I’ve been running for 9 years – a hobby I picked up after sinus surgery when my doctor said I couldn’t do anything, but I could do as much “cardio” as I wanted. I asked him what cardio was, and he said running, so I took up running. I’ve actually wanted to be a runner for a long time, but health challenges held me back. Once I got those under control, I really took off. Running has helped me so much with managing and healing from PTSD, as well as helping me to finally feel strong. In 2020, I got Covid and almost died and struggled for years with Long Covid (still do a bit). In 2022, we found out I needed 5L of oxygen just to walk around. I did a summer of pulmonary rehab and last year, CRUSHED a half-marathon at 1:46. But my body pays a high price for halfs, so I’m back to 5ks. Post-covid, I have asthma. And heart arrhythmias. And sleep apnea. But I’m out here gettin’ it. I am also, as mentioned above, an autistic runner, so I do most of my stuff virtually, but I also do it honestly – by the watch/tracker/GPS. The crowds and noise and to-do is just too overwhelming for me most of the time, but I love being a runner and connecting with other runners. I love feeling the strength in my body and my wholeness. It has changed everything for me. But it’s not just about running – it’s about wellness and wholeness. It’s a lifestyle. You don’t have to be a run streaker. You don’t have to be fast as lightning. You don’t have to run hours per day. I’m learning right now the balance between run/life in a new job, and I’m learning how to pace not just my run, but my life.