“There is no practical way I can articulate all of the things I’ve learned from Team Hoyt in a single blog post because I’m not sure I can even identify all the lessons this incredible community has taught me.”

“Last week I finished the Coastal Georgia Greenway 155 miler - a distance I’m shocked that I thought I could complete, and even more shocked that I actually completed it.”

“I moved to Beaufort, SC after my TransCon in 2017. Depending on what story I’m telling it was to finish my dissertation without the distractions of friends or a job or to spend much desired time with a man I love. I won’t lie, I hated it.”

“Today I finish my service year as an AmeriCorps VISTA, a (sightly) paid position at a literacy non-profit here in Charleston, SC.”

“I’ve hidden out in my South Carolina castle for long enough, licking my wounds, reflecting on last year, and trying my damnest to cross “Finish PhD” off my “to do” list. It’s time for the next big thing.”

“I am and will always be a runner.”

“The end of 2018 was pretty packed. I could list the number of flights, trips, events, races, and other requirements and electives that took my time, energy, and money, but then I’d be doing two of the things I hate seeing in others – justifying our “busy” and being a martyr.”

“A year ago today I hobbled into the Atlantic Ocean. I had spent the last 99 days running, walking, or limping across the country.”

“Last week a man, a stranger, stopped me mid-run to give me friendly advice for which I neither asked nor needed. While this was a mild annoyance, it gave me pause.”

“As as toddler I’m not sure I ever “learned” to run. I was walking and then, like most kids, I was running.”

“I finished my dissertation this week, nothing left but the shouting (i.e. administrative requirements) until I’m officially Dr. Margaret M. Seymour, PhD. I’ve been dreaming, sometimes literally, of this moment for the past five years.”

“I concluded an international exercise last week after three weeks of working with multiple western and African partner nations. My department worked with folks from at least seven different nationalities, of various training backgrounds, and under a U.K. led planning process. It. Was. Tough.”

“There was a marathon here in Agadir this week. I went back and forth on registering for it, looking for reasons to skip and looking for reasons to join, overthinking and overanalyzing it all.”

“Let's talk about California. When I was a kid I wanted to move to California, specifically Southern California - hereby referenced to as SoCal or SC. I wanted to live amongst the palm trees and sunshine and hollywood.”

“I’ve thought a lot about listening this week. I’ll admit I’m not a very good listener. I’m a talker.”

“The past two weeks have been peppered with sadness. It seems like each day I see another friend struggling with loss – of a parent, or a friend, or a mentor. I have even felt a sadness of my own.”

“My friends and I have been talking a lot about failure this week, which is appropriate since I’ve recently had a string of failures.”

“In honor of rumors of a Death Race revival....the things I learned the last go around.”

“This week marked the 2nd anniversary of the Southern Caiifornia Valor Run 161 miler – in which I along with two amazing runners, a logistics/support driver, and a 198?”

“I took a train from San Francisco to Los Angeles this week. While I’ve been travelling pretty consistently since completing my run, it’s been mostly by plane. ”