Chicago Marathon 2013

I have been over my own head in holding down my life lately, however, I am still holding it down.

I didn't look back at my last post to see if I mentioned I would be running the Chicago Marathon 2013 for a charity team, so if I didn't mention it, that was the plan.  Sometimes I forget where I work and I need to write it down, so let me refresh my memory and restate that here as well,
1- Full time 3rd year DPT Student
2- Team Enterprises- Bacardi Girl
3- Hooter's of Oak Lawn- Hooter's Girl
4- Ascent Talent- Promo Modeling
5- PUSH Models
6- ATN Events- Brand Ambassador

Surprisingly and thankfully, all these jobs allow me to pick and choose the events/days that I work so I am able to balance it all out nicely [most of the time.]

In the midst of this craziness I am losing who I am, there is always something that needs to be done and if I would step back I would see that I am exhausted, depressed and stressed to the max.  Besides needing to work so much so pay off the debt I have since I moved (and ran out of financial aid money) I think I work so much because I am actually pretty stinkin' lonely and bored if I'm not.  It keeps me socializing with MANY individuals keeps me busy and not thinking about what I am missing in my life.

Anyway-- back to the Chicago Marathon... I have not been training because as you can imagine, I have been SO SOO busy and I'm working through some sort of knee/leg/quadricep injury right now as well.  I haven't had the energy, motivation or the love for running like I had last summer and I am convincing myself that I can't run a marathon this Fall.  BUTTTTT-- let me mention why I even decided to run this marathon in the first place.  There is a VERY special woman, that I like to consider a modern day super hero, that goes by the name of Colleen McGrath.  I'll sum the story up and just provide a link to in depth details... Colleen's mom died when she was a teenager from cancer.  Colleen was diagnosed at 13 y/o with pancreatic cancer. Colleen's dad "MADE" her go to a children's oncology camp before choosing to give up chemo treatments. Colleen beat pancreatic cancer.  Colleen's dad died from cancer.  Colleen returned to camp as a camper then a counselor and later a dedicated employee of COSI.  Colleen returned to camp during the summer of 2012 at age 27 and informed us all that she had Stage IV colon cancer.  Against all odds----Colleen beat Stage IV colon cancer.
----Colleen's determination to send children to camp and provide them with the best experience of their life, which she contributes to saving her life as a teenager, is what she aimed for Team One Step (my Chicago Marathon Charity Team)  to do.  Colleen was not going to give up on fighting for her life and if you ask me who the strongest individual I know is, without a doubt, I can assure you she is the first name that comes out of my mouth.  The last thing I had planned to do in the next year was run a marathon; however, I decided in Feb/March of 2013 that I would do it because Colleen is one inspiring individual.  I knew the time would come where I would say, "I really don't want to run this marathon, I'm behind on training, and there's no way I can run this marathon."  That is where I am at now.  All odds are against me in successfully running this marathon; I am exhausted, I am injured, I haven't been training, my nutrition is terrible, I can't afford (literally $$) to eat and train for a marathon, I don't have the time to train, and I don't have the time to fund-raise for it.  THENNNNNNN I go back to the beginning and think about why I decided to do it.  I don't intend for this to come out rude if for some reason anybody takes it that way, but when I think about not doing the marathon, what stops me is that I would have to tell someone that beat the deadliest of cancers NOT ONCE, but TWICE, that "I can't do this." [in reference to running a marathon]  I think that would be harder than actually running the marathon.

Colleen's Story

SO basically.. I am going to run the Chicago Marathon on 11 weeks of training and a prayer.  lol.  I wanted to post this as a constant reminder and motivator to myself and also keep you all up to date on my marathon training.  I need all the support I can get as I am already about to lose my mind.  I am hoping to post more frequently so you can track me as I proceed through the next 11 weeks.  Hopefully things will start becoming more balanced in my life and I find my lost love for running and endurance activity again.



Best----

Kristin.

Keep up with me on Twitter @kCull4_SPT or Instagram @kcull_4

<3

Caution--- Construction Zone! =)

Hi All!

Sorry for the mess going on with my blog right now!  I am currently doing some major reconstruction to it (obviously, lol.) I'm hoping to get lots of work done on it later tonight but right now I need to maintain my focus on studying for a midterm exam I have at 2 pm today, YIKES!!

Thank you for your patience and for keeping up with me!! :)  Also, feel free to let me know the things that you would be interested in reading about and I'll work to target all areas on my blog/website!


I'll post again to keep you all posted on the finished product of my blog!


Thanks Again----

Personal Growth is a Beautiful Thing.

It's been a long time since I've posted in here, my apologies..like always!

Anyway, I felt like this was a really significant day for me to post.  As those who use to follow my sporadic posts around this time last year know that I was going through some real tough times, depression and anxiety were at an all time high and I needed to make a change in my life because this was not how I wanted to keep living.  I was stuck in the gray of depression, yet I could still see the brightness of my future that I was desperately reaching out for.

Last St. Patricks Day, the guardian angel in my life, my long time friend, Siobhan, got married.  It was a tough day for me as a result of my depression but of course for Siobhan, I pulled through.  She has been there for me through EVERY complication that has come up in my life and the last thing I would do is miss her wedding day because I was in such a horrible spot in my life during this time.

As I sit here today and look back at myself a year ago, I cannot help but to beam with pride and joy, and almost want to cry for myself in the progress that I have made in my own personal development.  I have always been an individual with the inner strength of steel; however, occasionally I will experience what I call, situational depression.  My "situational depression" always makes me a different person.  Thankfully I am so head strong and have such a solid foundation of strength and wisdom, that once I slowly work my way out of the depression, I come out of it SO much stronger and motivated to achieve my dreams and pursue new goals.

Last St. Patrick's Day 2012 is history.... today, on St. Patrick's Day 2013, I have the plans in my head to MAKE my own HISTORY. I sit here as an individual that has inner happiness, balance, strength, dedication, motivation and so many things that I want to accomplish in life.  I have so much on my plate that I am grateful for and I would not take back a single day of those days I spent alone and depressed.  They have made me who I am today and the things that have not worked out along that way have brought me to people and places that continue to help me see the individual that I am meant to be.


To all my followers going through tough times, I understand where you are and I know where being strong can take you.... in closing and in honor of St. Patrick's Day, I want to share with all of you an Irish Prayer that I found on IslandIreland.com that is symbolic of this post----

"May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer."


Thanks for reading!  Feel free to keep up with me on Twitter--- @kCull4_SPT