Julie B. Hughes's Blog, page 3

Where Stillness Settles...

For the first session of Move. Write. Connect., we started with Natalie Goldberg’s prompt, “Tell me about a place you need to return to.”

My pen immediately went to the woods. I found myself repeating words like freedom, silence, unplugging, and no responsibility. I shared a small, messy piece, knowing I wanted to create a poem from this writing session.

Here’s what I made—

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published Stillness SettlesA place to returnno responsibilityevery worry goneas I weave and hopover, around rocks and rootsjoy and play followRavens chuckle as I soar with the winduntil stillness settlesSilence nourishesevergreen trees guide the waythe path calls onwardHere, I lack nothing. Magic.

Local? Join us in person for Move. Write. Connect. Click the button below for details and to sign up. We meet in Liverpool, NY.

Move. Write. Connect.

MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher: To Preorder Ebook

Paperback will be published on 10/7/2025! I can’t thank you enough for all your support and interest.

Thankful for you!

Take good care,

Julie

Comfort was Not the Goal

Hi Run to Write Community,

I’m excited to share another excerpt from my upcoming memoir, MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher. The publication date is set for October 14, 2025.

Chapter 9

Manage the Mind

How will you manage your mind for 50 miles? My stomach knotted at the thought. Oh, here she goes again, Aunt Phoebe. This was a new adventure, and of course, she would protest. I reminded myself she was just trying to protect me. Comfort was not the goal.

As an experienced marathoner, I had developed routines that worked well for me, writing mantras on my arm, visualizing successful finishes, and mentally rehearsing every mile. However, I believed ultra running required more mental preparation, and Addie Bracy’s book proved helpful. Her book had so many gold nuggets. One thing she wrote really stuck with me:

“Without the courage to challenge the way you have been doing things and to look for ways to improve, you’ll stay right where you are.”

I underlined and wrote these words in my notebook. I didn’t want to stay where I was regarding my mental fortitude. I decided to carve out time in my schedule for structured mental training, a deliberate practice leading up to the race. Every Saturday became a date with myself to reshape my mental approach to ultra running. Each chapter included questions that forced me to dissect my running journey; what aspects of my strongest performances could I replicate? What factors in my weakest races were within my control? Which variables did I need to accept and work around? I could ponder these questions, but the revelation that changed everything was writing these reflections down, putting pen to paper, and facing the resistance.

Many questions arose that I didn’t know how to answer right away. It took time,​​ effort, and discomfort. (Huh, kind of like running).

I recall some days when I wanted to skip the questions and continue reading. I laughed. This felt familiar, like when I wanted to avoid my strength training and run instead. Yet this act of writing was an opportunity to learn more about myself. What were my fears? If my plan went sideways, how would I respond? Why was I out there running? What would I say to myself when fatigue and pain took over? What would keep me placing one foot in front of the other?

The questions challenged me and forced me to dig deep. I took the time to think and reflect. I showed up. I learned and stretched. Writing down my thoughts, fears, and backup plans wasn't wasted time. Each written word was a stepping stone towards self-awareness and growth. I was building mental fortitude, courage, and an unshakeable mindset. I couldn’t develop this mental toughness on race day—it had to be cultivated through consistent and intentional practice. I learned that mental training deserved the same dedicated attention as physical preparation. I discovered it wasn't enough to think about mental strategy—it needed to be written down. The pen truly is mighty.

I will share another excerpt next Monday. Thank you so much for being here with me. Please feel free to share with someone you love,

Julie

Writing prompt:

Write a letter to a fear you're currently carrying, thanking it for trying to keep you safe, then explaining why you're ready to move forward anyway.

Thank you Rebecca and Sandra.

You’re invited to write together! See you today at 11 am (EST).

We'll gather in silent solidarity to work on our creative projects, starting with a writing prompt to warm up. No experience is necessary.

Be part of our creative community! Use the link below to enter our Zoom room, and feel free to invite a friend to write alongside you. Together, we'll discover our creative voices and find the courage to put our stories on the page.

Let's write together. Let's grow together.

Community writing session

Move. Write. Connect. meets this Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Freedom of Espresso in Liverpool, NY. Click the button below to sign up and join us.

Move. Write. Connect.

Let's sing and giggle...

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published Move. Write. Connect. (theme song)Lacing upback on the streets time for friends and creation We’ve got our courage now we’re ready to move just a cluband our magicto storytell So many daysdistraction wins outclean the housescroll on FacebookYet what we’ve learnedis that the pen is mightyand it’s best with palsto keep the write aliveIt’s the move and writegroup, are you ready to joinrising up to thechallenge of AIchoose community and connectionover screens and botsgrab a pen and a notebook and thrive…..Move and Write

Thank you for being here with me.

