JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE IN YOUR 50s

"When I was young

Whatever happened it would do me no wrong

As long as I could sing my favorite song

When I was young"

~ MØ

Halloween, 2009 (34 years old)

Back when I was in my 30s - a new mom, a marathoner, a high school cross country and track coach, a blogger - I was basically trying to prove to anyone and, even more so to myself, that I could do it all and do it all "relatively" well. I mean, weren't we all, though? That is not, in fact, what was happening, but bonus points to young Rebecca for believing in herself regardless. In my mid-30s I was typically running 80 miles a week and two marathons a year. I was on the advisory board at my daughters' school. I was picking up and dropping off my girls at their seven different activities with a large coffee and a smile on my face. I was also stocking the fridge, finding lost socks and helping with homework. I would scoff internally at those who would say just wait until you're in your 50s as they watched me try to juggle all the things while also physically and emotionally holding it all together. These were kind words of wisdom from friends, family, teammates, really anyone who had waded through these whirlwind decades and come out on the other side with a new perspective based on reality. And part of me "got it" but the other part of me wondered if maybe I'd be different. Perhaps I could work, train, write and be a good mom without all the typical changes that creep in as we age?  Alas, here I am, age 51. My girls are both in college, ages 19 and 21. My mom role has changed dramatically but it's wonderful. I'm still running, but nowhere near the level I was twenty years ago. I'm still working but feeling the side effects of stress and fatigue on a totally different level.  Don't get me wrong.  I still love it all. And I'm happy to be doing it. But, as all those wise women told me way back when, the pace of everything has slowed. I suppose I now realize there is simply no way to avoid it. Today, for me, life requires more time, patience and in some cases, quite a bit of letting go and saying no. It is still good. Very different. But really good.

50s VS 30s: A TOP 10 LIST

Parents weekend, 2025 (50 years old)

~ In my 30s I needed a minimum of 7 hours of sleep. 8 hours was a luxury.  Any more than that was unheard of. Today? I need a minimum of 8 hours to function.  9 is ideal.  More than 9 is a welcome treat.

~ In my 30s the colder New England winters didn't impact me that much. Temps in the 40s were warm-ish.  I'd easily be running in shorts and a t-shirt in 40 degrees.  Now, I'm legitimately not warm until summer. Fall, winter, spring...doesn't matter. I'm always cold.

~ Back in my 30s I was more social. I would go out with friends or with the hubs regularly.  And, sometimes if I stayed out a little longer I'd find myself asking, do I really need this second glass of wine?  Today, I ask the same question, but in the morning instead of night.  And I substitute wine with coffee. And the answer is always yes.

~ In my 30s I was always trying to go see live music.  I would constantly be on the lookout for fun bands or artists to go see.  Today, my search criteria is based solely on when the show starts and whether there is an opening band. Not many shows starting before 9pm these days.  I don't get out to see much live music anymore.

~ My 30s was all about texting.  Text me your number.  Text me when you're here. Today, I can't always remember where I leave my phone (in a closet, bag, my car) so I'd really prefer that you called me. Both to hear your voice and probably to help me find my phone.

~ In my 30s I would wake up and hit the ground running. Now?  I still get up and get moving.  For coffee.  But then for my next trick, well, let's just say it can sometimes take hours before I'm rolling.

~ In my 30s I would take every opportunity to travel and try new things. Time changes didn't phase me and I could sleep with my small children in a cot if it meant going to a new country. Last week I went to Spain to visit my daughter I'm still tired from the trip itself, the travel, the time change, all of it. Let's just say there won't be any more trips in the near future.

~ In my 30s, with little kids, I would constantly accumulate stuff. Toys, clothes, snacks, multiple bags full of crap that I thought I needed. Today I want nothing more than to eliminate the extra junk in my life. I'm all about the purge and find myself doing it regularly. Less is more.

~ In my 30s I could multitask like a boss. Put the groceries away, while texting, while feeding the dogs, yes. All of it.  Today if I do that I will likely drop something and break it or lose my balance and break myself.

