Anything Is Possible: The Long Game
In 2015, the idea of running the Boston Marathon would have made me laugh. Back then, I was a casual runner—not someone capable of a 140.6-mile day, let alone qualifying for one of the most prestigious races in the world. But in 2024, I didn’t just run Boston; I qualified with a 6:13 buffer.
That shift happened because I built an athlete, mile by mile, through dedication and grit. I built a lifeboat before I even knew the ship was sinking. At the time, I didn’t know I was carrying a silent industrial legacy from my childhood in Michigan. I just knew I needed to find a way to move forward. This isn’t about a "bucket list" item. It’s about the discipline to honor your potential even when life tries to decommission you.
The Reality of the Road
My path hasn't been a straight line. It has been a series of hard-fought rebuilds:
- The Physical Toll: Being hit by a car, learning to run with a crooked elbow, and an emergency tooth extraction 72 hours before a start line.
- The Surgery: As a BRCA1-positive previvor, I navigated a double mastectomy and reconstruction, losing my ovaries and uterus to stay ahead of cancer.
- The Daily Grind: Training through the Georgia heat, managing Hashimoto’s, and hitting the hills most avoid.
I don’t train because I have to. I train because I get to—to prove that heart and grit matter more than the "sloppy labels" others try to pin on us.
Racing for More
This year, I am proud to serve as a 2026 IRONMAN Foundation Ambassador. We don't just take over a city’s roads for a day; we leave them better than we found them. One of the programs I am most proud to support is Swim Ready. It empowers youth through essential swim safety skills, giving kids their own "lifeboat" of skills before they ever need it.
I am 48 years old, a mother, and an endurance athlete who refuses to stop moving. This year, I am returning to IRONMAN Florida.
To date, I’ve raised $6,000 in previous years. This year, my goal is to raise an additional $3,000. I carry every person with me who has ever looked at an impossible goal and thought, "I’m not enough." If my story reminds you that the long game is worth playing, please consider a donation to help us continue this vital work.