The Shiprock Marathon is in the books and this one meant a lot to me.
Running the half marathon here has always been a goal of mine, and maybe one day I’ll come back for the full. But for a long time, even this felt out of reach. I’ve always been someone who sets realistic, attainable goals but this one pushed me beyond what I thought was possible.
Around mile 11, I knew I had to dig deep. My goal was to finish sub-two hours, and even though I felt like I was picking up my pace, it didn’t seem like I was making progress. That moment tested me. I had to push past the doubt and keep going.
As I ran through this beautiful land, I thought about the meaning behind the rock formations, our culture, and the story of the warrior twins. In that moment, I had to find that same strength within myself. And honestly, it got emotional. After becoming a mom and giving birth twice in the past four years, there were times I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do something like this again.
This was my third half marathon, but it felt entirely different. It felt bigger.
I ran this for my daughters and for every mom who’s trying to find her way back to herself. Let this be your reminder: keep setting goals, even the scary ones. Keep pushing forward, even when it feels hard. Don’t doubt yourself.
Because moms are warriors.
And a huge thank you to everyone who made this race what it was, the staff, volunteers, Navajo YES, and all those who continue to lead by example and promote a healthy, active lifestyle in our communities. Your support always makes a difference.
And a proud moment for my husband, too, he ran the full marathon and hit his goal, finishing sub-5. Watching him accomplish that was just as inspiring.
Congratulations to all the runners, every step and every finish line crossed is something to be proud of. Ahéhee’
