Running the Sydney Marathon with Team iFIT

On Sunday August 31st, I crossed the finish line of the Sydney Marathon in Australia. With a spring in my step and a smile, wearing my Team iFIT singlet.

It still doesn’t feel real.

When I submitted my video to the iFIT contest months ago, I was hesitant. Vulnerable. Unsure. I recorded it. I posted it publicly on Facebook. That alone felt like a huge step out of my comfort zone. But someone watched that video. Someone at iFIT heard my story—my long journey through misdiagnosis, adrenal surgery, rebuilding my health and my life—and decided I deserved this.

And suddenly, I was heading to Australia.

With only 11 weeks to prepare, I knew I wasn’t aiming for a fast time. My goal was to prepare my body to run 26.2 miles strong, steady, and with joy. I didn’t train for speed. I trained for time on my feet. When I went for my long runs, I went really long. In July and August, I logged runs of 3 hours, even over 3 hours at times. These runs weren’t about pace; they were about teaching my body to endure. I gave myself grace. I focused on joy. And it worked.

The trip included a couple of obligations with Team iFIT (okay, twist my arm!). On Saturday we ran with Ashley Paulson for a shakeout run along the harbor. It was awesome to finally meet Ashley and the other members of Team iFIT in person. At night, we met for dinner and Ashley brought us t-shirts and bracelets. She was as friendly and amazing as I hoped.

When I headed for bed Saturday night, I reminded myself that I wasn’t there to chase a time or kick ass. My goal was to run happy, finish happy, and enjoy every mile of this marathon. To be healthy, present, and part of this incredible experience already felt like the biggest win.

When I woke up, it was go time!

Because I truly wanted a “party pace”, which is to say I wanted to enjoy myself thoroughly, I decided 4-hour pace would be perfect. So in the corral, I made the purposeful choice to move back and run with the 4-hour pacer, “4-hour Andrew.” He became my best friend the moment the gun went off!

Andrew carried a speaker with the absolute BEST playlist, got the crowds going, and even handed out lollies (which I learned is Australian for hard candy). The kilometers flew by (no mile markers in Australia!) and I never once looked at my watch. I smiled and threw my arms up with the crowds. And oh wow… THE CROWDS! 4-hour Andrew really got them going for our group.

Because I never looked at my watch (and couldn’t do the math ), I was shocked when I realized we were already well past 22 miles. 4-hour Andrew’s speaker blasted “The Final Countdown,” and I sang my way toward the beautiful finish line. I may have even played air guitar.

The finish was as breathtaking as promised. Running toward the Opera House with the crowds screaming like we were rock stars brought me to tears. After all I’ve been through in recent years, this marathon finish symbolized so much more than a medal for me.

Every step was incredible. This marathon was about perspective, resilience, and the joy of simply running happy.

I will also add that if you have an iFIT enabled treadmill and do the Sydney Marathon series, you will see and hear from me running with Ashley Paulson somewhere after the 10k.

It was all like a dream come true!

This experience wasn’t just about 26.2 miles. It was about sharing space with other runners who have also endured, overcome, and grown. Team iFIT brought together ten runners with powerful, personal stories, and I am honored to have stood among them. We ran. We laughed. I cried. We represented iFIT with everything we had.

And the people of Sydney? Unbelievable. The volunteers, the spectators, the strangers cheering us on as though they were invested in each and every runner’s journey—they made this race unforgettable.

This wasn’t a return to my old running self. I can’t chase PRs that fast! I’m older now. Wiser. Grateful. And running from a place of joy, not pressure.

Sydney was a gift. A milestone. A memory I’ll hold forever.

Thank you, iFIT, for believing in my story. Thank you to every family member and friend who supported me along the way. And thank you, running, for always being there—even when the road back was long and uncertain.

Here’s to what’s next. But for now? I’m still soaking this one in.