Marathon Reflection: Edith

My name is Edith and I'm 17 years old. This year was my first year in SRLA  and honestly, I wish I would've joined sooner because it's been such a great experience to be part of this team. I really didn't think I would make it to the finish line. Marathon week I was filled with so much anxiety. When the day came, I was really nervous but luckily for me, I have great SRLA leaders who gave us a great pep talk before we started heading to the starting line. It calmed me down and I felt ready to start and finish what I came for. 

I knew that I had many family members out on the course ready to see me and that was another reason that kept me going. They were so excited to see me and when they did they told me how proud they were of me because I worked so hard and they knew I was going to finish. My best friends were texting because they weren't able to make it out on the course. They told me to keep going because the finish line was so close. The fact that I had a great support group all throughout the day made it such a great experience, but what touched me more is how I inspired my aunt to run a marathon. She is hoping that we run the marathon together next year.

During this whole experience, I've kept in touch with a friend who did SRLA for four years. I always went to him for advice because he was such an inspiration to me. When I told him I made the team he was happy for me. He told me that once I finished the marathon I was going to be glad, that it was an accomplishment, and that it will be such an amazing achievement. Once I was at the finish line, I felt like I could do anything. Just like he said, I felt accomplished. I accomplished something that I always thought that I could never do. The best thing about it was that I got to cross the finish line with one of my teammates. It was truly the best thing ever.  I would like to thank the SRLA family for giving me and every other student a chance to be on this years’ team and for letting me say that I am the first one in my family to ever run and finish a marathon.

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