IZZA NATURAL TING · STORY
Project 50 Starts Now
On November 1, I turned 49 and finished my fourth New York City Marathon. Twelve marathons now.
Here’s what I wrote the day before.
Tomorrow I’ll be 49 years old!
Just to clear up a little confusion from before, I’m not turning 50 yet. I’m beginning my 50th year of life. And that year begins with 26.2 miles through New York City!
Tomorrow’s marathon is more than a race for me. It feels like the beginning of a new journey of movement, self-discovery, love, community, learning, growth, and whatever else life has waiting for me between 49 and 50.
There are things I want to accomplish before I turn 50. Big tings: finish this PhD, run my first 50-miler, get my first book published…
I also want to move through this year with intention, curiosity, gratitude, courage, and love, and keep building the work, the music, the movement, the ideas, and the relationships that make life that little bit better.
The older I get, the more I overstand that a good life is a lot about who you get to be while you are here.
And I get to be a father, brother, husband, friend, coach, teacher, student, artist, runner… a fellow human being trying to figure out some things while hopefully making the trod a little more meaningful for someone else along the way.
I have been loved, supported, encouraged, challenged, taught, carried, and inspired by so many people! Some of you have been in my life for nuff years. Some of you I met through running, music, school, work, or some random corner of the internet. Many of you I have never even met in person.
I feel all of that love, fam!! And I love y’all right back!
So tomorrow I shall put on my birthday suit, step onto the Verrazzano, and begin two journeys at the same time: 26.2 miles to the finish line and one full year toward 50.
Project 50 starts now. Let’s see where it goes!