Julie's Alaskan Marathon Adventure
Donation protected
Three years ago, I began a journey to transform my life. Never thin, I then weighed over 300 lbs and had a sedentary lifestyle. Determined to become healthy and fit, I started a weight loss program and to date have lost 101 lbs.
As part of my lifestyle makeover, I began an intense exercise regime. I joined Team in Training to complete my first half-marathon in October 2014. I continued to train and have now completed more than a dozen half-marathon races.
Late last year, I decided to prove - if only to myself - that this former big girl has the chutzpah to go the whole way and complete a full marathon. 26.2 miles is daunting, but believing I can go the distance, I committed to the training.
I signed up for the marathon at Shasta Cascade Sports Festival, which was to be held Memorial Weekend. But this past weekend, just two weeks until race day, Shasta Cascade was cancelled. Six months of training over countless hours and miles...but no race. I was crushed.
My dream race has always been the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage. The 2016 race is coming in June, just 4 weeks away. The timing is perfect; I'm already trained, and the race is a great fit for me, a slow runner. But as a single mom, I'm not in a financial position to simply hop on a plane to Alaska. I must raise $2300 over the next 10 days in order to register for this race and make travel arrangements.
I need your help to make my marathon dream a reality. I am in the best physical shape of my life, and I'm ready to run. Three years ago, I began a journey to transform my life; please help me reach my finish line, and put the exclamation point at the end of the sentence!
As part of my lifestyle makeover, I began an intense exercise regime. I joined Team in Training to complete my first half-marathon in October 2014. I continued to train and have now completed more than a dozen half-marathon races.
Late last year, I decided to prove - if only to myself - that this former big girl has the chutzpah to go the whole way and complete a full marathon. 26.2 miles is daunting, but believing I can go the distance, I committed to the training.
I signed up for the marathon at Shasta Cascade Sports Festival, which was to be held Memorial Weekend. But this past weekend, just two weeks until race day, Shasta Cascade was cancelled. Six months of training over countless hours and miles...but no race. I was crushed.
My dream race has always been the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage. The 2016 race is coming in June, just 4 weeks away. The timing is perfect; I'm already trained, and the race is a great fit for me, a slow runner. But as a single mom, I'm not in a financial position to simply hop on a plane to Alaska. I must raise $2300 over the next 10 days in order to register for this race and make travel arrangements.
I need your help to make my marathon dream a reality. I am in the best physical shape of my life, and I'm ready to run. Three years ago, I began a journey to transform my life; please help me reach my finish line, and put the exclamation point at the end of the sentence!
Organizer
Julie Marin Southern
Organizer
Antioch, CA
