I signed up to run Boston with the Hall Steps Foundation just one month before the race – I was an injury replacement. I’d been training consistently, but hadn’t done the long runs marathon training demanded and found myself woefully unprepared for Boston’s soul-crushing hills. As I shuffled up a particularly steep incline on mile 17, I wanted to walk. I was upset with myself and knew my goal time was out of reach. I was really feeling sorry for myself…but then it hit me; this race was not about me.
The only reason I was there was because of Steps and I wasn’t running this race for myself, I was running for the Mom in Kenya who might get to see her kids grow up because Steps provided clean drinking water. I was running for the little girl in Chicago who learns through the Steps mentoring program that she’s worth something and can achieve things, so she stays out of trouble because jail would seriously hinder her long-runs. I pushed past the pain, pushed through the hill and just kept going. Eight more miles was a long way to go, but when I thought about the people being helped by the money I was raising and all they had to go through, it seemed so much easier.
When I hit Heartbreak, I expected it would take everything I had but that’s when lightning struck for me; that was the moment I’ll forever remember. Fueled by a new sense of meaning, Heartbreak was a breeze and as I crested the hill, I was overcome. The crowd carried me through then last 10K and when I crossed the finish line and was handed my medal, I had never felt such pride...or such gratitude for Steps and what they gave me as I got through the race.
The Boston Marathon is an amazing event, but being a part of the Hall Steps Foundation team made it so much better. I never expected to meet and bond so quickly with such amazing teammates with whom I had so much in common. I never expected to be cheered on and treated with such sincere kindness by the Steps staff and volunteers. With such enormous fame and success, I never expected Ryan and Sara Hall to be so giving of themselves and sincere in talking with every person they met, and so truly thankful for all we were doing for them.
Boston is among my most treasured memories, and the race itself was just one piece of the experience. I'm a competitive person who can hit some low-lows when my performances don't match my expectations. Of the four marathons I've run, this was my worst showing by 10 minutes and yet somehow became the best time of my life.
