My running journey!
In 2011, I remember being at mile 21 of the twin cities marathon course, cheering my dad on his first and only marathon, thinking man- I could never do that!
In 2014, I made the decision to start running. I signed up for a 5k in October, so on June 1st, I put running shoes on for the first time and——
It sucked. It was awful. I had never suffered more in my entire life and it was only 3?!?! Minutes into what I had hoped would be a 20 minute run.
I could have given up in that moment, but I didn’t. All my friends who were runners assured me it would get easier.
It didn’t. Now, don’t give up on me- I certainly didn’t. After that first 5k, I was hooked though. The race day energy, the medal, that post race glow. I couldn’t wait to run again! So 8 days later I did my second 5k!
2026 me looks back at this and laughs, because I quickly escalated my running- by August 2015 I had training for a 10k when I did a race series- 1.5k Friday night, followed by a 10k on Saturday with a half hour break and then a 5k- I did 10 miles in one weekend- not realizing my mileage- or training for the mileage. But I do remember watching the lead runner for the half marathon blaze on by toward the finish- I remember feeling like I was dying and so inspired by this woman who looked flawless- ten miles in.
So I made a goal to run the Twin Cities 10 mile in 2016. But NEVER a marathon.
Life had other plans though. I was invited to join a meeting at my church with World Vision. I learned that Team World Vision ran marathons for clean water projects in Africa. I learned that 1000 children died every day from lack of access to clean water. My heart broke and that night I signed up for my first marathon.
In 2016 I ran my first marathon, raised close to $11k for clean water projects and got to see the works world vision does in communities just two weeks later. Meeting my sponsor child, Charity and hearing her family thank me for my generosity and running for clean water made me sign up for not one more marathon- but two- five weeks apart in 2017.
I slowly watched my marathon times increase in time, my running did not become easier, but running for a cause empowered me to never give up. The community of runners encouraged me to keep going. In 2019, I ended up having to walk the last 6 miles of twin cities marathon. When I crossed the finish line, I sobbed.
Then everything changed- and I’m not just talking about the 2020 pandemic. In late January, I found out my husband and I were expecting our first child. March 1st I found out we were actually expecting our first TWO children. I couldn’t run anyway because my heart rate issues. I found myself really missing long runs.
After having my twins, getting back into running was really difficult. I had a very challenging postpartum complications and even running a mile felt difficult. I kept day dreaming of ten mile long runs. However, 9 months later I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.
Faced with a choice, I could either lie in bed and feel sad about having cancer, or I could keep running through treatment, I thought about the women and children who still had to walk for water every day- regardless of their own circumstances. So on June 1st 2021, 7 years after the first time I ever laced up running shoes, I decided to train for twin cities marathon and keep fundraising for clean water projects.
The pride I had every Monday at my chemo infusions, sharing my mileage for the keep with my oncology team- I thought I would run a marathon while undergoing chemo. I even PRed my 20 mile time! However, I started really harsh chemo two days later and could a pulmonary embolism just two weeks before Twin Cities. Even though I was unable to run my marathon, I raised $16k for clean water projects. I was amazed at the generosity I encountered.
Two months later, I was deemed cancer free. Even though I had a lot of complicated feelings surrounding being a cancer survivor, running was my anchor, no matter what I had been through, running was still there. My first run after my double mastectomy and becoming a cancer survivor, I had to stop because all I could do was cry. I was here, I was alive, and I could still run. That moment totally changed running for me.
There was less “this sucks” and more “I am so grateful to do this.” Running became a victory lap for me. 10 months after becoming cancer free, I returned to twin cities marathon, and while it was slow and painful, I did it! 6 months later, I PRed my marathon time at Eau Claire Marathon- even running a full hour faster than just 6 months prior.
Running has given me so much. Friendship, community, purpose, fulfillment. I never regret those first miles that were so hard. I love being a runner.
If you are going through something right now and running feels hard- keep going. Running will always be there for you.