Let’s giggle more,

Julie

Ways to Connect:

Join us on Mondays at 11 a.m. (EST) via Zoom to write together.

Write together on Zoom

Join us on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. at Freedom of Espresso in Liverpool, NY. Click the link below for more details and to sign up.

Move. Write. Connect.

Chapter 4

Hi Run to Write Community,

I’m excited to share another excerpt from my upcoming memoir, MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher. The publication date is set for October 14, 2025.

Thank you so much and Margaret, for joining the M.O.M. (Miles of Meaning) Book Launch Team. If you want to join us, reply to this email and I’ll fill you in.

I recall a warm morning, a bright blue sky, and a light breeze. What a gorgeous day for a race. I stood at the start line with my uncle, cousin, and older sister. We were packed in like sardines, the collective energy palpable. A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead. Runners squeezed around me to get a better position before the gun went off.

The woman behind me caught my eye, with blonde hair, a matching outfit, and a broad smile that radiated confidence. She looked ready to race. The man in front of me had grey hair, weathered wrinkles, and pristine white tube socks pulled up just below his knees. I glanced down at my mismatched ensemble: green shorts, a yellow shirt, and plain white socks. What intrigued me most was this beautiful diversity at the start line—the mix of ages, clothing styles, and expressions. Despite our differences, we all shared one profound goal: to finish.

The national anthem began. We stood side by side, right hand on our hearts, momentarily united in something larger than ourselves. Goosebumps covered my arms as a chorus of voices sang out. Once the anthem finished, claps and cheers filled the air. My ears were alert, waiting for that one distinct sound. The announcer's voice boomed through the megaphone…

“On your mark, get set…”

BANG!

We moved forward together as one, and the crowd cheered. My aunt and younger cousin watched from the roadside, cheering and taking pictures. A group of runners surrounded me with each stride. I didn't worry about taking a wrong turn or running alone. There was always someone beside me offering reassurance, encouragement, and support. My solitary runs on country roads had never felt like this, surrounded by a crowd of runners, cheered on by spectators celebrating our effort. I savored the camaraderie and the rhythm of moving in unison with others. When my pace slowed and doubt crept in, runners came alongside me with a quick, “Great job. Keep going!” It was all I needed to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and I found myself repeating, I can do this.

As I crossed the finish line, emotion overwhelmed me. I finished! A grin spread across my face while strangers offered high-fives and congratulations. Through one simple action, running, I felt seen. The energy was contagious, a community I had longed to join. It became why I continued to run.

Looking back, I’ve learned something fundamental about human connection: we are designed to move together, celebrate each other's victories, and witness each other's journeys. I believe this was what President John F. Kennedy envisioned for all Americans—a community united in physical activity, passing this value on to the next generation.

I came across a fascinating article by President-Elect John F. Kennedy in Sports Illustrated, published on December 26, 1960. Two powerful quotations resonated with me:

“For physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. The relationship between the soundness of the body and the activities of the mind is subtle and complex. Much is not yet understood. But we do know what the Greeks knew: that intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong; that hardy spirits and tough minds usually inhabit sound bodies.”

“We can fully restore the physical soundness of our nation only if every American is willing to assume responsibility for his own fitness and the fitness of his children.”

My first race introduced me to Kennedy's wisdom: “hardy spirits and tough minds usually inhabit sound bodies.” That day, crossing the finish line, I didn't just complete a race; I experienced firsthand the strong link between physical effort and mental resilience. I saw a community that values movement for both competition and connection.

Close your eyes and time travel with me to your first race. Where was it? Why did you sign up? Who did you meet? What did it feel like to cross the finish line?

I will share another excerpt next Monday. Thank you so much for being here with me. Please feel free to share with someone you love,

Julie

Thank you, writing buddies: Sharon, Michael, Annette, Jennifer, Gary, Tom, and Jeff. It’s so wonderful to see your faces. Hope you can join again.

You’re invited! See you today at 11 am (EST).

We'll gather in silent solidarity to work on our creative projects, starting with a writing prompt to warm up. No experience is necessary.

Be part of our creative community! Use the link below to enter our Zoom room, and feel free to invite a friend to write alongside you. Together, we'll discover our creative voices and find the courage to put our stories on the page.

Let's write together. Let's grow together.

