Our Marathon Journey

Jan 2020 When I first decided I was going to run this race for him I knew I wanted him to be with me in every moment of this adventure. Especially since this was a race he had wished he could have done. I knew I would need him on my hard days of training and I would want to celebrate with him on my victorious days. I considered that, despite living 3,000 miles apart, we could talk or FaceTime and visit along the way. However, the more I thought about it that just did not seem like the answer to me. Immediately I knew what I needed, his dog tags. And so I called him up and told him my plan, with my one small request that I borrow his tags and wear them for the next several months as I embark on the journey to my next 26.2. Because after all, he is the reason I am signing up.  We were lucky enough to fly back to my hometown over the Holiday break. I was glad that we got to spend time with my family, and especially my grandpa. The day he handed them to me was significant. The e...

Bruce Lee spoke to me today...Okay well not the real Bruce Lee. However his words that were spoken to me resonated with me. Let's back up a minute though. Whenever I run I always have a couple of tough spots. For whatever reason, miles 1-2 are always a mental challenge. It takes me a couple of miles before I hit my groove, when the thoughts of why I am doing this start to quiet down. Then on my long runs I always hit a tough spot again about 2/3 of the way into the run. A lot of people will refer to it as runners block, I prefer to call it my brick wall. That moment when you are really tired but you have to keep pushing and the negative thoughts start to trickle back in. One of the ways I have adapted to my first hurdle is by listening to mindful meditations. For some reason it gives me a sense of peace starting out. It gives me something to ponder. It often times gives me a reality check. And today I got a big dose of reality check. Thank you Bruce Lee. Allow me to digress for ju...

I was a young girl, no more than 7 or 8, spending the afternoon with my Grandpa in his shop. He was working on a project, and I desperately wanted to help. I remember trying so hard to secure that piece of wood to the bench with a C clamp. I was getting upset because my little uncoordinated hands just could not get it firmly secured for him. He saw my frustration and that I was about to cry and he said, "how about we stop for a break. Let's go see what Grandma has for snacks in the house." So we took a break. Afterwards, bellies full and emotions in check, we ventured back out to the shop to finish our project. I told him that I thought I was too small and could not actually help him like I thought. Before we got started my Grandpa imparted some words on to me that have stuck with me from that very moment. He said, "Jaym, I want to tell you something, 'when a task has once begun never leave it until it's done. Be the laborer great or small. Do it well, or not...

I woke up to a world that feels upside down. In all that is going on right now it is not necessary for April Fools day jokes. Did my title grab your attention? Did you think I was playing a trick? Well I am not. I found out that I won the lottery this morning! Maybe not the kind of lottery you were thinking. It is not the kind of lottery that would make most people jump for joy, however it did for me. This is a special race that I cannot wait to share. Six years ago I was sitting around the campfire with my grandparents talking about running. My grandparents were runners. They had completed two marathons and several other distance races during their running years. I had told them that after I had the baby (I was about six months pregnant at the time with my second child) I wanted to train and run my first half marathon. As we talked about races and training my grandpa told me that one race he'd always wished he could have done was the Marine Corp Marathon. My Grandpa is a Marine...