Cathy’s #Runspiration

Abbott WMMajors
Aug 23, 2017 · 3 min read

If someone had told me back in 2001 that I would run all of the Abbott World Major Marathons and travel the world doing so, I would have said they were crazy. I now get that “you are crazy” response from people when I tell them how many races I have run over the past 16 years.

I just returned from Reykjavik, Iceland where I ran my 80th marathon on my 56th birthday…I am so grateful and happy that I have been given the gift of running in my life. In addition to the 80 marathons, I have completed the Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa. In September 2017, I will run the Queen City Marathon in Regina, Saskatchewan to complete my goal of running a marathon in every province of Canada.

I ran my first marathon as a fundraiser for Team Diabetes Canada in Amsterdam. I thought I would run one marathon to make my 40th birth year a memorable one. I surpassed my fundraising goal and I completed that marathon in a time of 4:11 knowing that I had a few more marathons in me to run. I qualified for the Boston Marathon on my 3rd attempt and have since ran Boston nine times and I already have my qualifier for Boston 2018.

I credit my reason for running to all of those who can’t. My mother died (age 65) of Lou Gehrig’s disease and my dad died of a massive heart attached at the age of 47. I think of my parents every time I run a marathon because as all marathoners know, we have a lot of time during a 26.2 mile run to reflect on all the reasons we run and be grateful to have the opportunity to experience life in this way. Running gives me the opportunity to spend time with like minded people and share in the excitement of race day with so much support from volunteers and locals…it always makes me feel like I am running in a special parade.

I am very proud to tell people that I have run all the Abbott World Major Marathons. I had already completed all five Abbott World Major Marathons when Tokyo was added to the list so I knew I had to run that one too! I have wonderful memories from my nine trips to Boston, the organized Marathon Tours trips to London and Tokyo, Berlin with my friends whose parents welcomed me into their home, Chicago the year the race was cancelled due to heat but I was still able to complete it, and New York which I am lucky enough to be running again this year.

I still have some races left on my bucket list…the Great Wall in China and Australia among others. And, if there are any more Abbott World Major races to be added in the future, I look forward to completing them too!

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Abbott WMMajors

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The World Marathon Majors include Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago & NYC. We promote the world's top pro runners, wheelchair athletes & everyday champions

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