Maybe I am old, actually

Plus: the world's first run crew; running because you enjoy it; and reality TV

I ran with a group last week, and as we gathered to begin, the run leader joked that he’s 35 so really understands the need to warm up before running. The joke was not that the warmup was a single set of hamstring scoops, but that he was actually in his early 20s and being 35 was sooo unimaginably ancient. Ah. In the moment, I decided not to highlight the fact that I’m 41.

Me running the Saturday Stairs Turkey Trot in Griffith Park on Thanksgiving morning. My incredulity at free race photos captured by Jeff Palkovich.

Not that I’m doing my Strava Wrapped on the first Monday of December, but it’s been an intensely rewarding year of running. It feels good to have a body that can run fast when I choose to. A privilege, even, but it is one that I‘ve been working hard for.

After a couple of glorious months of winter running at the start of 2024, I achieved a painful, annoying, and temporarily debilitating back injury (I told you I’m 41) in March. Spinal inflammation! I continue to physical th…