purpose
My husband and I are hoping to grow our family, and that decision has naturally reshaped my approach to running for the time being.
I’m not signing up for any marathons this year. Not because I don’t want to — trust me, when I see friends registering for fall races, I feel that pull. If life looked different, I’d be right there with them, mapping out my training plan and ordering yet another new pair of shoes.
But right now, running looks different. And intentionally so.
If the Lord blesses us with a pregnancy, I hope to continue running in a way that feels safe and supportive. I didn’t start running until my kids were 1 & 3 years old, so running while pregnant would be new territory for me. I have no idea what will feel good, what will need to shift, or how my body will respond.
What I do know is that this is not a season where I want to push.
I don’t want to sign up for races that may or may not align with what my body is capable of later this year. I don’t want the pressure of a training plan when flexibility will be far more important. And I certainly don’t want running to turn into something that feels stressful when it has always been a source of joy.
Cheering Instead of Chasing
There’s a group of my friends running a fall marathon together this year, and if the circumstances were different, I would absolutely be joining them.
But this year, I’m excited to take on a different role — the cheer squad. I get to support them, celebrate them, and maybe show up on race day with an obnoxious sign and a cowbell.
Sometimes stepping back opens space to show up for others in ways we don’t always get to when we’re in the thick of chasing our own goals.
Running, But Without the Pressure
As of now, my only running goal is to keep moving as long as it feels good.
No races. No paces. No looming training plans. Just running when I want to, resting when I need to, and staying connected to the sport that has given me so much.
This is not the season for extreme distances or personal records. This is the season for flexibility. For honoring my body. For embracing running as a tool for health, stress relief, and enjoyment — nothing more, nothing less.
Every Season Has Its Place
It’s easy to feel like running only “counts” when we’re chasing something big — a new distance, a faster time, a stacked race calendar.
But I’m learning to see value in the quieter seasons too. The ones where running becomes simpler and softer. Where it slips into the background a little, but still remains part of the rhythm of life.
This is that season for me. And I’m grateful for it.
Running will be there when I’m ready to train again. For now, I’m choosing to prioritize growing our family, staying active in a way that serves this moment, and embracing the slower, steadier miles ahead — however they may look.
If you’re navigating a new season of running or motherhood too, you’re not alone.
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