Why I am running Chicago 2013.

Chicago Marathon training is HERE!!

This week was officially week 1 of my training program, I cannot believe it is here already.  I am ready  to work hard and do big things this year.  This will be my third time running the Chicago Marathon, yet this one will be extra special.  I am not just running for fun and because I like the torture of 26.2 miles,  I am running with a purpose.  Not just one purpose, but two.

First and foremost, I am running to raise money for a charity that I love dearly, Girls on the Run.  It is a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. Using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running, the innovative program combines training for a 5K event with interactive lessons that encourage positive social, emotional, mental and physical development.   For all you ladies out there, you remember how rough the middle school age can be with insecurities, false sense of beauty, pressures of society,  pressure from friends, etc.  This program ensures that all girls who are involved, get a better sense of themselves, what is really important and how beautiful they are inside and out.

I so badly would love to be a coach for this program, but my work schedule does not allow.  So, I give back by running for them and raising money to keep it going.  Being an athlete growing up taught me so much and helped me work through many of the issues girls face today and for that I am so thankful.  Without running and sports I would not be who I am today.

If you are interested in donating to my cause, my fundraising page is now OPEN!  Check it out:  http://www.active.com/donate/gotrcsolemates2014/JBures1

The second reason I am running the 2013 Chicago Marathon is: Boston.  It has been a long time dream of mine to be able to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  A dream I honestly and truly thought was never in my reach, but was fun to think about.  Last year I finished my marathon in 3:53 and I literally felt like I could go 10 miles more, it was insane.  I remember Shain saying to me “You didn’t push hard enough, you should not feel this good.”  He was right.  That is when I knew I had the capability of really digging deep and going for Boston. What would I have to lose?  My goal up until this week was to keep my endurance high, so that when week one got here I could hit the ground running with pace runs and speed work.

During the last mile of almost every run I have visualized myself crossing the finish line at 3:28.  I am not quite sure why that number popped in my head but that is the one I will continue to train for, manifest and visualize.  I know I can do this.  I know it might hurt.  I know it means I will sacrifice many fun “conversation pace” runs with friends, but the idea of qualifying gives me chills.

Call me crazy, but when the 2013 Boston Marathon was bombed this year, it magnified my desire to want to be there times 100.  I will show the world the spirit of a true runner.  You can’t keep us down.  We will prevail, we will push through and we will conquer.  If I don’t make the 3:35 cutoff,  I know I will have at least been out there for the right reasons and giving it my all.  This is my way of  paying respects to those who were affected by that terrible day, I will run with all of them heavy on my heart.  When the pain starts to get to me, when I am too tired, I will think of those girls will low self-esteem who need the GOTR program.  I will think of the precious 8 year old boy who was waiting for his Dad at the Boston finish line and lost his life.  This may be a goal of mine but this race is so much more than me.  It is much bigger.  Here is to 4 months of some serious hard work ahead.