Every tree, or in my case, every stump, has roots that go deep. Making the decision to  temporarily relocate to Sonoma County and recenter myself amidst the hills, roads, and ‘dales of my childhood has provided me not only with more varied terrain on which to train and challenge myself physically, but a renewed sense of identity. Traversing old trails and workout routes, the feelings of wonderment and tenacity that I once experienced as a first-time harrier still reverberates; how much faster, how much farther, how much deeper could I go on the next run, the next race? The road never limited me, and so I never limited expectations for myself. Couple this with a welcoming response from the community that has cheered me on from my first appearance at the CIF Cross Country Championships to my first appearance at the USATF National Championships almost a decade later, and I am reassured that for now, home is where I need to be. 

In a little more than a week, The Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon will be my first appearance in any sort of running event since I retired my college jersey, and the first time representing a new and incredible group that places equal importance on support that is home-grown. I can think of no better place to take my first steps as a professional runner than the place from which I took my first steps in this world altogether – as a person and a runner.
Although the 13.1 miles will be more of a controlled effort to gauge my current fitness than a stab at any lofty records, I relish the opportunity to toe the line on home turf.