I always look forward to your weekly reflections, and this one didn't disappoint! As I struggle with getting older and slower, your words reminded me what a privilege it is to still be moving in the way I want to move, in places that are beautiful. Did you know that the July full moon is on July 10? That means on July 12, as you descend from Virginius towards Telluride, you'll have a spectacular moon setting in the (hopefully clear) pink sky of sunrise. And that we will have it light our path up and down Putnam the next night! Cheers to simple gifts! XO
Love your posts. This one brings tears to my eyes. I'm where you were 10 years ago. It feels like time is going too fast! I don't want to be an empty nester; I also define myself as a mother. I'm also hurt and haven't run since February. So many feelings. Thank you for always distracting me from the other doom-scrolling content on the internet right now. Also, as another Californian, your move sounds enticing!
I love this post and your personal reflections on growing older and embracing where you are at this moment in your life. Thank you for sharing and affirming that aging is not a life stage to be dreaded or feared but one to be accepted with gratitude. You show how personal growth is limitless at any age.
We met in 2015 so I remember this time in your life well! Thank you for the beautifully written reflections and for the thoughts on aging. It’s a privilege, not a problem to be solved. Congratulations again on getting into Hardrock!
This was such a beautiful piece of writing, Sarah. I loved learning about your life and being reminded that our priorities are never static -whether personal, physical, emotional, or familial. My family and I decided to move from the east coast to Seattle almost two years ago. In one way, it was a crazy move - we're in our 50s and we have kid who was very happily established in school in Providence, RI. In another way, I think it was good for our sense of ourselves as people who could still navigate new things: friendships, jobs, and even routes through the city.
Not being a runner in my younger faster years, my 50s were surely my best decade.... mostly, and now my 60s are surprising me by being even better... so far! And I finally stopped hiding the gray... you''ll get there when you are ready! It helps that my partner tells me he thinks it looks sexy :)
Lovely Sarah. I’m also more comfortable and content at 51 than I was at 41. I don’t want to go back, but I also want the days to slow down. Time with my kids at home is ticking by faster and faster.
I admire how you went for that big life change ten years ago and never looked back. Sometimes you just know the path you should take with certainty.
Love this Sarah and all of your reflections. I can relate so much because I paced my first hard rock in 2015 and I remember how utterly intimidated I was. I paced that section also Oursy > Telluride and remember it like yesterday - how snowy that ascent was up to Virginius! My friend Will had been puking for so long that we were further back then had been expected and we crested the top into Kroger’s with Betsy Kallmeyer, who we knew from Steamboat and they rolled out an actual literal red carpet for her to walk up. The sun was just coming up. It was about 5:30 in the morning and it was heaven as the sun rose. We have pictures from that and I took the shot of tequila from Roch 😊 literally one of my best running memories of my life. Then I remembered sending it so fast off that technical backside with Will and Betsy, I was 45 and just could run technical downhill like nobody’s business :) My peak of ultrarunning was absolutely aged 46 as well, we have so many similarities.
How sweet, that your daughter made something and named it after her brother. My kids are now 11 and 13, so all they do is fight with each other. I can't imagine them actually liking or respecting each other one day.
I feel really fortunate they have been buddies more than rivals. Maybe it’s their gender & age difference (3.25 years). When my son was in eighth grade, I wanted to hold him back a year because he was the youngest in his grade and felt challenged in school. But he pushed to go to high school the following year because he wanted to be a ninth-grader when his big sister was still a senior at the school; he felt protected by her. Because of that, he had a good experience in the class of 2019 rather than being in the covid-hit class of 2020.
I always look forward to your weekly reflections, and this one didn't disappoint! As I struggle with getting older and slower, your words reminded me what a privilege it is to still be moving in the way I want to move, in places that are beautiful. Did you know that the July full moon is on July 10? That means on July 12, as you descend from Virginius towards Telluride, you'll have a spectacular moon setting in the (hopefully clear) pink sky of sunrise. And that we will have it light our path up and down Putnam the next night! Cheers to simple gifts! XO
I can’t wait to see you, and I appreciate your support so much!
Thank you for this reminder and your reflections Sarah! What a gift to read this today. Thank you. I really needed this.
