26 For You - .2 For Me

Disclaimer – I’m not a big fan of running….

But here I am, training for a full marathon on June 7th in Steamboat Springs. I ran cross country in high school, but only because I had a lot of friends doing so. Plus, the Friday night pasta parties were a great time. Throughout the years I sprinkled in a few charitable 5k’s but otherwise stayed away from running.

In early 2013, I got the itch to do a half marathon for a very personal reason. It had been 13 years since my sister Danielle’s life was selfishly taken on May 11th, 2000, in an act of Domestic Violence. I decided that I would do the 13.1 miles for the 13 years she had been gone. I told myself I was running the .1 for myself. Selfish, I know. I disliked most everything about it. The training. The exhaustion. The constant soreness. But I pushed through and completed it. I was incredibly proud of doing so, but just like that, “my running days was over” (Forrest Gump voice).

Fast forward 13 years to 2026. That’s now. If your math is mathing – you got it, I’m now dedicating 26 miles for the 26 years she has been gone. I’m going to run that little extra, the .2, for me. Selfish again, I know.

There’s nothing like putting a major challenge in front of yourself and then working very hard to accomplish it. It’s incredible\y rewarding. My sister was only 22 when her life was taken. Although life can be difficult at all ages, she was robbed of the chance to continue to challenge herself. She was unable to conquer so many things in life, and that’s my major motivating factor in completing this marathon.

It WON’T be fast. It WILL be hard. It WILL be worth it. It WILL be for her.

I will be raising money for SafeHouse Denver throughout the next couple of months. Established in 1977, SafeHouse Denver is the only agency in the city and county of Denver that provides a full continuum of care to adults, children and youth experiencing domestic violence through a 24-hour Crisis and Information Line, Emergency Shelter, Counseling and Advocacy, Extended Stay Program, and Community Education all provided at no cost. Any amount you are able to donate will go directly to helping those in need.

Wish me luck, I’m going to need it. Continue to R.IP., Danielle. Love and miss you every day.

About SafeHouse Denver

Established in 1977, SafeHouse Denver is the only agency in the city and county of Denver that provides a full continuum of care to adults, children and youth experiencing domestic violence.

SafeHouse Denver strives to:

intervene in domestic violence with services that empower adults, children and youth to live free from domestic abuse.
prevent domestic violence through education efforts that foster and support a broad movement for violence-free communities.
facilitate an interactive, collaborative community response to relationship violence that identifies victims earlier, makes victim services more accessible, and builds community awareness and accountability.