I was originally registered for a few other marathons, but always had to drop out or drop to the half due to time limits. I registered for the PeaceHealth AppleTree Marathon most of all because it was 1) an 8 hour limit and 2) I did my first 5k, 10k, and half in the PNW. It felt right to do my first marathon there as well.

This photo of me sums up my feeling as I crossed. I had a few moments of feeling so proud of being done — like any other race. And then it sunk in. I had just completed a marathon. I am a marathoner. I allowed the emotions to flow, but knew I needed to keep walking and allow my body to cool down after 7 hours of pushing it beyond its limits.

The hardest challenge overall with my marathon was physical — I have been fighting sciatica, a bulging L5 disc, and other injuries for years. They all flared up because I hadn’t properly trained, nor listened to my doctor who was hesitant of me doing this race.

The most rewarding came with every mile I completed after mile 13. I would “celebrate” by running at the mile marker signs, proving to the many that doubted me that I was doing it. I was about to be a marathoner.

I have had many people support me during training — my TeamRWB group, my running friends, my amazing boyfriend but the driving force that got me through training and gets me through all runs: my daughter. I never want to disappoint her, and proved to her and me it can be done.

I have so many words of encouragement and thoughts. First, do what makes YOU happy. If running a marathon isn’t your thing, don’t do it. Find joy in everything in life: learn the lesson you are being taught and absorb it. If you truly believe in yourself and your abilities, ANYTHING can happen. I didn’t train properly, I didn’t have friends lining up along the race course to cheer me on, I didn’t die.

I am just a girl doing her thing, proving the haters and the doubters wrong, and most of all enjoying this one life I have been given… one mile at a time.