What happens when the race you've spent months preparing for becomes only one part of a much bigger story? In this deeply personal episode, I share how training for the Boston Marathon became intertwined with losing my father, recovering from norovirus just days before the race, and discovering that some of life's biggest goals matter because of what they ask of us along the way.
This isn't an episode about how to qualify for Boston or how to train for a marathon. It's the story of setting a long-term physical goal, trusting the process through uncertainty, navigating grief, illness, friendship, and ultimately crossing one of the world's most iconic finish lines. Along the way, I reflect on why meaningful physical goals can provide direction, resilience, and perspective—even when life doesn't go according to plan.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – This isn't a Boston training guide—it's my story
06:00 – Why I believe in setting big physical goals
12:15 – Deciding to qualify for the Boston Marathon
25:00 – Qualifying for Boston at the Bayshore Marathon
29:30 – Starting Boston training while injured
46:30 – Losing my dad during marathon training
48:15 – Getting norovirus one week before Boston
57:20 – Race morning
1:01:30 – Running the Boston Marathon
1:10:30 – What Boston taught me about goals, grief, and meaning