Three Years Ago, I Prioritized My Health. This Month, I Ran a Marathon.

Last Sunday, on November 3 and on the three-year anniversary of changing my life, I ran the New York City Marathon. I’m 55 and it was my first-ever 26.2-mile race. I finished in the dark, in the cold, and in pain, but I never let myself down. 

I’ve been cooking for 44 years, for most of which I lived the typical chef lifestyle—and loved every moment of it. My career has been blessed with wins such as...