SELF: Of all of the folks 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 a variety 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 assist round mile 17.
What led you to start out operating within the first place, or moving into the marathons?
Graves: My spouse. Someone had talked about to her that they didn’t assume she might do a half [marathon], and it obtained 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 12 months, so I did it once more. Our first marathon was in 2022. And he or she was so excited to do that one this 12 months.
What do you discover rewarding about marathoning generally, as a bodily feat or an emotional one, or each?
Graves: Each. It reveals me I don’t hand over. It’s actually laborious to do a few of these runs, and once I’m on the market at mile 20 and I simply need to cease and say, “No, I’m finished,” I’m displaying 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 unimaginable.
