SELF: Of all of the individuals I’ve talked to, you’re among the many most alert and energetic nonetheless, so I’m so impressed.
Graves: Yeah, I don’t understand how I’m truly functioning nonetheless [laughs]. That is my fifth marathon. I’ve quantity six on December 1 in Seattle, after which seven is Eugene in April, and eight is San Francisco.
I did my fourth one two weeks in the past, and that was powerful. I spent plenty of time on the course on my own, and that was in all probability the primary time I actually needed to push myself as a result of I misplaced course help round mile 17.
What led you to start out working within the first place, or stepping into the marathons?
Graves: My spouse. Any individual had talked about to her that they didn’t suppose she might do a half [marathon], and it received her into it, and I’m like, “Yeah, I’ll do one half with you.” After which we completed and I noticed it was half-price for the subsequent yr, so I did it once more. Our first marathon was in 2022. And she or he was so excited to do that one this yr.
What do you discover rewarding about marathoning basically, as a bodily feat or an emotional one, or each?
Graves: Each. It exhibits me I don’t surrender. It’s actually exhausting to do a few of these runs, and after I’m on the market at mile 20 and I simply need to cease and say, “No, I’m executed,” I’m exhibiting myself what I can do. And on the finish, that simply makes it completely price it. When you end, you could have such a sense of accomplishment, a rush of endorphins. It’s unbelievable.
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