I have a longer post formulating on what today meant to me, what the past week of going to the World Series and then watching the Cubs win it all for the first of my lifetime and also the other milestones to come this week and this month.

But today, right now… here are some raw thoughts on what it means to me to be welcomed to the elite group called “marathoners”.

I run a lot. In fact, last weekend I celebrated 5 consecutive years of at least a race a month. In five years time, those distances ranged from 2.5 miles to 13.1. There were good races and bad, painful and non, wet and dry, sick and well, and everything in between. I thought i could picture what it would be like to run a marathon. I figured I could imagine it.

I couldn’t.

Running 26.2 miles, training for your first marathon… it’s not something you can understand or comprehend until you do it yourself.

To understand what it means to push your body past its breaking point. To rip your own body to shreds from the inside out. To become stronger both mentally and physically with every single step. And to know that no one can do this for you. This has to come from within every single step of the way. And it has to come from a place of love and trust for yourself. And the work you’ve done.

On this journey, I have been incredibly supported by both those already in the club of marathoners, those who run other distances and by those who haven’t ever run a single race. I could not have done what I did today without every single supportive comment, cheer and good thought sent my way.

Today, I’m proud of what I can do. I’m proud of what is possible. I’m proud of what it means to put in the work.