It's Time

Donate Here

I’m sitting at my friend Louise’s computer looking out at clouds passing slowly above New York City buildings, and I’m filled with butterflies. In 24 hours, I will be boarding the Staten Island Ferry, and three hours later, the gun will go off for my wave of the New York City Marathon to start. Four and a half hours later (fingers crossed!), after running through all five boroughs of the city, I will enter Central Park for the last stretch before crossing the finish line.

This is a big race for me, and not just because – with over 40,000 participants – it’s one of the largest sporting events in the world. It’s big for me because, even though it will be my third marathon, it is the first one I am really expecting to run. I finished the 2005 Shamrock Marathon in just over 6 hours. I started too fast and walked the whole second half. I finished the 2008 Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona in just under 6. That time, I started slower but still walked most of the last third. Tomorrow, I will be shooting for 4:45, but I will be thrilled with anything close the 5 hour mark, and I am hoping to run the whole time.


I’m not as well trained as I would have liked to be. Two jobs, two kids, and the hottest summer on record in Virginia Beach made it sometimes difficult to get out and get a run in. But I am feeling better about my abilities this year than I was the last two times I attempted 26.2, and this time I have another reason to run – Owen and little boys like him with Duchenne.

Since I started running for Owen and raising money for Charley’s Fund this year, you all have helped me raise over $600 for DMD research, and I have each and every one of you in mind during my training. Your donations really do make a difference in the lives of boys like Owen, and they make a HUGE difference in my mindset when I’m running. When I feel like stopping or slowing down, I think about how many people have my back, and it helps me keep moving forward.

If you haven’t donated yet, please consider doing so today. This is my last big out of state run this year, and I can use all the help I can get!