Happy Running on Team CA
I ran my second marathon last year with Team Community Access, and had an unforgettable experience. I injured myself a year prior during my first marathon in Hartford, when at mile 23 my right knee gave out and I painfully jogged the rest of the way in. So much for perfect training and a secured spot in Boston.
When I signed up to run with Community Access, I knew it would be a challenge just to survive the course; my knee wasn’t fully healed so I struggled to do any speed training, and each long run left me worried about permanent injury.
At some point along the way, though, I was finally able to surrender to the experience. After years of running for myself, I never realized the joy I could experience in running for a cause. And I tried to apply the lessons I had learned when recovering from mental health treatment about patience and consistency.
When I got out on the course on that cold November morning, I told myself that I would just have fun, and that there would be plenty of other marathons in my future to run fast. But, as I was hobbling along and smiling brilliantly at mile 23, I realized that I would be happy even if I never ran another marathon, because the experience was so fulfilling.
The spirit of the crowd, the inspiring runners, and the team that I was running for kept me thrilled through the finish line. Running for Community Access was the best race experience I’ve had yet.
Interested in Joining Our Marathon Team?
Visit our marathon page for more info.
