Running a marathon has always been on my bucket list. I didn’t ever want to say “Could I have done it?” About 3 months ago I started focusing more intentionally on my training, increasing my days of running each week as well as building my strength. If you’ve followed along with me over the years on social media you’d know that running has been a big part of my life. I’ve run various road races including a few half marathons. The other thing you may know is that running is something I had shared with my mother before her passing and it’s become a way for me to get through my grieving after losing her to cancer. When my sister and I were talking a few months ago we decided it was time. We were going to do it. We registered for the race and there’s no turning back. We will be running our first marathon together in our mothers honor along with our cousin. Running 26.2 miles is nothing compared to the battle that our mother faced through her 5 months battling cancer and the pain she suffered through during her treatments. Watching what she went through, the agony and strength she had has made me realize that we can push through just about anything if we need to.

The past few months of training have already been emotional. On the first day of my training program, as I listened to my trainer talking me through my programing, the emotional words, inspiration, and encouragement I felt motivated. I pushed myself. Probably a little more then I should have in the first few runs…but I was feeling so much emotion. As I finished, and the trainer said “You did it! You’re first run of your marathon training is complete!” I stood there, in the middle of the street, out of breath, feeling the runners high, and cried like a baby” I had my hands on my knees, tears streaming down my face, breathing deeply, and felt such a release of emotions rush through my body. As I caught my breath I stood up, looked up to the sky, pointing at the clouds, and said “This is for you Mom…it’s all for you. We’ve got this”. The training, the marathon, and the dedication it will take over the next 17 weeks to reach this goal isn’t just for my mom or for me but so much more. I don’t only want to prove to myself that I can do this, but I want to be a good example for my two boys. I also want to run in honor of all of those that have fought cancer, won or lost their battle, and for those that are currently fighting. I want to run for those that can’t and wish they could. I want to run because I can.

Over the years I’ve seen many people that have joked about runners. There’s memes that flood social media. There’s people that don’t understand and that’s fine. But for those of us that lace up our shoes each day or week and get out there, we know that there is so much more to it. We don’t enjoy the suffering and pain that running can put you through, but it’s the lessons that we learn, the sense of accomplishment it gives us, the way it quiets the mind, and the connection it builds with other runners. Running so often emulates life and the battles that you face on your journey. It’s also simple. All you need is your shoes and an open road or trail and you can just go.

Over the next 17 weeks I’m hoping to share with you my journey through this training as I near my first 26.2 miles. I want to take you along with me for the ride. My goal is to make it to the finish line and cross it with my hands raised (and most likely tears streaming down my face lol). I am not aiming for a certain time, but just to make it through each mile one foot in front of the other. I want to share the ups and downs of my journey with you, and there’s already been a number of them which I will get to in posts to come. There’s so much behind this journey I’ve started and I hope that it inspires one of you reading this to not focus on your age and think you’re too old or too young to accomplish a goal you’ve had for yourself. I hope you believe that no matter what life has thrown at you that you’re still able to set a goal or dream for yourself and achieve it. I believe in you, God believes in you, and you should believe in you!

Much Love xoxo

(First published July 16, 2021)