Marathon Joy and Journey
My marathon dream began in 1993 when my dad trained for and ran his first, Marine Corps that October. Then and now my dad remains one of my main running inspirations.
In 7th grade, I joined a new school — a daunting task at a vulnerable age! I was wonderfully welcomed and after a year enjoying an opportunity to play a number of sports, the much loved and long-tenured middle school athletic director at the time positively encouraged me to run the distance event for our school at the spring field day. I reluctantly agreed. I finished last. By a lot. But she believed in me, and so I did, too. I ran the same event in 8th grade and while I don’t remember the finish time or the placement, I know it wasn’t last. And it was on this grass track at the bottom of a hill where all the schools sat and watched. I felt proud and accomplished.
In high school, I played every sport I could, primarily soccer and the upper school athletic director then (and now!) encouraged me to also run for the school varsity cross country team. I competed all four years.
In college, I ran recreationally and it was a wonderful way to meet new friends, see nature, stay fit and be a part of the community. I didn’t really know exactly what running was to me but I did know I loved it.
After college, while on a run with my dad, I mentioned I might want to sign up for a local 5K that spring. I hadn’t run a race in years and running 3.1 in my own town felt very vulnerable. He strongly motivated me to register, I finished top three.
Up to this point, I’m not sure the longest distance I had trained, definitely not double digits, and 5K was my max race.
With the encouragement and support of my spin instructor at the time and, as always, my dad, I signed up for my first half marathon. I was hooked.
That next year, I signed up to race my first marathon, Marine Corps in October 2012. I loved it.
I went on to run that marathon again in 2013 and 2014.
In 2015, I suffered a non-running related accident that broke both of my ankles, dislocated one ankle and broke all five metatarsals in one foot. I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to run again. But, with the encouragement of family and friends, I did.
In November 2018, I ran the New York City Marathon with a PR of 3:55. I was content with that at the time. And life got busy. And I ran shorter distances and fewer races. I won a handful of local 5Ks and improved my half marathon time but the marathon felt like a distant memory.
And then I started Soleful in 2022 and through the encouragement of Soleful athletes, I decided to return to the marathon.
In November 2025, I ran Richmond with a PR of 3:39 and in May 2026, I ran the Carmel Marathon with a 9-second PR and the first time I had ever raced a spring marathon and two marathons that close together on the calendar.
The marathon — training and racing — is a very joyful place for me, equal parts challenging as it is rewarding. I continue to chase the goal I set last year of a 3:30 marathon and I hope to achieve that in the Harrisburg Marathon this November.
No two running journeys are the same, and I think that is one of the things that makes this sport so special. But one thing that has been a constant in my story is the support I have received along the way. The people who have believed in me even before I did. This is something I strive every second of every day to offer to others through Soleful. I aim to bring the genuine joy of running to others, whatever that may mean to them, and in doing so, I hope to see people chase and achieve their dreams happy and healthy.