52@52
The Year of The Halves
How Did I Get Myself Into This? (A Cautionary Tale of Runners and Wild Ideas)
I’d like to say this idea hit me during a quiet moment of Zen. Spoiler: it didn’t. It ambushed me at the start line of the Lake Hodges Trail Fest 50K, where, by all laws of nature, I should have been thinking “Why am I doing this?” and not “What ELSE can I do to my legs next year?”
But there I was in October 2025, nervously toeing the line for what would be my longest run ever (50km—yes, that’s more than a marathon, yes, I questioned my sanity, and yes, there were snacks). Suddenly, inspiration struck, probably fueled by adrenaline, endorphins, and the distant smell of post-race tacos.
You see, my birthday is in November and I’m hitting the big 5-2. It’s a weird age — not quite old enough for legendary status, but old enough to say “Back in my day…” un-ironically. So, I figured:
- 52 years old.
- 52 weeks in a year.
- Clearly, destiny wants me to do something 52 times.
Could it be 52 naps? 52 Netflix series? 52 different types of cheese? All tempting, but then it hit me:
52 half-marathons in 52 weeks. One every single week, for an entire year.
Because why not? (Don’t answer that).
Let’s back up: I’ve done a handful of half marathons before, never more than a few each year—just enough to remember why they’re called ‘half’ marathons (because half of you wants to quit at mile ten). Last year, I finally checked “run a full marathon” off my bucket list. This year, I somehow thought “Why not run further?” and finished my first 50K ultra—proof that runners are, by definition, not great with boundaries.
But now? I want to try something different. Something that isn’t about beating my old personal best or collecting the biggest medal. This is my chance to enjoy the journey every week, instead of obsessing over the finish line. I want this year to be about stories, memories, ugly running selfies, and the occasional runner’s high—or at least a runner’s donut afterwards.
So, cheers to 52 weeks of questionable decisions!
Welcome to 52@52 – The Year of The Halves. Eat your carbs, lace up, and follow along—this is going to be a ride!
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