I ran my first marathon over a decade ago and haven’t been doing any long distance running since. I haven’t actually been doing much running at all. But when I heard about the Every Woman's Marathon - an inaugural marathon by women, for women- and with the encouragement of a friend, I was inspired to set this big goal. Because @gonnaneedmilk made a donation to your choice of 5 different featured charities with each registration, including Girls on the Run, I knew this race would be more than just about me. I also decided to create a SoleMates team, raising money for our local GOTRSnoCo council so that more girls in our community could participate in Girls on the Run programming. Each time I laced up my running shoes, I was reminded that I was running towards my marathon goal as well as my fundraising goal helping kids in our community.

 

I have always been a slower runner with generally a back-of-the-pack pace, and one of the unique elements of this race was the extended finish time. I decided to train for interval pacing with running and walking splits since I was starting from training mile 0. After a delayed start to my training, an injury interruption, and a hard fall on my knee one week out from race day, I wasn’t feeling 100% confident I’d finish the marathon - but I was certainly going to get on the course and try.

 

Follow my 26.2 mile journey that brought joy, some pain and a range of emotions throughout the day. I crossed the finish line after 26.2 miles and with the support of friends and family, I met my $500 fundraising goal, providing full financial aid and new running shoes for 2 GOTR participants! This was an amazing experience where we all belonged and the accomplishments of all women were celebrated.

 

And finally, if there’s a goal you’ve been hesitant to set, I encourage you to take the leap! You can do it! And you can make a difference in the lives of girls in Snohomish County by becoming a SoleMate as you reach for your goal. 🌟