A tactical decision at mile two. Five miles into a headwind. A late-race negotiation between mind and muscle. My 2:22:27 at the 2026 Houston Marathon wasn’t a miracle — it was accumulation. A checkpoint on the road toward the Olympic Trials standard.

A hometown marathon, a disciplined race plan, and a 2:33 return after thirteen years away. The story behind my Little Rock Marathon debut — from restraint to the final surge.

A disrupted training week, a freezing start line, and an improvised kit — Papa Loco became an unexpected checkpoint in the marathon build.