06/05/2026
It's Medal🏅Monday on a thankful Thursday...😅
Completing this marathon has me heavily reflecting on my running and race experiences.
The first official race I signed up for was a Breast Cancer Awareness 5k 🩷 in 2009. I don't even remember if I did any specific training program. For me, it was more about the cause. My mom was a breast cancer survivor from the early 90's until her passing in 2024🙏🏽 and that was something to celebrate, along with a way for me to begin educating myself more. After that race, the excitement of the expos, the energy of the participants & volunteers, and the inclusiveness of the crowd, I was hooked!🪝
2010 and beyond... lots of 5Ks, a 10K, a mud run, 14 races in 2014, 16 races in 2016... From local So Cal to Nevada to Oklahoma to Connecticut, even virtual! Medals and t-shirts 👚 galore! The husband even had a blanket made for me with my some of my t-shirts. Most of my races have been solo, but there have been some completed with my son, my husband, additional family, and friends! And what a year 2026 has been: my first Half Marathon and my first Marathon!🎉
Completing a marathon first became a goal in 2017, which was probably the beginning of me reaching my most fit physical body... but grief weighed heavy on me (emotionally and mentally) after having lost my dad to lung cancer in November 2016. I knew I couldn't make a commitment that deep at that time. Fast forward to 2026, I got it poppin'... 46 years old, in the midst of perimenopause, owning my own business, and with possibly the busiest schedule of my life... professionally and personally!😅
The marathon marked my 61st race! Training for it has renewed my love ♥️ for running, along with the adrenaline & energy of race day. I'm thankful for what has been and excited for what's to come!✅
