Another weekly marathon training update! This week I wanted to share how I came to start running.
Some people have asked me if I have always been a runner. The answer is an emphatic NO. I was the kid in high school who waited until my senior year to take that dreaded gym class, and I cried trying to run the four laps around the track because it hurt so bad. I loathed running.
When I had the MS relapse in 2013 that left me deaf and half blind, I also struggled to walk unassisted due to nerve damage in my left leg. I was at the lowest point in my life, physically and emotionally. I had thoughts of giving up, throwing in the towel, but my friends wouldn’t let me. They came to sit with me. They prayed for me and walked with me, both literally and figuratively. I started walking around the block with a friend, using the walker and going tortoise slow, but I was doing it. After some time I was able to trade the walker for a cane, and soon I was well enough to walk my kids to the bus stop in the mornings. On one of these mornings I was walking home after the school bus left and a question entered my mind – could I jog a little without falling? I just wanted to see what would happen. How would my legs respond? If I’m able to walk unassisted, maybe I could jog unassisted. I just had to know if it was possible.
And friends, that thought is where this all started and it’s what keeps me going to this day. I just want to see what more my legs will let me do. I want to keep pushing the boundaries of this broken and scarred body. I don’t run races to beat times or earn participation medals. I do it because I CAN. Eight years ago I didn’t think I would be able to walk from the couch to the kitchen, and here I am running. I am constantly amazed to look back and see how far I’ve come. I couldn’t do this without my faith in Christ and I certainly couldn’t do it without the support from my friends and family. That’s you! I couldn’t do this without you!
MS affects people of all kinds in all different ways and threatens to steal our lives and our joy. I want to be an encouragement to others that it’s never too late to fight back. I am in your corner.
Will you join me in supporting others living with MS? Please like, share, comment, donate and help me reach my goal!
Little M.S. Runner 
I saw you on the trail today! We bumped into each other a few weeks ago on your way in from a 12 mile run, and I had been hoping to see you again. I’m so glad the bridge is now passable without the water 🙂 Way to go- 28 days left!
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Yes!! And I realized it was you after you passed but thought it would be weird to turn around and reply “hi Jeannette!” It was so good to see you and you were looking strong today, you’re gonna rock that half!
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