Thanks so much for reading & restacking. ❤️
It's my pleasure Sarah! Thank you for being here.
I’m so happy for you!
Love your posts. This one brings tears to my eyes. I'm where you were 10 years ago. It feels like time is going too fast! I don't want to be an empty nester; I also define myself as a mother. I'm also hurt and haven't run since February. So many feelings. Thank you for always distracting me from the other doom-scrolling content on the internet right now. Also, as another Californian, your move sounds enticing!
I feel for you! Hang in there.
I love this post and your personal reflections on growing older and embracing where you are at this moment in your life. Thank you for sharing and affirming that aging is not a life stage to be dreaded or feared but one to be accepted with gratitude. You show how personal growth is limitless at any age.
We met in 2015 so I remember this time in your life well! Thank you for the beautifully written reflections and for the thoughts on aging. It’s a privilege, not a problem to be solved. Congratulations again on getting into Hardrock!
Jami! I’m so touched you’re here and reading my stuff, thank you! I’d love to run with you again. We had so much fun at the Grand Circle Trailfest.
A very sweet post (and what a joy it is to have you across the road!)
Thank you David! That means so much to me. And thanks for commenting here!
This was such a beautiful piece of writing, Sarah. I loved learning about your life and being reminded that our priorities are never static -whether personal, physical, emotional, or familial. My family and I decided to move from the east coast to Seattle almost two years ago. In one way, it was a crazy move - we're in our 50s and we have kid who was very happily established in school in Providence, RI. In another way, I think it was good for our sense of ourselves as people who could still navigate new things: friendships, jobs, and even routes through the city.
Thank you so much, your feedback means a lot. Good for you for changing and growing through "repotting"!
Not being a runner in my younger faster years, my 50s were surely my best decade.... mostly, and now my 60s are surprising me by being even better... so far! And I finally stopped hiding the gray... you''ll get there when you are ready! It helps that my partner tells me he thinks it looks sexy :)
Beautiful sentiments and perspective. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely Sarah. I’m also more comfortable and content at 51 than I was at 41. I don’t want to go back, but I also want the days to slow down. Time with my kids at home is ticking by faster and faster.
I admire how you went for that big life change ten years ago and never looked back. Sometimes you just know the path you should take with certainty.
Love this writing-thank you for taking the time to provide such rich and detailed context!
Love this Sarah and all of your reflections. I can relate so much because I paced my first hard rock in 2015 and I remember how utterly intimidated I was. I paced that section also Oursy > Telluride and remember it like yesterday - how snowy that ascent was up to Virginius! My friend Will had been puking for so long that we were further back then had been expected and we crested the top into Kroger’s with Betsy Kallmeyer, who we knew from Steamboat and they rolled out an actual literal red carpet for her to walk up. The sun was just coming up. It was about 5:30 in the morning and it was heaven as the sun rose. We have pictures from that and I took the shot of tequila from Roch 😊 literally one of my best running memories of my life. Then I remembered sending it so fast off that technical backside with Will and Betsy, I was 45 and just could run technical downhill like nobody’s business :) My peak of ultrarunning was absolutely aged 46 as well, we have so many similarities.
We must have been close to each other when pacing that year but had not yet met!
How sweet, that your daughter made something and named it after her brother. My kids are now 11 and 13, so all they do is fight with each other. I can't imagine them actually liking or respecting each other one day.
I feel really fortunate they have been buddies more than rivals. Maybe it’s their gender & age difference (3.25 years). When my son was in eighth grade, I wanted to hold him back a year because he was the youngest in his grade and felt challenged in school. But he pushed to go to high school the following year because he wanted to be a ninth-grader when his big sister was still a senior at the school; he felt protected by her. Because of that, he had a good experience in the class of 2019 rather than being in the covid-hit class of 2020.
Whew!! Thank goodness!! I had so many sad conversations with the crying parents of seniors in May of 2020.
And yeah, I have two girls less than two years apart. Maybe that's the issue.
Love this for many reasons :).
Great read Sarah! I'll be rooting for you on the 12th!!
I love your camping set up, but most of all I love your reflections.