Everything happens for a reason. Literally everything. We might not see the ultimate plan before us but it is there. We must bend but not break.
This summer my mom was part of an awesome contest where the top prize was a trip to London to watch the 2012 Olympics. My mom, who used to live in London was all over it. Daily she talked to me about how she was working her hardest to win. For one reason or another the store she worked at ended up in second. She was crushed that her dreams of going to the Olympics were no longer there but was excited to learn that as the runner up they had won Molly Huddle.
Ok no they did not actually win Molly Huddle, but they got to have the SUPER duper awesome rockstar Saucony sponsored runner come visit their store, sign autographs and go for a run!
Oh how I wished I could just hop on a plane and come hang out with my mom and Molly. Okay I may have dreamed in my head I would be hanging out with Molly and not just seeming like some weird enamored runner, but that’s okay this is my dream.
My mom agreed to get her to sign a poster for me. Dream Big Run Long is my mantra. It is a combination of my initials DB and the middle initials of my 3 children RL. I wanted – no needed – a poster from Molly. [had Colton been a girl I was routing for the name Molly - Miles & Molly - the two Marine Corps Marathon mascots - and yes I am that much of a running loser that I would name my children after mascots of a marathon that forever changed my life]
My mom texted me pictures when Molly was there. She told me she thought that I would like her and that we were actually very similar. She thought we would be friends if we actually knew each other.
Snez, as I affectionately refer to my mom as told me she had a surprise for me at Columbus Marathon. Lots of goodies signed by Molly – the American Record holder in the 5000m.
When I got to Columbus I couldn’t hug my mom fast enough. I wanted to see what she had gotten me [side note - doesn't my mom rock? I became a runner and a marathoner because of her]
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| She loves me even when my hair is yucky and I wear no makeup! |
She had gotten Molly to sign a poster for me – Chase the dream - oh my goodness I loved these words.
I am chasing the dream Molly, my dream. I won’t just run a 3:10 marathon one day. I will go sub 3. I will.
She signed a vizipro Pink shirt for me – we all know how IN LOVE I am with Saucony’s new vizipro pink line, a string bag and the BEST present of all – a Saucony Vizipro hat. The hat was a sample and doesn’t come out till next year, which not only means I am the only person running around with this hat but it’s also the only hat signed by an American record holder.[my mom has one signed too but her hat is a tad different!]
The hat was just what I needed during Columbus. It and Molly helped push me when I was hurting. It helped me go from a 3:21 marathoner to a 3:13 marathoner.
It said – Dorothy – Dream Big Run Long – Molly Huddle
When I wanted to slow up in the marathon, ease up on myself so the pain didn’t hurt as bad – I thought would Molly ease up? An American Record holder would push through the pain. She would not ease up. If you want to PR bad enough then you have to push through the pain like an elite.
It worked. Time and time again – I repeated to myself – Dream Big. Molly would push. Molly would dream.
When I crossed the finish line of Columbus Marathon in 3:13 I didn’t shed a single tear. I smiled from ear to ear. I had dreamed a dream and it had come true. I pushed through the pain.
In the week following I thanked my mom, for not only getting me all the fun stuff from Molly but for working her butt off to win a contest that she ended up coming in second place. I knew how much London meant to her but I also know how much I mean to her. She shares my joy and I can only hope that she knows that she was supposed to come in second. That hat, my mom and Gods ultimate plan for my life – are perfect.
This past weekend when I ran Marine Corps Marathon, my second in two weeks [yes I know I am insane - do as I say not as I do] – I wore my hat. When I was climbing the awful hill at Iwo Jima for the 6th time I wanted more than anything to walk. I had run 26.1 miles without walking but wanted to walk that last .1 – the pain hurt too much. I thought of the hat. I put my head down, closed my eyes briefly and used every ounce of mental and physical energy to get to that finish line. There was no sprint, but I chased the dream Molly – I chased it. Finish time 3:21. An American record holder doesn’t give up and neither do it.
Thank you Mommy and thank YOU Molly Huddle. Saucony Rocks!
Have I told you lately how much I love running?
Runner, dreamer, marathoner x24, mommy of 3, Women's Running Magazine cover model, published writer, Saucony contributing blogger, running coach, and lover of all things running. I Run This Body. 
What a wonderful story! You and your mom are absolute rockstars! Thanks for sharing, Dorothy!
Must remember not to read your blog at work from now on, you always get me teary eyed & people must think I'm crazy! Seriously though, thanks for another post full of inspiration. Now to go buy some pink vizipro, I think I'm in love too…
I LOVE your posts! You have so inspired me! I love your boldness, your testimony, your love for EVERYTHING!! And you're supposed to have a disease that makes you tired?! I'm tired reading about your life!!! Thanks so much for bring joy and hope to all of us!
P.S. I SOOO missed the MCM this year, I had knee surgery in August and I'm still rehabbing and not doing a marathon until March. Good thing I read this post at the end of the work day because it had me crying too! My buddies ran MCM for the first time and LOVED it and we will definitely be back.
Fantastic post! I will use your words to push me to the finish this weekend!!!
BTW I was at NYC Expo today and mentioned at the Nuun booth that I started using Nuun after reading about it on your blog and both ladies working the booth knew you! So cool!
Love this girl! thanks for sharing. I totally get your emotions and expressive words. I feel it. I know I will be typing a similar post after Boston in 5 mos b/c I am dreamin g big Too!!!! xxxx.
thanks for being you!xx
This is such an awesome story
Wouldn't it be amazing if somehow in the plan, your mom gets a trip to London to watch the Games? She sounds like the best mom ever 
I don't know what to say other than you're amazing!
love it. 3:13 is going down in 2012! joe
Love this! That is definitely extra motivation. I just had my mom get me the vizipro orange jacket for Christmas