<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[meganzakaria.design]]></title><description><![CDATA[Megan Zakaria]]></description><link>https://www.meganzakaria.com/blog-1</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:15:51 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.meganzakaria.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Megan is Locked In This]]></title><description><![CDATA[At each checkpoint , you ask one simple question: “Does this feel steady, or does it feel heavy?”  CHECKPOINT 1 — ~3 months from now Ask: Am I running consistently without pain? Do my easy runs feel calmer? Am I recovering well from hard days? If yes  → both doors stay openIf no  → Door B quietly becomes the better option (no failure)  CHECKPOINT 2 — After a half-marathon block Ask: Did I enjoy the longer training? Did long runs feel manageable, not scary? Did my mental health stay...]]></description><link>https://www.meganzakaria.com/post/megan-is-locked-in-this</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6965aac56cbc30176c5b03de</guid><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:50:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d7b7b_e2bfd8159b954647b0f040a2c359f58f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_591,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>meganzakaria888</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Running Alone, Running Together, and Learning to Hold Both]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today I did a Bagels run, but not in the usual way. I arrived late, so I ran it by myself. Surprisingly, I didn’t mind at all. In fact, I was kind of glad. Running solo meant I could go at my own pace, listen to my body, and move without pressure. There was no comparison, no need to keep up, no sense of being watched. It felt free. At the same time, I know there’s a trade-off. Running alone protects my enjoyment of running, but it also means I don’t get much exposure to running around other...]]></description><link>https://www.meganzakaria.com/post/running-alone-running-together-and-learning-to-hold-both</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6965a5bdf5f6771556758103</guid><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:13:13 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>meganzakaria888</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5K PB (20:56) at Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park parkrun ]]></title><description><![CDATA[I didn’t go into this parkrun expecting anything. I was just in my Japan exploration mode: curious, motivated, and excited to move. I stayed in the middle of the crowd on purpose, telling myself I’d aim for around 5:30 pace and simply see what happened. No pressure, no expectations. Just grateful to be there, knowing it was short, fun and worth showing up for. I was wearing my new purple shoes for the first time, and I felt good in myself. I was dressed nicely, felt confident, and oddly...]]></description><link>https://www.meganzakaria.com/post/5k-pb</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69646fb37d3bee3fd102a6bc</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 04:10:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d7b7b_2b08485819f64220aa34ac475bf05e4f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>meganzakaria888</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>