When I was eight years old, I broke my leg in a bicycle accident. For 14 months my small body remained wrapped in a plaster mummy-like cast, and for many years I struggled to walk normally. The pain from that injury stayed with me far too long. Even in high school I often limped and was given the nickname ‘Uncle Wiggle’ because of my unsteady gait.

That was many years ago. Now I am much stronger. Running has given me back my confidence, my strength, and my sense of possibility. Marathon training has shown me that my body is capable of incredible feats, despite my early injury.

Each marathon I’ve run has been dedicated to someone important in my life. But this particular marathon was dedicated to myself—a celebration of how far I’d come, from a damaged child to a confident adult athlete.

Running the marathon that day was about more than finishing a race. It was about reclaiming my body, celebrating my strength, and honoring the journey that brought me to that starting line.