Why not run a half marathon?

I was in my early 40s when I felt like I needed to make some changes in my life as far as my health was concerned. I began working with a health coach to help me with a healthy lifestyle change and a personal trainer to keep me accountable by becoming physically active. In 2018 when I started, I could barely run 30 seconds. My trainer worked with me, starting me off with walking for 2-minutes, running for 30-seconds, then running for 1-minute, etc, and increasing the runs between walks as I went along. After a few months, I was up to 15 minutes of running!

In September of 2019, I ran my first 5K race with a time of 36:03! Since then, I have run numerous 5Ks and added other distance races. In April of 2022, I ran my first 5-Mile race and in October and November of that same year I ran not one, but two 10-Mile races! I was challenging myself and with encouragement, I knew I could do it.

After the 10-Mile races, my co-worker, Trenor Philbin, asked when I was going to do a half marathon. I laughed and said no, because 10 miles was hard enough. He replied saying that a half marathon “is only 3 miles more”. I was not convinced.

Fast forward to the fall of 2023 when I was creating my list of “50 Things To Do Before I Turn 50” (a fun thing I do as I approach a new decade), I was wondering what adventures and challenges I wanted to do. I thought about a half marathon, although I initially declined adding it to my list. However, the more I thought about it, the more I was thinking “it’s only 3 more miles”! Oh, how my perspective on 13 miles had changed. Although I never knew Carson Philbin personally, during conversations at the office with Trenor throughout 2024, I got to know the person Carson was. In September, Trenor gave me a “why not?” bracelet and told me about the reason it was Carson’s mantra.

As I was training for the half marathon, I kept thinking of Carson and it motivated me to keep up with the training because I can do hard things! I wore the bracelet during my race on November 2, 2024 and it was a constant reminder of all the hard work, hours of training and the mental and emotional effort that went into this 48-year-old, “non-athlete” running her first half marathon. Crossing that finish line was amazing! Since running the half marathon, I have not trained as much to the intensity I was during the summer and fall before my race. My body has a few more aches and pains that have come with age, but I am learning to adapt and adjust so I can keep up with a healthy lifestyle. Running and strength training has taught me that I am more capable than what I ever imagined was possible, not just with my health but with other areas of my life. I am not giving up all that I have overcome and accomplished in my journey, because… “why not?” Why not keep going? Why not challenge myself? Why not grow into a healthier, better, and more confident woman, capable of doing what I, in the past, may have considered a hard thing. I may not be able to say this to you on this side of Heaven, but thank you, Carson, for the motivation and encouragement!