Listen to this:
Sunday by Hannah Lew

Hannah Lew · Sunday

IT'S BEEN A MINUTE, HERE'S WHY

For the first time since I started this blog back in 2012 I haven't posted anything for over a month.  It's not a huge deal, obviously, but over the years I've been able to find something to write or talk about pretty regularly so when I realized this I was kind of surprised.  I'm going on 16 years here and I've definitely had lulls where my creative well has run a bit dry.  I've even had points along the way when I've wondered if keeping this blog going was even sustainable.  But, then I've always managed to bounce back with a music review or race review or interview or funny mom story that has nothing to do with running but that I felt was relatable and worth sharing.  But here we are.  My last post was in December of 2025 and we are halfway through February.  If I'm being honest, I have nothing notably new and/or monumental in my life that is keeping me from writing and posting as I usually do.  I was running a shit ton and regularly training for marathons when I started the blog.  Still doing that.  My daughters, Rosie and Grace, who were in grade school at the time, were obviously a big part of my daily life.  Yes, they are older now and in college and their problems and issues are different, but they are still a very prominent part of my daily life.  I had just started coaching cross country at Lexington High School.  Yep, still very much there.  Clearly things have happened that have upended my standard routine, some big, some small, some good and some bad.  Yet, I've always carved out a little time for RWM, an outlet that has become very important for my sanity, maintaining a sense of humor and enhancing my overall joy.  So, today I sat down and gave it some thought.  And here are a few of the legit (not so legit?) reasons I have not posted to date.  

REASONS WHY I HAVEN'T GOTTEN MY SH*T TOGETHER & POSTED IN 2026

~ It's been so f*&^ing cold these past couple months my brain capacity has shrunk and my motivation to express myself has dwindled.  No, not just 20s and 30s.  Arctic.  Single digits and sub-zero "feels like" temps.  Regularly.

~ I love to post about my races.  The one race I had lined up for February was canceled due to snow and the fact that it was going to be 1 degree at start time. ONE.  I cried tears of joy when they canceled it because I honestly didn't think my legs would move in that weather.  But I do enjoy sharing a good race experience, so that was a bummer.

~  I am currently obsessed with reading (see above for some of my favs so far this year).  More than ever in my life.  Like, when I start a book, I have a hard time putting it down.  So, lately I have been easily tempted to read over sitting down to write. Plus sometimes reading leads to napping and I love a good nap.

~ If I do have a little free time outside of work I am usually marathon training or getting ready for bed instead of writing blog posts.  I love getting ready for bed.  And then getting into bed.  Especially when I'm marathon training.

~ I have been writing quite a bit for Six Minute Mile, a running and fitness newsletter, and while I love this new gig I only have so much creativity in my cluttered, 51 year old brain.  And because I'm often on a deadline with them, they've been getting first dibs.

~ The Lex Indoor track and field team has had about 41 meets since January and between those and our practices and the admin I do in between, my time flies by.  Literally.  I'm up at 5:00am. I blink it's 3pm. I blink again, it's lights out.  Pun intended.  That's at 9pm.  Sometimes 8.   

~ My daughter, Grace, was home for most of January for a J-term.  So when I wasn't running, reading, coaching or sleeping, I was likely hanging out with Grace.  Turns out, the two of us were very good at wasting time together. 

~ My procrastination habits have gotten worse.  Or better.  Depending on how you look at it.  I used to wake up, knock out my morning routine like a boss, (coffee, dogs, run, coffee) and then have ample time to work on other stuff like blog posts.  I won't share all the shit I do to delay my daily tasks but the list is long and continues to get more and more creative as I get older.  

~ But also, everything feels like it takes longer to get done.  Like, a quick 45 minute run feels more like a solid hour and a half now.  Or a quick trip to the grocery store is just...well... unheard of.  Or maybe I'm just slower in general.  Or maybe I am slower and I procrastinate.  Probably that. 

Listen to this:

Long Gone by Silversun Pickups

Silversun Pickups · Long Gone