This weekend I head back to California. My first work trip post surgery, which will be an interesting test in itself. I am going to "Camp Strava" tomorrow and Thursday, then will drive down to San Diego for the La Jolla Half Marathon, a race I will be working with a boot, and hopefully, without my crutches.

There is something special about this race.

This could be a game-changing moment in our sport.

La Jolla has ditched disposable cups.

Yep, they will be giving every participant a reusable cup (yes, the ones I am a big fan of from HydraPak), and participants can either refill those at aid stations or bring their own hydration to carry with them through the race.

La Jolla has been clear in their communications to participants, but this is really where we will find out how effective it has been. Will people remember their cups? Will the refill stations work well enough? What other unexpected challenges could we face?

I feel confident about this, and I genuinely believe that this is the future. Maybe not for the majors, it is still hard to envision not having disposable cups in some capacity at those events, but for the majority of races, I do see this as the way forward.

HydraPak has done the work, creating products that are innovative and well designed. Other brands have utilized those innovations too, and brought HydraPak into their own product line, but this is really where it comes down to the runners at the event.

I believe in runners, I believe in us, but I am not gonna lie, I will be nervous. A successful event could redefine everything about races, and I am excited to see where we are in five years with this.

This week on the Running For Real podcast...

Here's the official description:

Andrea Lytle Peet went from completing a half Ironman to needing a cane to walk, less than six months later. She was ultimately diagnosed with ALS, at the age of 33. Doctors told her that she had two to five years to live, and that before she died, she would lose the ability to walk, talk, move, eat and breathe.
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Now, ten years later, she is the first person with ALS to have completed a marathon in all fifty states and she and her husband run the Team Drea Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for ALS research. She hopes that her story will inspire and encourage not only others living with ALS, but anyone struggling with a challenge in their life.

Here's the real deal:

Andrea was a speaker at the Running USA conference a few months ago, and I just fell in love with her spirit right away. She has defied all expectations with her ALS diagnosis and what she has been able to do since, and I suspect she will be a part of the reason a cure is found with the huge amount she has raised, and the proof she has given of what it is possible to do. Come join us for a chat.

One of the best preserved natural locations in Central America awaits you, with outstanding magic for trail running experiences. Come join me for a trip to Costa Rica in November. As a friend of mine, you can use code TINAMUIR for 10% off.

As I am headed to Camp Strava, it reminded me I have not shared my Strava account in a while. I am sharing my recovery journey in full depth, if you want to find me there. It will be weird being at this event being totally unable to do the physical parts, but I am sure there will be some other injured people to hang out with during those times!

I mentioned last week about starting a Medium account to share thoughts on sustainability for those of you who are environmentally curious. Very much in the theme of being an imperfectly sustainable human being (we all are), I think you will find it a helpful place to get started. New article coming tomorrow morning, so follow my account now.

I read Active Hope, by ecophilosopher Joanna Macy and physician Dr. Chris Johnstone. I absolutely loved this book, highlighting sentences all the way throughout. Strongly recommend this read if you have been struggling with the state of our world.

"Each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity." -Marie Curie

Thanks to our partner, HydraPak

I think I made it clear how much I appreciate HydraPak and the work they have done to give runners ways to hydrate quickly and efficiently. Some of my favorite items are the Sky Flask (I would use this for a marathon), soft flask (for trail and vests), and of course, the Speed Cup for races where you don't want to carry extra. All of these items are soft and break down small.

I believe in a world where carrying your own hydration products is the norm. I know that for most of you, the thousands (or millions, in the case of the majors) of cups on the streets is the ultimate example of waste; you can be a part of the change.

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Be kind to one another, yourself, and this beautiful planet of ours.

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