This is my second marathon and within one year, the Jersey City Marathon. I had just gotten the itch to start running again back in 2022 and decided to run my first marathon, the Marine Corps marathon, in October 2023. I had fully tore my ACL in October 2021 and thought I would never run again. I couldn’t face the fact that I may not be the same, I may not be as good, as fast, or as strong. That injury felt like a dead end and the end of the road for my soccer career and anything to do with running. I hated running.
Something I used to love to do on my free time became something I wasn’t allowed to do anymore. I thought I would never be able to run the same way that I did prior to tearing my knee. That was until I decided to give it a second chance. I had just lost one of my best friends in a tragic accident right after my college graduation and I felt lost. Nothing made sense anymore. And one thing I’ve learned is sometimes the only thing that makes sense is to move your body.
I found healing in reclaiming and rekindling a love for this sport, no matter if I was different. We can stop change sometimes, for worse or for better, and the best thing we can do is be in control of our reaction. So instead of feeling sorry for myself or sitting in my sorrow, I reclaimed my old love for running. I may not be as fast as my 18 year old body and that’s okay.
I get to run in memory of my friend. I get to celebrate the life she lived, I run for her because she lost her life too early. Grief and loss makes you rethink what’s important. Don’t hold back anything, if you think you can run a marathon don’t let any other thoughts hold you back. Y
ou have one life and so many numbered days. Don’t spend them wondering what if. And that’s why I love to run marathons.
