In less than a month I’ll be running the Rock ‘N Roll Marathon in New Orleans, Louisiana. There are so many reasons why this is a big deal for me, and my family. First, I have not been able to train for or run a marathon in over two years. I either had an injury, was recovering from an injury, or taking care of familial responsibilities.
Second, running this marathon is a big deal because I am running this marathon for Kane and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation as a member of Team Challenge. Kane was diagnosed almost 2 years ago when he dropped a drastic amount of weight, refused to eat, stopped participating in activities he loved, and complained all the time because of the amount of pain he was in.
Lastly, it’s a big deal because my family will be there to watch and support me (thank you Pit Crew!). My mom and dad came to my very 1st Half Marathon in Baltimore, MD (the Baltimore Running Festival) 11 years ago, but my mom has never seen me run a full marathon (and we’ve never been to New Orleans!).
I admit training for this marathon has been brutal at times – running 16 miles in a snowstorm, running 18 miles on the treadmill, running 20 miles on a 3.8 mile repeat course – but it hasn’t always been brutal. I was able to run more training runs with my DDSR friends (thanks Holly, Jeanette, Joe, Gerry, etc.) and really get to know each one of them better. And I got to meet with and run with my new Team Challenge friends (Morgan, Heather, Sam, Greta, etc.).
Training has allowed me to push myself both mentally and physically. There have been so many times where my body was working against me. I have developed new aches and pains (that won’t go away). And when my body would hurt me physically, my head would then try to play mental games with me telling me to” give up”; “you won’t be able to finish”; “you’re too old for this.” But what kept me going was thinking about Kane.
I kept thinking about the games Kane’s mind must have played on him when he was given his Crohn’s diagnosis. I wonder what he said to himself or thought of himself when he had to wear/use an NG tube for 4 months. Kane’s determination reminded me that I can do this! It doesn’t have to be pretty; it just has to get done! And knowing I can and will finish is all that really matters. Well that and that I’m doing it for Kane. I can’t and won’t let him down.
Please consider helping to support me in my endeavors for Team Challenge and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation… in honor of Kane and his battle against Crohn’s.
RunningMomof2DE 