Twenty years ago, I toed the line in order to prove something. Many times, I did. But the medals and titles are not what keeps me in the game. They are not even the most memorable part of this journey. Their value, now, is to point to all the different ways in which I won. None of which were standard. None of which were planned. They were simply the result of my adaptive attempts to remain relevant, when door after door closed on my running career. Hail Mary experimentation was all that I had left... and for this, I am eternally grateful.
When I look back at 2019, my head spins. The magnitude of what I achieved that year does not make sense... and I'm not even sure how to talk about it without sounding boastful. But I am curious to unpack it, examine the underlying mechanics, and try to understand what I have stumbled upon. So, here we go...