10th Annual Wildwood End-to-End

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 In 2011 we ran the Lithia Loop Marathon, our first trail race, and fell head over heels in love with trail running. We decided that since we were all trained up and our birthdays were both just a few weeks later, we would run the longest trail in Forest Park, Wildwood, from end-to-end to celebrate. An annual tradition was born, one that we both look forward to, no matter the weather. It has become a day to slow down, enjoy the journey, and spend time together reflecting on our closing year of adventures.


At the Newberry end, our finish


This year, Ann picked the Sunday at the end of the US Thanksgiving holiday. Well she might have a future career as a weather forecaster, because it was perfect: partly sunny, surprisingly warm, and starting with a gorgeous sunrise.



Every year we do this, I feel awe at how fortunate I am. I have the health, fitness, and time to spend the day running. I have a best friend I look forward to spending time with, week after week, who shares so many of my type 2 interests, and plans the most amazing adventures and invites me along. Despite two years of a global pandemic, despite the gloomy news cycle and everything else going on, it felt like a whole day of lightness and joy.



I love our traditional Wildwood end-to-end run, closing out the calendar year with the pure happiness of running together.




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