In highschool, after a virus hurting my heart made me very sick, all I wanted to do was be able to stand up without fainting and run again. All of my fainting spells made school, and having a normal daily life seem so impossible. It feels extra special to me to have become apart of the marathon distance officially in October 2013 to now, ten years later still formally competing in 26.2 mile marathon events. In the autumn of 2012, I added five miles to my ten mile cross country training routine and then another lap of three. Almost making it to twenty miles in my pre formal marathon year felt like a marathon to me. As a runner, it is a challenge to break the routine and gradually add on mileage to an already long distance. I needed an entire year of training before running 26.2 miles in the Maine Marathon, even if I did not know exactly what I had been training for all year. I had three years of better days than my worst days of illness overtaking my body before formally competing in the 26.2 miles event. Running to overcome significant health obstacles and to be an athlete again is truly a blessing, and I could not be more grateful to be apart of the marathon event for ten years. Looking back on my worst days while being sick or unable to walk, make me extra grateful to have finished my degrees and to have the ability to run the way that I have. All the good days and bad days create a certain level of gratitude and determination, that made me want to run for god. Running for yourself as well as something bigger than yourself is very special. 10 years of the 26.2 mile marathon, 11 of 20ish miles, and 13 years since my worst day of being sick. I honestly believe the best is yet to come!