NOC Rollin' and Strollin' 5k

My team at work has shrunk by half for the time being, as three of the six of us are on maternity leave. The three of us who are left happen to all be on our own fitness journeys, and we've become accountability buddies, reminding each other to carve out time for the gym or get that planned run done after work.

We decided it would be fun to run a spring 5k together, and while we were searching for one, someone at work happened to share one he was hosting for NOC Society, a non-profit that provides free, inclusive programming for adults with disabilities. 

Now what?

I feel like over the last year and a half, my posts have mostly centered around my upcoming 40th birthday. The excitement of that milestone has died down, and now I'm left wondering...what's my next big thing?

The Lost Dutchman Half Marathon 2026

I don't even know where to start with this race. Although I only registered in late December, I've spent years thinking about what my 40th birthday race would be. The decision to run the Lost Dutchman came down to a few factors, and in the end, since it was possible, it was important to me that I run on my actual birthday. A Sunday birthday the year I turned 40? Probably another sign.

As I weighed my options, the concept of a desert sunrise race spoke to me more and more. It just felt like it would be something special...and it was.