Where we left off:

The nausea hit somewhere in the middle miles.

I recalled the chewable Pepto Bismol tablets in my front pocket. If it worsens, I’ll take one or two, no problem.

The gels I’d been relying on, I couldn’t stomach anymore. I had to adapt—switch to foods, focus on hydration, and eat anything appealing to keep going. I recognized my body wasn’t craving sweet but salty. The aid stations had what I needed: potato chips, salt potatoes, and salty chicken broth.

Deep breath.

The middle miles, where the excitement of the start was gone and the finish line was still so far away. Where doubt gets loud again, I needed something to keep me moving and take my focus off my stomach discomfort. I made up a game.

Every woman I passed, I pretended she was number 100. I’d heard the top 100 women get a gold medal, and I had no idea what place I was in. This game—that little story I told myself—it worked. It kept my feet moving when everything in me wanted to stop. There’s number 100, catch her.

I used mantras that I practiced in my training. I prayed. I ran for friends and family touched by cancer—my why, and I held onto it. The mental training I’d done for months was showing up now. My faith was pulling me through. The inner turmoil I could manage. I didn’t let the nausea and fatigue rattle me. I welcomed it. There is nothing wrong here. Somewhere in those middle miles, I found something I didn’t know I had.

When I crossed the finish line, I was in disbelief. I made it.

The race wasn’t just about finishing. It was about the friendships I made along the way, the people who showed up to support me, the community, and you, who carried me when I needed it most. It was about my kids seeing their mom do something hard and not quit. It was about discovering I had a story worth sharing that became a book to inspire others.

We did it.

If you’re standing at the edge of your own big thing right now, wondering if you can do it, here’s what I discovered: The doubt will come, and it might never leave, but you can learn to run with it. What you’ll gain on the other side is much bigger than the goal itself.

Go!Go!Go!

If you want the full story of what happened out there—including what it really took to get to the start line (hint: what happened to my toenails) and the hour I spent in the medical tent after crossing the finish—you can find it in my book, MILES of MEANING: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher.

You’re invited to write together! See you today at 11 am (EST).

We’ll gather in silent solidarity to work on our creative projects, starting with a writing prompt to warm up. No experience is necessary.

Be part of our creative community! Use the link below to enter our Zoom room, and feel free to invite a friend to write alongside you. Together, we’ll discover our creative voices and find the courage to put our stories on the page.

Let’s write together. Let’s grow together.

Community writing session