Summer of 2026

50 Miler Training

I need to do one more 50 miler. In 2025 I trained for a 50 milers and the race got cancelled. I ran a 50K around my neighborhood that day. It was brutally hot and although I tried to go 50 miles, my body told me otherwise. As I thought about it, I’ver really only trained for the first 50 milers. The 50Ks were more of a “why not?” type of thing.

And here we are…..

So as 2026 kicked off I started running more continuing the level from the last half of 2025. Here’s a YTD comparison from the last few years.

First-Half Comparison (Jan–Jun)

2023 H1: 549 miles

2024 H1: 468 miles

2025 H1: 452 miles

2026 H1: 660 miles

Simply want to prove to myself I can do it again. Starting Week 8 of the plan they’ll be a “nice” collection of 20+ long runs.

Some people peak in high school sports. I peaked in grade school.

Our basketball team took third in the city tournament, and that was the highlight of my athletic career. By high school, it was clear my skills weren’t anywhere near the level of the guys around me. I still ran cross country for four years, did track for two, and played baseball for two more—mostly learning the difference between natural talent and… me.

But I never stopped moving. Running and lifting have been constants, with biking and swimming mixed in. I completed my first triathlon in 2009 while living in Florida, where I could train outdoors year-round. I’d already run several marathons, but in 2016 I got serious about marathon training and discovered I could handle a lot more mileage than I thought. What started as a few 3-mile runs a week gradually became 4, then 5–6. Today, knocking out 10–15 miles is still hard, but it no longer feels like a massive deal.

Working from home gave me the flexibility to explore new activities and stay consistent. I’m not especially fast or gifted, but I’m extremely dedicated. In a typical year I miss fewer than 10 workouts. Strength training has been the real game-changer—it’s what keeps me healthy and injury-free even as I pile on more miles and heavier lifts. I haven’t had a training-stopping injury in years. In my 50s I’ve set new personal records in bench press, deadlift, and pull-ups. Father Time is undefeated, but he hasn’t caught me yet.

I love to travel, and nothing beats exploring a new city or country on foot. Whether it’s a run, a hike, a bike ride, or a long walk, movement is how I experience the world.

In 2025 I ran more miles than ever—nearly 1,400 for the year, including over 200 in September alone. I also finished a 50K ultra on a brutally hot October day. Ultras are hard, a little crazy, and I’m hooked.

Keep it simple. Squats, bench press, deadlifts, overhead press, pull-ups (and more pull-ups). Basic barbell and bodyweight movements that have stood the test of time. Add plenty of protein, a multivitamin, daily creatine, good sleep, and stay away from alcohol and drugs. Then just show up and do the work. That’s it.