Help Meghan Run

When I signed up for Team in Training over six months ago—April 11, to be exact—I had no idea what an impact it would have on my life. I went to the information session by myself, was intrigued by what I heard, and took a leap of faith by signing the paperwork and paying the fee. That whole day I was on a high: I had done something for me, just for me, and it was a pretty amazing thing. Already, I felt more in control of my life and ready for anything. I didn’t know what to expect from this experience, but I knew it would be just that.

In fact, doing Team in Training has been a life-changing experience. Sure, I have increased my aerobic fitness and will be able to run 13.1 miles next Sunday in the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. But that barely scratches the surface as to the changes Team in Training has had on me. I’m not even sure how to fully explain it, but I know I’m a different person.

I am running this half marathon for each cancer sufferer out there that cannot run and even for those that can. The pain of getting up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning to run 10 miles is absolutely nothing compared to what those people and their families go through. I certainly can’t complain that I have the physical and mental ability to do it, and therefore I will do it. Thoughts of them are what get me through each and every workout and make me push that much harder. They’re also the reason I have raised $4,414 (so far!). I cannot wait to run with Team in Training again and raise even more money. So watch out, friends and family! I’ll be hitting y’all up again soon.

I’m also running this half marathon for me. I consider myself quite the optimist and even I never thought I could do something like this! Clearly, I have proved myself wrong. This has taught me that, as corny as it sounds, anyone can do anything they want to. That is one of the most important tokens that I’ve taken from this experience, and it’s one that I’m going to have with me forever. It’s like one of my favorite quotes (here I go again with the quotes, I know).

Our deepest fear is not that we’re inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of god. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

But I digress. As always. Back to the point, this whole experience wouldn’t have been possible without the support of many people. Over 65 people have donated to me in this cause, and to them I am exceptionally grateful. Therefore I have decided to dedicate each mile of my race to someone or something that has had a large impact on my me. I’m not going to share my whole list because I’ve already told those people and they know who they are, but here are a few snippets:

The first mile is dedicated to my honored teammates. One of them was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia eight years ago. Thanks to a drug called Gleevec, which was developed in part with funds from the LLS, he is in remission and trained with my TNT group this season. He ran the Chicago Marathon yesterday and did an awesome job. My other honored teammate is the mother of one of my best friends. It pains me to see such a wonderful, generous person go through something so tough, and she represents all of the people out there in the world who don’t deserve to be fighting cancer.

Miles 9 and 10 are for my mom and dad. I cannot put into words the importance of my parents so I won’t even begin to try here, but suffice it to say they are the most important people in my life and the most special to me. My mom is coming to San Francisco with me, and I know my dad will be waiting with bated breath to hear my updates during the race (yes, I plan to text en route ). I also have my marathon-running dad to thank for this whole running thing, because what girl doesn’t grow up wanting to be just like her dad?

Miles 11-13 are about me. I know these will be the toughest miles—mentally and physically—but I also know that I have it within me to do this, hence this decision. Mile 11 is dedicated to my past. I will revisit lots of things (as many as I can get to in one mile!) that have impacted me and shaped me to the person I am today. I don’t believe in regrets; rather, I believe in taking everything you can from an experience, whether it turns out good or bad. There are always lessons to be learned and ways to improve for the future.

Mile 12 is for my future. I will take what I have learned and think about how I can apply it to my future. I know the possibilities are endless and my potential, like everyone’s, is limitless. I absolutely cannot wait to see where the future takes me.

Last but most certainly not least, lucky mile 13 is about the whole Team in Training experience. In a nutshell, basically everything I have mentioned in this post! Throughout the whole race but particularly during this last mile, I want to soak up every single thing that I can. By doing this and by thinking of all these special people and events that I have mentioned, I bet I won’t even be able to feel the soreness in my legs.

And here is one last quote for you (just of this post, not forever, obviously ). This is actually my favorite quote of the moment, I have it hanging on my desk.

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.

I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED. Talk to you soon!