If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I signed up for the 2018 Chicago Marathon on behalf of Team Imerman Angels (an amazing organization, learn more about it here). I knew I wanted to challenge myself in 2018, to achieve something I never thought I would attempt. If you were to ask anyone from my childhood or teen years, they would probably laugh at the idea that I would attempt a 26.2 mile race. I used to hate running, and I used to be the last person to cross the line, I was fondly known as “the caboose.”

I’m still pretty slow (nothing wrong with that) but I don’t hate running anymore. I love it. From the moment I could feel the wind on my post-chemo peach fuzz, I’ve been hitting the pavement. They say cancer is a full-time job, they also say that about marathon training. I’m ready for an extracurricular career change, which led me to sign up for Chicago.

The main office of the company I work for is in Chicago, so I knew I would have several friends to help cheer me on. I also liked the idea of running with an organization I had personally used. So I signed up for the CrowdRise and off I went to fundraise! I’m only $475 away from goal, so please please consider donating here. I even hired a coach (who is AMAZING) to help me train towards this goal.

I get it, you’re wondering what this has to do with NYC. Well. I’m not running Chicago (Oct 8) anymore. I’m running NYC (Nov 4) instead! I am super thankful to New Balance for giving me the opportunity to run NYC, and to have been introduced to such a great company (NB Lace Up for the Cure line is here — check it out).

Soooo yea, bit of a change of plans. My fundraising goal has now shifted to raise funds for Team IA running NYC (a promise is a promise!) and possibly may go to Chicago to cheer everyone on. But I had to be honest with myself, and I simply could not fathom running two marathons in two months (2019 goal perhaps?!) and so I have decided to accept the opportunity to run NYC. There’s a little more to my marathon story but all shall be revealed in time!

I am so excited for this opportunity. Think Jessie-Spano-in-Saved-by-the-Bell-on-caffeine-pills excited (which is also pretty nervous). Onwards!

This post originally appeared on Rogue Boob. It is republished with permission.