Community writing session

There’s still time to sign up for the Move. Write. Connect. fall session. We gather this Wednesday, 9/17. Click the button below for all the details and to sign up. Delaney, did a great job on your bracelets. :)

Keep showing up, creating, and shining your light.

Move. Write. Connect. sign up

Friday in the woods

Meet Fred: photo by author

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published Dirt Trail Dirt trail whispers underfoot,oak and maple wherever I looksunshine guides the path aheada small toad hops beside me…I think I'll call him Fred.A patch of mosscushions his small feetI kneel to admirehis stillness—what a treat.If he could talk, I'm sure he'd say:“Don't rush, slow down, put your phone away.”I nod to myself,grateful to seeand listen to the wisdomthe woods teaches me.

Delaney made us bracelets for the Move. Write. Connect. Yahoo!

Sign up for yours. (click the button below). We start 9/17 in Liverpool, NY.

Sign up— REBEL

See you back Monday for another MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher excerpt. Publication date is 10/14/25

Thank you for being here with me,

Julie

P.S. What did you see this week? Please share with us in the comments.

Introduction & Chapter One

Hey Run to Write Community,

I’m excited to share excerpts of my upcoming memoir: MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher. Publication date is set for October 14, 2025.

Thank you so much to , , and for the restack and to , Miriam, and Jim for joining the M.O.M. (miles of meaning) Book Launch Team.

Introduction

My uncle casually mentioned encountering runners with bib numbers on the Appalachian Trail years ago. There must be a race, I thought. A quick Google search revealed the JFK 50 Mile—one of America's oldest and most prestigious ultramarathons. Though intrigued, I filed it away as a future goal race. My heart was set on Boston, and I vowed not to consider ultra distances until I had crossed that iconic marathon finish line in 2021.

Then, in 2023, my phone buzzed with a text from my nephew. A photo filled my screen: him grinning at the finish line of the JFK 50 Mile footrace in Maryland, bib number pinned to his chest. His first ultra.

“I finished!” he'd written.

I stared at the photo—his joy and triumph radiated through the screen. My finger hovered over the keypad. I wondered if I could do it next year, then quickly deleted my half-typed reply. For the next six hours, I researched trail running sneakers online, read race reports from strangers, and studied elevation maps of the Appalachian Trail section. Before bed, I'd bookmarked the JFK 50 Mile registration page.

There was something else—did a train really cross the race route? How long did runners have to wait if it did? I had to find out. Ed Ayres' book, The Longest Race, offered some insights and confirmed that the train did make an appearance on race day, yet my questions remained only partially answered.

This book, Miles of Meaning, grew from my curiosity when my uncle described JFK 50 Mile runners streaming past him on the Appalachian Trail years ago, and my commitment to dedicate each mile to those touched by cancer. This mission took on personal significance as my husband, Jeff, was in remission and on his recovery journey. I began mentally assigning each of the 50 miles to specific people—Jeff, his aunt, friends who'd fought their own battles—turning the race into a moving memorial of hope.

You belong here if you're a road runner looking at this race with both desire and doubt. If your training happens on asphalt instead of trails, you belong here. You've got what it takes!

Let's Go!

Chapter 1: Willing Feet

4:30 a.m. In six hours, I'd finish my longest training run or discover I had no business dreaming about 50 miles. My feet hit the cold floor as I felt around for the running clothes I'd laid out the night before, another pre-dawn ritual chasing an answer I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

I tiptoed to the kitchen and laced up my sneakers by the glow of my phone. The headlamp's beam cut through the darkness as I stepped outside into another morning on the rolling country roads that had become my training ground. No stunning trail network waited outside my front door, just familiar asphalt stretching into silence.

The nearest trails required planning, driving, and careful negotiation with our family calendar. With Jeff working every other weekend and our two children, 11-year-old Brindsley and 10-year-old Delaney, to coordinate, my training had to fit into the gaps of our lives. That's how I found myself here, headlamp shining, grateful to the moon and stars for company on another pre-dawn run.

But these weren't just random early morning miles anymore. I was training for something that terrified and thrilled me in equal measure—my first ultramarathon. Fifty miles. The JFK 50 Mile.

I sat at my desk, coffee growing cold, reading through the race description on my computer. The JFK 50 Mile wasn't just an ultramarathon but a hybrid beast, with rocks and roots along the Appalachian Trail, canal towpaths, and country roads. My shoulders relaxed as I read. For a road runner contemplating her first ultra, this felt manageable. Yes, I'd have to survive the technical Appalachian Trail section, but then I'd be back on familiar ground, the paths and roads that had been my allies for years. I wouldn't need to transform into a full-time trail runner to tackle this distance. Then I saw a 13-hour time limit. With proper training, I believed I could accomplish this.

