Some people celebrate their 50th birthday by hosting a large party or spending time with their loved ones.
But Samantha Pruitt is celebrating her special day Friday by going on a self-propelled, no-car adventure for 50 miles.
The athlete began the long trek at her Santa Margarita home this morning, where she rode her mountain bike to Headstrong Fit for a workout.
Pruitt jumped back on her bike and headed to Morro Bay where she went kayaking for three miles.
After kayaking back to shore, she put on her trail running shoes and ran the Black Hill and Cerro Cabrillo Trails until she reached the big 5-0.
"Until the Garmin on my bike says '50,' then I'm going to stop and eat tacos at Taco Temple and drink some beer," Pruitt said.
Pruitt says both of her parents died in their 60s due to smoking, cancer and poor eating habits.
"My lifestyle wasn't very healthy until I hit about 30 honestly, so I've only been doing this for about 20 years," Pruitt said. "Health and fitness are kind of a new thing for me."
She said she's completing the 50-mile journey to inspire people who are aging to embrace their bodies.
"I was 50 pounds heavier than I am now. I was totally miserable, and I thought this is not how it's gonna go down. It's up to me to change it," she said.
In 2008, Pruitt founded Race SLO, which hosts an annual marathon and half-marathon in the spring and a trail running festival in the fall.
