It was October 10, 2010. A Sunday. The weather was much hotter than it was supposed to be, rising into the 80s (Fahrenheit) by mid-morning. It was the Chicago Marathon – my first marathon. And nothing went according to plan.

When I ran my first marathon in Chicago nearly 4 years ago, there was so much I didn’t know. I spent most of the day before the race on my feet. I didn’t eat enough on race morning. My face was like sandpaper from depleted electrolytes. My family couldn’t find me on the course until mile 25. I didn’t know how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and push through the hard parts. By the halfway point I was toast, and I spent a lot of time walking during the last 13 miles. It felt like the finish line would never come.

I cried after I crossed the finish. I was happy that I finished my first marathon, but I was so disappointed by how I felt. I should have been able to run 30 minutes faster. But beyond the time, I didn’t feel good and I gave up over and over again during the race.

Since that day, I’ve grown exponentially as a runner and an athlete. I’ve gone on to run a marathon nearly an hour faster than that day in Chicago. But I’ve always had some unfinished business there. There’s been this invisible force pulling me back to the city … urging me to make amends with that race and show it what I’m truly capable of.

On October 12, 2014, I will be back in Chicago to run the Chicago Marathon. Again. Exactly 4 years after running my first marathon, I will run my seventh marathon in the same city where the journey all began. And I’ve chosen to run as a member of MDA Team Momentum.

I actually started working at MDA – the Muscular Dystrophy Association – last month after spending more than 8 years at the American Cancer Society. When I first considered joining MDA, there was very little I knew about muscle disease. I soon found out the people and families facing muscle disease would change my life in a profound way.

I didn’t know there are 43 different types of neuromuscular diseases (diseases that affect the muscles and/or nerves) that MDA fights.

I didn’t know that these diseases affect more than 1 million Americans.

And, I didn’t know there are no cures for any of these diseases. No cures.

Since then, I have met several children with muscle disease and their families who have inspired me beyond measure. These children will likely never be able to run or walk, but they have more heart, courage, strength and determination than I can ever hope to have in my lifetime. They deserve to grow up to be teachers, lawyers or anything they dream to be. They deserve to be able to live long, independent lives where they don’t require friends and family to help them brush their teeth or turn them over in bed. And they deserve to one day be able to run if that is something they would enjoy doing.

When I thought about returning to the Chicago Marathon, I knew it had to be special. I can’t think of a better way to take back the race where I hit the wall than dedicating it to making a difference for everyone facing muscle disease. For every child and adult who can’t run with me but who might be able to if we make more progress.

From funding cutting edge research and clinics where people can receive the best treatment across the country to hosting summer camps and providing families with the support they need, my Chicago Marathon will be more than just trying to run the race of my life (I might have entered 3:39 as my predicted race time – gulp!). No matter what happens on race morning, it will be a victory.

You can learn more about my efforts and support me with a donation by visiting my personal fundraising page. If you’d like me to run a mile for someone you know that has faced muscle disease, simply make a donation of $25 or more and I will write their name on my race bib and carry them with me throughout the marathon.

To learn more about what MDA does and how donations make a difference, watch this short video:

More Ways to Connect with rUnladylike and Follow the Chicago Marathon Journey:
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Who else is running the Chicago Marathon this year? If you’ve ever run a race for charity, share your fundraising tips here! If you know a friend or loved one who has muscle disease or has been affected, I welcome you to share your story.