Running and Writing?

2026 plans

How’s Fall going for you?

I finally turned the heat on yesterday, which is pretty good for Chicago. But it means I can’t help but think about the end of this year and the launch of next year.

Yes, I’m thinking 2026 already!

Part of my excitement for 2026 comes from what I’ve been doing this Summer.

1. I’ve been laser-focused on book proposals and developmental editing. I’ve done less ideation with writers recently and more accountability, construction, and revision. It’s lovely.

2. Motivated by leading a run club at my gym, I’ve gotten certified as an RRCA Level 1 Running coach, and I’m finishing up my Lydiard training in November.

My new dream is to bring these two worlds together.

What do you think?

There are so many fitness and running metaphors that apply to writing your book or your book proposal.

I can talk all day about how 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲.

𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 with and 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 of your 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 apply to both runners and writers.

Building community makes the hard days feel easier.

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 through the struggle, and 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 because of it.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲, and remembering that on days when you’re injured or demotivated.

Learning that 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝙞𝙨 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁, sometimes even more than winning.

Discovering new 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 and 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 and 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀 that make you better in this 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲, but also in the rest of your life.

Natalia Blauth For Unsplash+

In 2026, I want to build something that lets us train for both:

• the book 𝘢𝘯𝘥 the physical race.

I have this vision of a group of writer-runners who lift each other up as they work on their books and their miles. I’m not sure yet if this is a casual monthly meetup or a bigger program where we train together for a race as we work through a big chunk of your book.

I’m picturing fiction and nonfiction writers alike.

I don’t know if this sounds as exciting to you as it does to me, so I’d love your feedback.

I’d also love it if you could share this survey with other writer-runners in your life.

I think there’s something exciting here....

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And in the meantime, take some time this week to go out for a run or write a few more pages... or even both!