The other day I got the consolidated results from my last three annual health checks in the mail. Before I could destroy the evidence, my wife found it and, somewhat reproachfully, pointed out the column documenting my weight. Yes, all three numbers were above my ideal average, but there was also a bright side, I thought.

“See, even though I hardly worked out, I actually lost a bit of weight every year,” I said, only to be corrected by my wife: “No, you have to read the numbers in the other direction.”

So, I picked up running again, which I had been somewhat serious about years ago. After my final Tokyo Marathon (so far) in 2015, however, I took a break that lasted much longer than intended. It wasn't uneventful, however: I became a father, I transitioned from receiving regular corporate paychecks and benefits to being a freelance writer (fantastic timing, I know), and my family settled in Japan for good. Any minute not spent writing, parenting, or learning the language seemed a waste of time.