More Than a Marathon

When I decided back in November that I was going to run a marathon, I was in one of the hardest seasons of my life. I was struggling with anxiety and depression, and I felt completely out of control in almost every aspect of my life. So, I decided I needed to do something that would keep me from bed-rotting for hours on end. That was when I committed to running a marathon in Hawaii the following March.

At the time, I thought I was just signing up for a race, but it ended up becoming so much more than that. Running quickly became an outlet when everything else felt heavy. Training gave me structure, confidence, and a reason to keep showing up for myself, even on the days when I didn’t feel like it.

Running the race was incredibly taxing on me, both physically and mentally, but crossing the finish line with my whole family waiting there made every mile worth it. When things got hard, which they absolutely did, I reminded myself of my why, put my head down, and kept putting one foot in front of the other.

The biggest lesson I learned was that when you push yourself, you are often far more capable than you realize. I learned that you will never regret showing up for yourself on the hard days.

Hattie Crockett AC’ 24