For Marathon Monday this week, I decided to blog a little bit about why I decided to run the marathon and why I chose to do it with the charity that I am running for.
Why did I decide to run the marathon? That is definitely a question that I am still asking myself. It seems totally insane and crazy to purposely run 26.2 miles AND pay to do it. It seems absolutely absurd that I would put myself through a lot of mental and physical pain just to have the glory of saying that I finished a marathon. I totally understand that it seems crazy, and quite honestly I wonder about my own sanity sometimes when I look at the training schedule or think about the daunting journey that I have embarked on. However, it's not just about the glory. Don't get me wrong. I am going to brag. A LOT. I am going to milk this thing for all it's worth and tell anyone who will listen that I have conquered a marathon (as long as I actually do...). It has become something a lot bigger for me, though. I want to challenge myself and I like the fact that I feel like I am making myself better throughout the process of all of this. I am making myself healthier which is making me happier as a result. I feel more motivated, more energized (believe it or not), and more productive since I have starting running longer distances. I am paying more attention to my sleep patterns and listening to my body when it tells me it needs something. I am much more conscious of what I am putting into my body. Granted, I haven't even officially started training for the big one, but this already started happening when I got really serious about training for the mini-marathon. I can only imagine that it will continue throughout marathon training. I am excited to see the person I am after the marathon and to feel that confidence that I have the will power to achieve something monumental.
Why did I choose to run with Team Sweetness? Well, that also is a two part answer. First, I was INSTANTLY drawn to the Walter Payton Foundations because Roger is a HUGE Walter Payton and Bears fan. My registration through this organization first became a possibility because as I was browsing different charities I said ,"Hey Rog, Walter Payton's Foundation is still open. I could run for Team Sweetness!" The rest is history.
More importantly, I researched the foundation and realized how much it aligns with things that I think are important. I obviously have a very soft spot in my heart for kids, as I've dedicated my entire life to a profession that focuses solely on helping kids achieve things. However, since moving to the city and experiencing teaching in an urban environment my eyes have been opened to the injustices that are still out there for a lot of kids. For a lot of them, these injustices are there from the moment they are born. Whether it's economic status, race, or any other factor that is stacked against them, it's not fair. I am 100% dedicated to making sure that every single kid that comes into my path hears 3 things. You are so smart, you are so great, and you can do WHATEVER you want to with your life. I am also dedicated to make sure that each one of those kids knows that they can come to me for strategies on how to achieve those things. Every single kid on this planet deserves to hear those things and deserves to be given tools that will help them learn how to succeed and be strong. Team Sweetness is one of the many organizations out there that helps at risk and underprivileged youth succeed through new opportunities. The work that they are doing is incredibly important to me and extremely close to my heart.
So. Why am I doing this? Because I want to be challenged. Because I want all of the children in Chicago (and everywhere for that matter) to be successful and to be given opportunities to thrive. Because I can. This whole experience is bigger than me, and I am so excited to get started. Thank you so much for ALL of your support!
Click below if you're interested in donating, or if you are willing to pass the link along. Thanks!
AMY JACKSON'S TEAM SWEETNESS SUPPORT PAGE
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