Wildwood Adventure Days / Fundraiser Edition
Seven years ago, I ran the full 30 miles of the iconic Wildwood Trail for the first time.
I had never run more than a half marathon.
It was peak COVID.
The trail was quiet.
I did it alone.
That day was spiritual. Not in a loud way. In a steady, quiet way. There were tears of happiness and pain. There was so much to process. Mile after mile of proving to myself that I could keep going.
It was a metaphor of my first year of sobriety.
Alone. Uncertain. Determined.
Every year since, this run has continued to be a metaphor for the year before it.
I haven’t run it alone since. Just like I haven’t done sobriety alone since discovering The Recovery Gym, RUN TRG, and the PDX Alano Club.
Last year I only made it 20 of the 30 miles. I was injured. I had trained the way I always had, but I wasn’t adapting to a body that is changing with age. That run changed me. It changed my relationship to running. It forced me to slow down. To rebuild. To listen.
Getting back into training this year has been humbling.
I’m 75 days into a 114 day build. It has felt like starting over. I run slower now. I can’t hammer speed work the way I used to. I’ve focused on base. On patience. On strength. On staying pain free.
And it’s working.
I feel stronger. More grounded. More in tune.
But I’d be lying if I said I’m not nervous to even post this. What if something shifts and I can’t finish this year?
The truth is, it’s never been about finishing.
It’s about showing up.
Spending a full day in the woods.
Celebrating a life I never imagined.
On April 28, I’ll be out there again for my annual Wildwood run. This year, it’s also a fundraiser for the Portland Alano Club, a place that supports people in recovery and gave me community when I needed it most.
If you feel called to move that day, you’re welcome to join in whatever way feels right to you.
Run a few miles.
Hike a section.
Spend some time in the forest.
Start where it makes sense for you and move at your own pace.
There’s no official start, no set plan, and no expectation to do it any certain way. Just a day to be outside and connected through the trail.
Afterward, we’ll gather to share food, stories, and time together. More details on that to come.
If you want to share the woods with me that day, I’d be honored.
We’ll have three additional Wildwood Adventure Days later this season for those who want the full supported experience, but this one is the heart of it.
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