Let's just say that 2020 has been unexpected

This is probably all my fault. I had a 14-year streak of participation in Marathon Sunday in Houston -- 12 years running the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, one year running the Chevron Houston Marathon, one year as a course volunteer. That streak was broken this past January. After months training as if I was going to run the Aramco Half again, I realized during race week that I had overlooked actually registering for 2020. Oops.

As soon as registration opened, I made a point of registering for the 2021 Aramco Houston Half Marathon, and my current running goal is making up for my mental goof-up with this event. However, it feels like my streak-breaking unleashed a tumult upon the entire year to date. Uneven response to  coronavirus pandemic and flareups of social unrest have spun the entire nation weary. Numerous running events have either been canceled or "gone virtual" and right now I'd say even a January 2021 race date is looking threatened. But I'll continue to prepare as if there's still hope.

Meanwhile, events have refocused life squarely on home more than ever, and I'm appreciative of my past decision to make my home in an Energy Corridor neighborhood where just about all my daily needs are nearby within biking range. Since transitioning to a work-from-home arrangement, my car use has dropped dramatically. My active time has been supercharged, and I take more time prepping meals in my own kitchen. Despite my new ritual of baking cookies every weekend, the result has been weight loss, which I consider a delightful natural experiment after years of reading about the obesogenic effects of car-commuting.

No promises, but I may even start blogging more often again.