A Dietitian’s Advice for Avoiding the Pitfalls of Low Energy Availability
March 20, 2025
Miles and Memories: Reflections from My First Marathon
I recently came across a piece I wrote just days before my first 26.2 – Bayshore Marathon in May, 2014. Reading this brought a rush of emotion. It’s wild to revisit that experience, and oddly enough, the memories of the training journey and the anticipation I felt outshine the actual race day! This post is a mile-by-mile tribute to the incredible individuals and guiding principles I knew would carry me through to the finish line. With several of my athletes their tackling their first marathons this year, it seemed like it was time to finally publish this.
It was over a year ago that I started training for my first marathon and God-willing, I will finally run 26.2 miles this coming Saturday.
I certainly didn’t set out with the 52 week training plan in mind, but with a sidelining knee injury and the time it took to properly recover, I’m finally here. And I’m freaking out! A whole dang year of my life has been spent obsessing, questioning, training and dreaming about this ONE day.
This marathon will be my biggest athletic achievement. I have SO much nervous energy right now, my head is spinning circles, and I’m going taper crazy.
My friend, Amy, sent me a text suggesting that I carry my inspiration along with me to the race to remind myself why it is that I run. She’s so full of good ideas. So, with all of my nervous energy, I started cataloguing everything that inspires me to run. It’s so much about people and relationships, and man, there’s a lot going through my head.
Mile by mile, here’s why I will run:
(Final warning… if you get annoyed by emotional blog posts, then stop right there, you’ve read enough)
Mile 1. For Ben – the person who gets me started and keeps me going – he gets my first mile.
Mile 2. For My Kids – I hope and pray that I am setting a positive example for them about perseverance, training, patience and health. Sometimes weekend training gets in the way of family time. I’m late for soccer, sometimes they have a morning sitter, I don’t always want to run around with them because my legs are tired. I’m sorry. I hope they see my training as dedication and not selfishness.
They are my heart. If I could capture these young days in a bottle, I would. I always want to remember their innocence, their sweetness, their humor, their squeaky little voices, toothless grins and dirty little faces. Logan still calls me “Mama” and Lucas still holds my hand. Mile 2 is for my two special people.
Mile 3. My Sole Sisters – To the girls who somehow managed to make running fun – our hearts are in our soles…
Mile 4. For my beautiful daughter Logan who is 4 years old. May she grow into a strong woman who faces challenges head on and thinks independently. I see these characteristics in her already, and I hope she hangs on to them along with her drive to learn and have fun. I’m going to picture her singing Roar or Let it Go – and I’m going to run with as much passion as that little girl sings.
Mile 5. For all my friends running Bayshore. So many, I can’t even list them all – but here’s to you. You get Mile 5 because I’m going to be doling out high-fives like nobody’s business! Thank you for the advice, the support, listening to me gripe about my aches and pains and continually telling me that I can do this! To Kelly Mac and Courtney – I loved sharing the training miles with you ladies. For Pam, I am SO grateful to you for running with me – I’m sure we’ll have some silent miles, but it is so awesome of you to be my sidekick.
Mile 6. For Amy K.– She should be running Bayshore too, but cancer had a different plan for my beautiful friend. The marathon she is running is quite different, but she’s kicking it with a fierce amount of strength and grace.
Mile 7. For Lucas, my sensitive boy, who is 7 years old. Sometimes he beams with confidence, and other times he doesn’t believe in himself. Maybe it’s a 7-year-old thing, but everything is so black and white, you either win or lose. My hope is that he starts to embrace the grey – all the cool stuff that comes with not being the absolute best, but with trying your hardest and having fun. May he grow up with confidence in himself and determination to see his dreams through to the end.
Mile 8. Symmetry – a gym that fate threw at me and has forever changed my health and life. You could never write a business plan to mimic what we have at Symmetry. That is because you can’t just create community – the energy of our community is something that has blossomed and grown organically – and it’s so very, very special. It is honestly a joy to go to work (who says that?!?) and to be a part of other people’s health journey. Symmetry has brought me so many new friendships that I’ll forever cherish.
Mile 9. Rick, Maddy and Sara – Team Maddy helped me get started when I showed up for my first triathlon training in 2010 with a mountain bike with a baby seat. They took me under their wing, and never let me ride alone. They also introduced me to Ride of their Lives and My Team Triumph, two awesome groups who put our athletic abilities and talents into perspective. This is where I met Sara and her family. Next month, GR tri will be our 5th race together. It is so cool to be Sara’s legs for a day. She reminds me that the wind in my hair and sun on my face is something to smile about.
Mile 10. For the old me. Flashback 10 years ago to 2004 – my first 5K Riverbank, and the thought of running 3 miles seemed absolutely daunting. In fact, I peed my pants at the Reeds Lake Run that same year– wait, you have to train for these things?? Many years later, I was ready to try again. Millennium Triathlon was my goal for 2010, then I signed up for a half marathon on a whim, never running further than 3.1 miles. I remember tears of pride on the White Pine trail when I ran my first 10 miles. I did it, but still wouldn’t call myself a runner. Riverbank 25K? I don’t think I can… really? Done. Maybe I am a runner… Wow, that was really fun. Maybe I could run a marathon….
Mile 11. For my bike – I miss you. I need to finish this marathon so I can again spend some quality time with my bike.
Mile 12. For my parents, my in-laws, my sister, my friends. Love, love, love you all. See Mile 20.
Mile 13. For Michigan. I live in the most beautiful place – no question. I’m going to take this mile, which will be at the turn around, to take in the view of the bay, the smell of the air, take in the energy from the other runners. Half way!
Mile 14. For God – I am not a religious person, and I tend to keep my spiritual thoughts to myself. However, I do know that I am not doing this alone.
Mile 15. For my marriage. Our anniversary is on the 15th – this one carries over from #14. I am not alone. I have a lot of support and love at home that keeps me going.
Mile 16. For Melissa – may her Boston Dreams come true at Bayshore.
Mile 17. Three girlfriends. Jen – my oldest friend, who is a fearless, kick-ass runner and the reason I put “triathlon” on my bucket list. Susanna – my kindred spirit who I’ve shared many miles and smiles. Lori – my turtle-loving, kayaking buddy who has had a lot on her plate lately.
Mile 18. My training: Mile 18 is for the 18 weeks that I spent dedicated to Bayshore. Hours and hours that I spent training, the early mornings, the shuffling around schedules so both Ben and I can get in our long run, the dedication. If you count last year’s failed Detroit marathon attempt, then it’s actually 52 weeks, and it feels like 128 weeks! However, it was so worth it to accomplish my goal.
Mile 19. For my body – it needs a little love and appreciation, I’ve put it through a lot these last few months and while I certainly felt aches and pains, and my feet and toenails look atrocious, my legs have continued to carry me.
Mile 20. Team in Training. I’ll be running in purple and thanks to the generosity of friends and family raised $1500 for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Mile 20 is for LLS and their work to stop blood cancers.
Miles 21-25. More for Ben. At mile 21, I will surpass the furthest distance I have ever ran, and from what everyone tells me these will be the toughest. That is why these miles are for Ben. He gets me through all my tough times in life. In fact, when the going gets tough, Ben shines. He has the ability that every athlete wants, but only the best have – the ability to shut off the pain and kick ass no matter how bad it hurts. He’s not only an amazing athlete, he’s an amazing man. So, when these last few miles wear me down, I will look down at the beautiful ring he put on my finger, smile and as he says, “just turn the switch”.
Mile 26. For me. Holy. Crap. I just ran 26.2 miles.