Runner’s World+ Member: Alison Rose
Alison is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
In 2013, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in my eye and it destroyed my self-esteem. I was so afraid that I was going to go blind that I stopped living my life and gave up. I spent 5 years just going through the motions of life and not caring about anyone or anything. Fast forward to late 2018, I was still extremely unhappy with myself, but I had finally reached a point where I knew I needed to make a change. I was wasting so much time being upset with my situation that I was wasting my life. So on a whim, I decided to run the Boston Marathon with my sister for my doctor at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. I was never a runner. I liked cycling and swimming, but running always seemed so boring. However, somewhere between raising over $10,000 for a disease I was passionate about and training to run 26.2 miles, I found myself again. Running quickly became an addiction. It gave me something to focus on and a goal to work towards. In less than a year, I’ve become comfortable with who I am and running has become a necessity in my everyday life.
I decided to run a marathon without knowing a lot about running. When I stumbled across RW+, I devoured every article. The content is amazing and it’s taught me a lot about the sport. Plus it’s helped me become a better runner.
I’ve realized I need to be signed up for a race to motivate me to run. I lack the self-discipline to just “go out and do it.” But if I have a plan worked out leading up to a race, then running is no problem!
I run anytime I can. I don’t work a normal 9-5 so sometimes I’m running at 7 a.m. and other times I’m running quarter-mile loops around the neighborhood at 11 p.m. My favorite route right now is a 3 mile trail loop around the state park. It’s about 2 miles of woods and about a mile along a dam overlooking a lake. It’s beautiful. However, nothing compares to than coming up over a hill at the 4 km mark during the Boston Marathon and seeing my whole extended family, plus all the neighbors, cheering me and my sister on. I get a little teary-eyed whenever I run that section still.
I absolutely love Feetures socks! I’m obsessed. I have more Feetures running socks than there are days of the week to run. I’ve run hundreds of miles in both rain and shine and they’ve never given me any issues.
I’m a slow runner. I’ll be the first one to admit that. If I could speed up and cut even 30 seconds off my mile time between now and my next marathon in May, I’ll be happy! I’m never going to win any races, but I’ll consider myself a winner if I always keep improving!
You Might Also Like
