Eat. Sleep. Breathe. Run.

Something really amazing happened recently. I was chosen to be a 2017 Charlotte Marathon Ambassador!! I am beyond excited to be one of the seventeen selected to represent the the marathon in the months leading up to the big race.

The Charlotte Marathon was the first marathon I ran back in November of last year. It was one of the most difficult and most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It pushed my limits, mentally and physically. I have never felt more accomplished and proud than I did when I crossed that finish line.

People always use the expression, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint, “ and now I can say I truly get it. You need to pace yourself. You need to push yourself. You need clarity of mind to tell yourself you can do it (and that your legs are not going to fall off). As exhausting as it may sound to many people, without a doubt in my mind I would do it again.

Runners are a special breed. They do things that people call them crazy for, like running a marathon, running in blistering heat, or freezing cold. Runners are runners for so many different reasons. Some run for fitness. Some run for fun. Some run to compete. I run to be strong. To set goals and to prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. The body and mind can do amazing things.

Another reason I run is for the people. The running community is an amazing group of people to be a part of. When else can someone smile at you, give you a high five you, and cheer you on, while being a complete stranger. The Charlotte Marathon fosters this community. A community of diverse runners, where no matter how fast or how strong, you are welcomed.

It’s because of this community that I’m so excited to spend the coming months supporting the Charlotte Marathon and everything it stands for.

So, what does being an ambassador mean? It means I’m here for you. To encourage you. To cheer you on. To answer any questions you may have.

Oh and you’ll be seeing a whole lot more of me around Charlotte. Ambassadors will be participating in the Run For Your Life race series, holding community events around the city, and promoting the race all over social media.

I hope to see you out there on Saturday November 11th! Whether you choose to run the marathon, half-marathon, relay, 5K, or 1-mile, I’ll be there cheering you on.

Our Streets. Our City. Our Marathon. #RunCharlotte

Learn more about the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon at www.runcharlotte.com.