I’ve been a runner for nearly a decade at this point- but not continuously. By the time I finished my last race in high school, I was so burnt out from 4 years of cross country and track I was convinced that I was never going to run again. And I didn’t, not for a long time. There was never a pivotal Rocky moment when I decided to take it up again- just a slow accumulation of moments- listening with increasing envy as my two sisters [both formidable runners] described recent races, a spur of a moment decision to order a hot pink pair of running shoes, hearing my brother describe a running trail in Seattle, rediscovering my favorite XC sweatshirt- and so I decided to join the XC team my senior year of college. Coming back to running after so long was one of the most challenging things I’d ever done- what had once come instinctually seemed nearly impossible- setting a pace or proper form on a hill was no longer second nature, felt foreign. But, ever so slowly, it got better. I didn’t just relearn how to run; I relearned how to love running. Choosing to run this marathon is a celebration of coming back to one of the things that makes me happiest, a feeling that had slowly dried up through high school, something I thought I was never going to experience again.   

But that's not the only reason I'm choosing to train for the marathon this year.

These days, I'm working in the NICU clinical research department at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. I'm in constant awe of the depth of caring and commitment that I've seen around the clock in the NICU; when I describe my job to others I say that what I get to see day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month on unit are miracles (at least in my book). The key word here, is, however, see.  Research, by its very nature, requires a degree of removal- the impact we're hoping for is long-term, and while the studies I get to work on contribute to the constantly changing face of medicine, there are frequently days where I feel like it's not enough, where I wish there was more that I could be doing for the patients and families I come in contact with.   

And that's why running this marathon is so important to me on a personal level- it's not just about the physical challenge, it's about committing to a cause that's bigger than me. I love to run and I'm excited and honored to use this marathon as a small bit of more that I can do for this hospital and its families.