I set a goal not to buy clothing for a year, and I’m nearly five months in. The fact that this has been so challenging is a bit baffling. Did I really shop that much before? I don’t think so. But as soon as something is taken away, it becomes more desirable. Lately, I’ve spent an absurd amount of time thinking about a simple black zip-up jacket sitting on my wish list. It reminds me of when I worked as a nutrition coach: the moment clients labeled a food as “off-limits,” it became all they...

In 2024, I decided to spend some time exploring different fitness apps and trainers. The constant in my training is my running—I was preparing for my first 100-mile race and needed some supplemental strength training. Though I could create my own workouts, I wanted to do something different and fun. If you’ve read my book , you know that novelty is something I find essential for staying engaged in an activity . I wasn’t getting much novelty in running, so this became a fun way for me to seek...

One of the hardest parts of writing my book—and the very reason hiring an editor was so important—was having someone help me keep my story on track. As a writer, everything feels essential. Every memory carries weight. Every race feels like it shaped you. But it’s an editor’s job to ask the harder question: does it move the story forward? My book includes stories from countless races and competitions—but not all of them made the final cut. Some were trimmed for clarity. Some for pacing. And...