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Just One Foot After the Other

Chattanooga Ambassador Christina Lauderback’s Story

When my boyfriend Will (now my husband) turned 30, one of his bucket-list items for the year was to complete a marathon. He asked if I wanted to train with him and I remember laughing – I was not a runner and never had been. I was active, exercised regularly and could make it about a mile if I really tried, but I didn’t like the way running made me feel and was nervous about training for a major race with someone I’d only known six months at the time. But he convinced me that it would be an adventure, and I decided to give it a try.

We started training in November and I remember my first run: a 5K. It was drizzling and cold and frankly, miserable. But I didn’t let that stop me. We ran – in good weather and bad, in wind and the Tennessee version of snow and in the cold. We repeated the mantra often, just one foot after the other.

I walked a lot. I figured out what an IT band is and how to roll it out. I finally understood the meaning of the phrase “catching your breath.” I learned a lot about Will, his dedication and his patience: He’d run back to check on me regularly since he paced significantly faster than I did. Somehow in the middle of it, I started to enjoy running.

We were up at 5am the day of the race. We met at Will’s apartment and ate our pre-defined race breakfast: three bagels each with peanut butter and honey and half a cup of coffee. I was nervous and not sure if I had what it took get through it. But once we got started and I settled into my pace, I knew I could cross the finish line.

The volunteers all along the race route, talking with other runners and my family cheering me on all made the time go faster. Yes, it was difficult and yes, it was painful. At mile 7, running uphill hurt. At mile 18, running both up and downhill hurt. I don’t even remember mile 23. One foot in front of the other was something I repeated often to myself.

Whenever I talk with someone who isn’t a runner about completing the marathon, they usually say something like, “That’s so amazing! I could never do that.” But I am proof that even if you’re not a runner, you can complete a marathon. Crossing the finish line to complete my first marathon is one of my proudest moments to this point in life, and I can’t wait to run in next year’s Chattanooga Marathon.

Ready for a bucket-list experience like Christina?