disabled

I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be writing this post.  I am a NYC marathon finisher!  Words can’t describe what an honor it is to be a part of this hard working alum base.  I deserve to be here.  I owned every step of those 26.2 miles.  My training wasn’t perfect.  I got sick 2x, I planned an Asian trip 6 weeks before the race, I wasn’t sure I would make it.  I was sure that I did everything I could to be as ready as possible.  My batteries were good.  I ate properly. I slept. I gave up alcohol. I became my best self.  Yet, the nerves were high the week before. I had phantom feet pain.  The self doubt was getting the best of me!  The night before I left for NYC, I made my shirt.  It gave me a sense of peace.  I put it on my tshirt – I am a dystonia runner.  I owned it. I became proud of my disability…

Then came the expo!

“It will move you”…This just stuck with me, I had no idea why at that moment but now today writing this I know why.  My life changed that day.  Something has been missing from life recently and I couldn’t put my finger on it – on November 4, 2018.  I found what had been missing – my purpose, my why…

I went to bed on Saturday night and it was the first night in 3 weeks that I slept well.  I slept like I knew I had done everything I could to be ready for this race!

Then comes the morning – ferry at 8:15; 1 hour line up for the bus and I getting to my corral at 10:55 for an 11 am start…and boy was it glorious.  Promptly at 11, the cannons went off and Sinatra started playing – Start Spreading the news…I am leaving today….I want to be a part of it – NEW YORK, NEW YORK!!!

and I was off….the weather was glorious – 50 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, sunny and little humidity.  My smile was there, my heart was in NYC and my legs were going to do this….I had written a game plan and a nutrition plan.  I never veered.  I had so much love on the course…and NYC I fell in love with you all over again!

My friends came out – Mile 11, Mile 19, Mile 22 and Mile 23.  Those hugs got me through all the miles.  I never once thought I wouldn’t finish, even when I cramped up on the queensboro bridge with the sharpest pains in my inner thighs.  I knew I was stronger than these temporary pains.  Every hug energized me, every smile reminded me of every surgery and every battery malfunction I have ever had….then came the moment that I will never forget..

Probably one of the most surreal moments of my life – I ran by the same door I came out of 12 years ago – April 4, 2006 right after my brain surgery after I left the ICU…I saw myself being wheeled out on the chilly morning and here I was jogging every so slowly in front of the same door….I stopped. I cried, I lost my breath.  I realized what I felt was lost in my life – my purpose.  I had forgot what a life I had, what a miracle God had gifted me and I felt like I received that miracle again!  The last 3 miles were hard, I was tired, my left foot hurt, I wanted to be done…so I did what so many people told me to do – keep moving forward, don’t stop just one foot in front of the other….then it happened…

I finished.  My greatest hero called me not even after I picked up my foot off the finish pad – I said Mom – I did it!!! As I sit here typing I realize all over again – I did it!!  Through out the last week, so many people have reached out and reminded me how much my smile, my grit and my perseverance is inspiring.   I want to continue inspiring, teaching others being disabled isn’t a life sentence, but an opportunity to show others that not even Dystonia will keep me down from my reaching my dreams!

And as always a special thank you to my biggest cheerleader – my sister, who is always on top of making sure everyone is kept in the loop of all my running updates!

I am not sure what is next … but I tell you what I do know – I am a 2018 NYC marathon finisher!

xoxox,