Birthday Reflections: 4 Weeks Out From My Marathon
Sleep, Training, and Turning Another Year Older
I talk about sleep a lot—mostly because I really love it. Lately though, it’s been harder to come by. I can fall asleep instantly if you give me a couch and a blanket, but staying asleep is another story. Add that to the list of things I wish someone had warned me about being in your 40’s.
A Birthday That Fell on a Saturday
Last weekend was my birthday. It fell on a Saturday, which felt worth celebrating. I’m not a big birthday person, but a Saturday birthday deserves a little attention. We decided on a backyard, back-to-school, birthday BBQ.
Honestly, I didn’t even highlight “birthday” in the invite—I just wanted to spend time with family and friends, and that’s exactly what I got.
A Full Day: Running, Soccer, and Hosting 50+ Guests
The day was packed. I started with a long run alongside my run squad, then rushed to watch my son’s soccer game, and finally came home to host 50+ people in my yard.
A lot of people asked, “Why would you do this for your birthday?”—meaning, why not just have an adults-only party?
My answer was simple: I love sleep, and I wanted to be in bed by 9. That was the truth. Some years, adult parties have been the choice, and they were fun. But this year—four weeks out from a marathon, on a beautiful afternoon—the perfect celebration was kids running wild in the yard and adults relaxing on the sidelines.
The Reality of Marathon Training as a Working Mom
Here’s the reality of being a full-time working mom who’s also training for a marathon: you cannot have it all, all the time. Something has to give.
For me, it’s usually late-night socializing. I wake up at 5 a.m. most mornings to run, and that means evenings look different.
Do I miss some of the social time with friends? Yes.
Do I miss some one-on-one time with my husband during a marathon build? Absolutely.
But I also know this is a choice.
Right now, my “all” is going to marathon training, my kids, and my clients. It’s a season, not forever.
Why Structure Matters
When my birthday came around, a long run, a soccer game, and a kid-filled backyard party felt exactly right. By the time I turned the lights off at 9 p.m., I was happy with the choice.
Because here’s the thing: without structure, not only can’t you have it all—you end up having very little.
For me, sleep and nutrition are the foundation. Without them, everything else goes off the rails. So I’m committed to making it through this season with enough rest, enough fuel, and enough joy in the choices I do make.
✨ Takeaway: Whether it’s training, family, or a birthday celebration, joy doesn’t have to come from “doing it all.” Sometimes, it comes from choosing enough.