Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are all about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories. Their stories are about the journey of transforming from ordinary to extraordinary each and every day.

Today, I’m changing things up by profiling an inspiring event: A marathon everyone can finish. A marathon that creates miracles.

In college, I was fortunate to be involved as a student volunteer with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals – a nonprofit organization that raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America. The money they raise supports research and training, critical equipment and uncompensated care to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Every minute, 62 children enter a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital for treatment – that’s one child per second. These children are facing many challenges, from cancer to traumatic injury to genetic diseases.

Being a volunteer as a young person really changed my life. It led me to dedicate my professional career to nonprofit work and connected me with friends I will have for a lifetime (some who now work for Children’s Miracle Network).

Likewise, training and participating in marathons has also had a profound impact on my life. Marathons have changed me. But because running 26.2 miles isn’t always possible for everyone, I’m excited about a new kind of marathon that anyone can finish.

The Miracle Marathon.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals just launched an event called Miracle Marathon. It’s a 27.2-day virtual program in which participants run or walk (or bike, skate, jump, hop, or participate in any kind of exercise) for just one mile per day for 26 days, culminating in 1.2 miles in honor of the children being treated on the 27^th day. You can do it on your own time when it is convenient for you, all while raising money to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

If you’re looking for a new and different marathon that creates miracles for children in your community, be sure to check out Miracle Marathon.

• You can register as an individual, with your family or as a team at miraclemarathon.org.
• The registration fee is $27.20 (clever, huh?).
• You can choose the hospital you want to support.
• You’ll receive a Miracle Marathon bracelet, mile tracker magnet and 27.2 sticker.
• Then, log a mile a day for 26 days (with 1.2 miles on the 27^th day) and raise $272 or more to support Children’s Miracle Network in the process.
• Although the event campaign kicked off for the month of October, you can participate at any time.

Want to learn more? Here’s where you can find Miracle Marathon:

• MiracleMarathon.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMiracleMarathon
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/miraclemarathon
• Instagram: @TheMiracleMarathon

If you or someone you know has an inspiring fitness story and should be considered for Friday FITspiration, email me at runladylike@gmail.com.

What do you think about Miracle Marathon? Is it something you would do? Have you ever participated in a running streak? If so, what was your longest streak?