Denver Marathon Running to Remember

As many of you know, I am running the Denver Marathon on September 22^nd.   So why am I training for a marathon with work, kids and other daily demands? The easy answer is that it is a birthday present to myself.  I ran a marathon for my 30^th birthday and now, ten years later I am running a marathon for my 40^th birthday. 

However, the other answer, and the one that I have not really shared in detail, is that I am running a marathon because I have my life and I can – which is something I don’t take for granted.  

In 2008, my dear mom, Marsha Wachtell was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).  ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, and is almost always fatal.  It interferes with the electrical signals to muscles, which results with a slow progressive paralysis throughout your body.  For my mom, initially it meant she could not walk, and sadly since there is no treatment, two years later she passed away from respiratory failure. 

I have loved running for a long time.  But running took on a whole new meaning, when my mom lost her ability to use her legs and take a deep breath.  At that point, I realized that being able to run is truly a privilege.  And in preparing for this marathon, I have appreciated and believe it or not enjoyed every mile that I have run.

It would not be right for me to write about my mom without mentioning her amazing positive spirit.  Throughout her life and throughout her battle with ALS she was a champion, always living life with the motto that her glass was “half-full,” rather than “half-empty.” 

This positive outlook on life is something she left as a gift to her family & friends. For me it means, find solutions, laugh more, and take care of others and yourself.  It means running 26.2 because I want to make a difference and support the research to find a treatment for ALS. 

Please support my marathon goals by giving to ALS TDI, a nonprofit research organization dedicated solely to finding the cause of and developing a treatment for ALS.  All of the funds I raise will go directly to the ALS TDI organization and their research.

So to go back to the question I started with…why am I running this marathon?  I am running it for “life” – I am running it because I have my life and I want to make a difference to save others’ lives.

Thank you for your generosity and support. And if you do live in Denver – the marathon is Saturday, September 22^nd.  Cheers are welcome as well!!!

Best, Karyn Huberman

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