How Running Has Changed My Life

Long time no blog! I have been M.I.A. for months. I can't even begin to describe how busy the last few months have been for me, but also life changing and unbelievably rewarding. I'll get to all of that later. First I'll catch you all up from where I left off.

My second go at the Rock and Roll Seattle Half Marathon was a success! I also beat last years time by about 15 minutes. I think this years' 40 pound weight loss improved my time a ton, and also not needing to stand in line for the porta potty for 10 minutes like I did in 2010 helped a bit too. The race was very well organized and a ton of fun - just like the year before. I am pretty sure I'm a R&R Seattle "lifer".

So some of you probably read my last blog, in which I explained that I wanted to do something to help a local family who experienced a terrible loss. I hoped to gather two or three hundred runners on a trail, give 'em all a bottle of water, and ask for donations. Holy smokes did things change. I was contacted (via my good ol' blog) by an Oregon-based company called Uberthons. They wanted to help me grow the race. They provided timing equipment, a website, and a ton of know how. After about 60 sleepless nights, a billion tears, and a over a hundred local volunteers, we produced an amazing event. We ended up hosting a race with over 1700 runners, a wonderfully touching kids' race, and a day most of those people will never forget. I feel like we honored Lise and Faith Palmer's life in a big and amazing way. I'm sure the race didn't wipe any pain away from Lise's friends and family who will probably have a hole forever in their hearts, but for one day, thousands of people gathered to do something Lise herself would have been very proud of. Believe what you want, but as for me, I know Lise and Faith were looking down from heaven with smiles on their faces. The Palmers and Macadangdangs seemed to enjoy the day, and in preparation for the race, I had the opportunity to meet honest to goodness great people. The race was such a blessing to me in so many ways, and I wouldn't trade a minute of the planning for anything in the world. It's now going to be an annual event held at Heritage Park in Puyallup, Washington in late August. If you haven't run that course, believe me when I tell you it's completely worth the drive from wherever you are.

When I started writing this blog in January of 2010, I was something of a lost soul. I was two months post birth of my third baby and battling some seriously low self esteem and depression. My marriage was struggling. I couldn't fathom the idea of just sitting at home, cleaning and cooking for the next twenty years, while having nothing special just for myself. When I typed the title of the blog, and decided to document my personal journey out of my personal wreckage, I was nervous. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to run three miles, let alone 13. I was afraid I would give up on myself and my new found dream of becoming a runner. It was so hard to even imagine feeling a sense of pride in myself, a sense of accomplishment. After a year and a half, I'm a new person. I did it.

Apparently, through organizing the Lise and Faith Memorial Run, I have found my calling. Not only does race directing keep me active, but it enables me to help inspire other people to lace up their running shoes and hit the pavement.

Oprah Winfrey once said, "Running is the greatest metaphor for life. You get out of it what you put into it."

I couldn't agree more.

I'm now working with Uberthons on a series of running events in the Seattle area, and possibly later, all over the country. They are taking a chance on me. Now on a whole new level, I have to prove to myself that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to.

My husband and children are content and happy, and learning a love for running and activity for themselves. I wake up every morning with a big smile on my face ready to conquer each and every day. I look forward to growing old with my wonderful husband, raising our amazing children, and improving myself as a person. Things are never perfect in life, but with a little bit of faith, I am positive that anyone can do anything they set their mind to. Maybe it all sounds cliche, but I urge you to push yourself in whatever way that inspires you. You never know, it just may change your life.

Thanks to all of you for always being there.