So I signed up. About 95% of my training happened on asphalt. The precious few trail runs were gold, hard-earned, and strategically placed in my training plan. These dark morning miles were building something I couldn't yet name, not just endurance but faith—faith that my willing feet could carry me further than I'd ever imagined.

Months later, I would stand at the JFK 50 Mile starting line among 1,120 other runners, trail sneakers laced tight, heart hammering with possibility. I would run the legendary Appalachian Trail, run alongside the Potomac River, and find myself at mile 47, recalling each name I was carrying in my running vest, those touched by cancer. I would picture my children, Brindsley and Delaney, and my husband, Jeff, watching the livestream, hearing their cheers: “Go, Mama, go!” “Go, Jules, go!”

But that finish line story began here—in the quiet darkness, chasing a dream that felt both possible and impossible.

Next Monday, I will share another excerpt. Thank you so much for being here with me. Please feel free to share with someone you love,

Julie

Thank you, writing buddies.

You’re invited! See you today at 11 am (EST).

We'll gather in silent solidarity to work on our creative projects, starting with a writing prompt to warm up. No experience is necessary.

Be part of our creative community! Use the link below to enter our Zoom room, and feel free to invite a friend to write alongside you. Together, we'll discover our creative voices and find the courage to put our stories on the page.

Let's write together. Let's grow together.

Community writing session

JFK 50 Mile to Memoir

Back cover photo by H3Photography

Mile 32 of the JFK 50 Mile, and the raw blisters on my feet throbbed with each step. This was when the real race began, not against other runners, but against the voice in my head squeaking in—are you sure you can do this?

If you've been following along here, you remember those run stories I shared from the JFK 50 Mile race. What started as me wanting to capture the experience so I wouldn't forget has become something bigger—a memoir about facing doubt, listening to the voice of encouragement, and running for others touched by cancer.

A lesson I keep learning is that the voice we choose to listen to matters.

Training for an ultra was more than just logging the miles and showing up. Yes, that was important, but what was equally important was the conversation happening in my head when fatigue, pain, and questions of my capability squeaked in.

What voice would I choose to listen to? The inner critic or the inner encourager. It was in these moments that I learned how much it mattered.

Another reason this book needed to exist was for you, those touched by cancer. This memoir isn't just about running—it's about honoring everyone who's faced their own personal ultra distance, whether 50 miles on a trail or something much harder in a hospital room.

Every mile has meaning when you're running for something bigger than yourself. This is that story.

I can’t wait to share it with you.

We all have our own version of an 'ultra distance'—what's yours, and what keeps you moving forward when the voice of doubt gets loud?

Join us each Monday for an excerpt of MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher, leading up to the publication date on 10/14/2025.

Thank you to , , Jennifer G, , , , , Heat, , , and , who are on the M.O.M. Book Launch Team.

I would love to gather 10 more people who would like to be an early reader and share a review the week of publication.

If you would like to help with this, please reply to this email or email me at: hughesjulie413@gmail.com, and I will email you the PDF.

Thank you so much,

Julie

Move. Write. Connect. starts Sept. 17th! We have plenty of spots if you would like to join us. Click the button below for all the details and to register.

Details & Registration

MILES of MEANING

Hey everyone,

I'm excited to share the cover design for my upcoming book, MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher! I’m very grateful to my friend Olabanji Stephen, who created the front cover. The front photo is by Mike McNeil.

Back cover:

What if the only thing standing between you and a 50 mile race is that doubting voice in your head?

Miles of Meaning is the story of one woman's leap into ultrarunning and her pursuit to transform self-doubt into unstoppable momentum. When she first dreamed of running the JFK 50 Mile, the fears flooded in:

Fifty miles is impossible. I don't have enough time to train. Can I balance ultrarunning with motherhood?

Having walked through her husband's cancer diagnosis and treatment, Julie Hughes’s message carries a profound urgency: we don't know how long we're here...Let's just go for it!

Despite every fear and with more heart than experience, she tackles her first ultramarathon. Written with raw honesty and unexpected humor, this memoir reveals how she learned to transform limiting beliefs into the very fuel that carried her and her family forward.

What emerges is a powerful testament to curiosity, determination, and the extraordinary resilience hidden within ordinary steps. But this isn't just about running 50 miles—it's about how we can talk ourselves into doing remarkable things.

Lace up. Let's go!

I'm seeking early readers to join my Review Crew!

