April 22, 2016
Got my Brooks on, I’m ready to go...run train forĀ the Chicago Marathon!!!!

It is amazing to think that three years ago I ran my first organized race (5k) with my then 4 year old daughter. A few months prior to the race Kailee started asking to run with me – not in the stroller or on her scooter but run –so of course I said yes! She had asked to run the 5k with me because she truly enjoys running, and because she REALLY wanted a finisher metal. š
That one 5k, The Halloween Hustle, started a chain of multiple race endeavors for our family, races that I would run with my kiddos. After several family races I wanted to challenge myself. You have to understand, running by yourself 20 miles a week for 20+ years can get…well boring at times. I wanted to train with a purpose, with a goal. So, I set my sights on one of the toughest (if not the toughest) half-marathon races in Kansas City, Hospital Hill. AMAZING!!! (There is still time to join me at Hospital Hill this year, discount code HHRKELLI!)
After I crossed the finish line, I already knew I wanted to continue training for a full marathon. So I signed up for the Kansas City Marathon, which was only four months away… Now, while I had been running for years, I had never run more than 7 miles prior to training for Hospital Hill, (why would any sane person) So as I began training for The Kansas City Marathon I was NERVOUS. Nervous that I wouldnāt finish, nervous that I would pass out, nervous that I would get injured, just nervous!
While I felt OK on most training days, if was HARD…hard to run 15, 16, 17, 20 miles. Hard to find the time to run, hard to stay hydrated, everything was just HARD! But I must say I enjoyed the challenge, I enjoyed training with a purpose, I enjoyed training to achieve a goal I had set for myself.
My first marathon was in October 2015. Ā Ā I had major hydration issues which led to excessive calf cramps, headaches etc. (read the full Race Day post). But I pushed through and I FINISHED!
After crossing the finish line I said to myself, āI have to do this again, and do it better!ā It was then (or maybe shortly after I regained feeling in my legs) that I set out to run the 2016 Chicago Marathon. Why Chicago?Well, because itās the Chicago Marathon! š An added bonus is Ā that Chicago will be a much flatter course than the rolling hills of The Kansas City Marathon so it should allow for my best possible race!!! š

My race journey began because of my daughterās desire to run, and has continued and grown because my kids still love going running with me. If they didnāt go with me I would never have the time to train, thatās for sure! Itās something we can do together and all enjoy. What better way to continue encouraging kids to get active and make healthy choices that by running as a Team Healthy Kids Athlete!
This is an extraordinary organization that is helping educate kids on the benefits of healthy food choices and being active!
I am so excited to be running the 2016 Chicago Marathon as a Team Healthy Kids Athlete. In the process I hope to help by bringing awareness not only to the organization, Action for Healthy Kids, but also to the movement of educating kids on the importance of nutrition, the benefits of making healthy food choices and being active! Ā If I, at 35 years old, can run my first marathon, then asking kids to commit to being active 60 minutes everyday is NOT asking too much!
I hope to show kids and adults that our health is a gift and we are called to preserve this gift. It is not just about Race Day, but also the months of training preparing for the race that makes the difference.
Team Healthy Kids and I would LOVE your support.
How can you help?
- Please share this article with anyone you think might enjoy it!
- Donate to help support Team Healthy Kids and my quest to run the Chicago Marathon https://donate.actionforhealthykids.org/fundraise?fcid=647517
- Attend any of the several upcoming fundraising events I will be hosting over theĀ next several months.
We will be posting information on upcoming fundraising events, subscribe to receive email updates so you donāt miss out on anything! You can follow my training progress on instagram @ksinthusy and also on the blog.
If you have any suggestions for fundraising opportunities or would like to donate items for an event, please comment below or contact me directly.
Thank you so much for your support!
Happy Training!
Ā