On October 12, 2026, I'll be running the Chicago Marathon and raising money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. 

My marathon journey started in 2008, cheering at mile 21 of the Boston Marathon as a freshman at Boston College — so inspired that I ran it myself the following year with almost no experience. Despite crossing the finish line in 4:30 with zero fueling strategy, I was hooked. Years of injuries kept me to half marathons until 2023, when a brutal 80-degree day in Milwaukee had me finishing in nearly the same time. But I stayed healthy, and my training told me a sub-4-hour marathon was possible under the right conditions.

So in 2026, I'm using my summer sabbatical to train properly and give it one more shot — this time on Chicago's flat, fast course. I chose to run for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago because I wanted this to be about more than a personal goal. When current events feel overwhelming, training for a marathon and raising money for an organization that serves nearly 20,000 kids in Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods makes me feel like I'm actually doing something. I hope you'll consider joining me in that.

Please join me in supporting these incredible young people by making a gift today! 

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
Serving families since 1902, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) is the city's largest and longest-serving youth development organization dedicated to providing safe spaces for area kids and teens. BGCC uses a comprehensive blend of mentoring and programming to provide youth ages 5 to 20+ the tools they need to become well-rounded and successful adults. Filling the out-of-school hours, which can be the most dangerous for young people, BGCC offers academic, social, and leadership activities for students in some of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods. Youth are matched with professional adult mentors, giving kids a safe place to learn, grow, and succeed.