I'm forming a small group who are willing to read MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher, before its publication date on October 14, 2025, and leave an honest review—whether on Amazon, Goodreads, or any platform you prefer.

If you want to join our exclusive MILES of MEANING launch team, please reply to this email, and I’ll send you the details.

Stay tuned as I share one compelling excerpt each Monday leading up to launch day!

Thank you for being a part of this community,

Julie

P.S. Please forward this to a runner friend.

Thank you, writing buddies. Hope to see you today.

You’re invited! See you today at 11 am (EST).

We'll gather in silent solidarity to work on our creative projects, starting with a writing prompt to warm up. No experience is necessary.

Be part of our creative community! Use the link below to enter our Zoom room, and feel free to invite a friend to write alongside you. Together, we'll discover our creative voices and find the courage to put our stories on the page.

Let's write together. Let's grow together.

Community writing session

Be a Rebel

Be a REBEL, write with us.

With all this AI flooding my emails, feeds, and mind, this space to move, connect, write, and converse means even more! Let’s remember how vital face-to-face interaction is for our growth, collaboration, and understanding.

Let’s be rebels and gather together without a device to distract us. Let’s write with a notebook and a pen. Let’s take time to listen to our intuition.

In the words of :

Sherry gives us the most powerful summation of how smartphones and social media, these powerful technologies of connection, have damaged close human relationships. She does it in four words: "We are forever elsewhere."

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published Be a RebelMove. Write. Connect. starts in 20 daysPlease sign up, move at your own pace.Sneakers laced, notebooks open wideConnect with the wisdom you carry inside. Breathe deep, gain clarity, let your pen flowListen to your knowing, let your voice grow.No devices to tell us what to thinkA real human across from you...wave, wink. Be a rebel, join in person to move and writeLet's gather to share both dark and light.

Join us in person to Move. Write. Connect.

We start Sept. 17th at 9:30 am in Liverpool, NY at Freedom of Espresso.

Click the button below for all the details and to register. If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this email.

Let's Go: Real Life Happens Here

P.S. I can’t wait to share the book cover design for: Miles of Meaning: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher, with you next week. Woohoo!

Time keeps moving...

Thumbs up to Delaney turning 11.

Delaney turns eleven today.

I’ve been writing things I remember, what I miss, not with regret, just recognizing how time goes so fast. (everyone was right…it goes so fast)

We kept a journal to jot down the hilarious things that came out of her mouth and her brothers’ too, when they were toddlers…I was reading it over this weekend, laughing out loud.

Here is one that Jeff wrote down: (7/7/2018)

Delaney, after I told her to ride her bike only in the driveway, not in the road, while I made breakfast.

Delaney: “ Okay, I think my brain will say, I’m only gonna ride in the driveway, but maybe it will say, I’m gonna ride in the road, but I hope not.”

This made me laugh so hard! I hope it gives you a chuckle.

Thank you for being here with me, and have a wonderful Monday.

Julie

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published Eleven Years (to my daughter)Here we are—eleven years.Everyone said, "It goes fast."Everyone said, "Enjoy this time."I hate to say it…they were right.I remember:You on my right hip,walking around the bedroom to get you to sleep,your tiny fingers curled around mine.me singing, You Are My Sunshinefor the hundredth timereading Sandra Boynton booksover and over.I remember:watching you smear avocadoeverywhere in your high chair,running up Pulaski Streetwith you and Brindsley in the BOB stroller,your tiny hands holding a book.Everyone said, "It goes fast."Everyone said, "Enjoy this time."I hate to say it…they were right.Today you're eleven,and how I truly do misspushing you in the stroller,carrying you on my right hip.But look at you now…Your imagination never runs dryyour room overflows with creationspaintings, drawings, handmadebookmarks and bracelets to encourage and upliftthe time and effort you put in—such a gift.I'm learning every minute from youto be present and find joy each daylistening to your plansof building a business, having a store,sharing your creations with peopleand traveling more.Time keeps moving...I'm learning to noticehow sacred it all is.Happy Birthday, to my glorious Delaney.keep creating, keep dreaming bigthe Lord has incredible plans for you,and I can't wait to see what's nextlove you always,Mom (aka mama moose) Thank you, writing buddies

You’re invited! See you today at 11 am (EST).

We'll gather in silent solidarity to work on our creative projects, starting with a writing prompt to warm up. No experience is necessary.

Be part of our creative community! Use the link below to enter our Zoom room, and feel free to invite a friend to write alongside you. Together, we'll discover our creative voices and find the courage to put our stories on the page.

Let's write together. Let's grow together.

Community writing session