While Javelina Jundred has been at the forefront of training because it’s such a huge distance for me, I have never forgotten for one minute, the other important race I have waiting for me this coming Sunday, October 9th – the Chicago Marathon!!! Woohooo!!
I can’t say enough of why the Chicago Marathon is so important to me. If you’ve followed my previous posts you know why, but if you haven’t, just know Chicago is one very special marathon I hold near and dear to my heart.
Not only was Chicago my very first marathon back in 2000, and not only will it mark my 25th marathon, but I am also running it on behalf of the American Cancer Society and it’s Team DetermiNation, making it the first time I am running on behalf of a charity!
This has been an emotional fundraising journey these past several months. There were moments I wondered how I would gather the funds to run, but I kept telling myself to have faith and through the gracious donations from a few friends I personally know, and many people I don’t know, I met my fundraising goal!
I will forever be grateful for the generous support people have given me. And I’ll be honest, I was so surprised at how many donations I received from many people I didn’t even know, or even spoke to, or have ever seen!! That truly touched my heart. Receiving a donation from a stranger and the amount of support that’s been given to me, has brought me to tears more times than I can count. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much from a marathon, and it didn’t involve the actual running of the race yet!
Everyday I give thanks, and feel gratitude for what will mostly like be one of most memorable marathons ever. And that’s really due to my contributors, the encouragement within the running and Team DetermiNation community and the love and support I’ve received from my family.
There was a reason I selected Chicago as my 25th marathon. I would watch it throughout the past several years and I always wanted to go back. The pull was strong. Now is my chance to run Chicago how I should’ve done it the first time – by having a better clue on how to run a marathon! Back then I knew very little of what I was getting myself into and what it meant. This time I wanted it to mean something more, and that’s why I’m returning to where my running journey all started.
And I feel absolutely great going into this race! Well, pretty good. After those last long runs this past weekend, I knew I was going to drop the mileage to recover. I know I’ll feel good come race day because I’m going to take it easy on the mileage and if I have to take an extra rest day this week, I will. Not going to stress over it.
In fact, I’m not going to stress over this race at all! There shall be no expectations whatsoever except I’ll most likely be an emotional wreck this week. However, I’m going to enjoy the weekend of fun festivities with my fellow teammates of Team DetermiNation. I’m going to most likely see some friends whom I know are running it, and I just might get to meet some Twitter friends! And I’m going to enjoy Chicago, because who knows when I’ll actually return again.
But most importantly, I am going to run in memory of people who bravely fought, and lost their battles with cancer, and run in honor of people who have survived and are currently fighting the disease. I have my names with me and I will proudly carry them 26.2 miles through the streets of Chicago.
Yes, already the Chicago Marathon is a different race for me this time around, and I’m truly, truly grateful I am able to be a small part of it.
Thank you for reading!