Taking the Leap to Chase Chicago.

In just under eight weeks, I’ll line up for my debut marathon at the Chicago Marathon. Even typing that feels surreal. The marathon has always been in the back of my mind, sitting there quietly, waiting for the right moment.

Chicago has always been the place I pictured that moment happening. It’s flat, fast, historic, and one of the biggest marathons in the world. I’ve always loved the city itself, and something about it just feels right for this next step. For years, coaches, friends, and even my family have told me, “You’re going to be a marathoner. The longer it gets, the stronger you become.” And deep down, I’ve always known that too.

But honestly, I resisted for a while. I still had so much I wanted to chase on the track in the 5k and 10k. There was this voice in my head saying, once you move up to the marathon, you can’t really go back. Because of that, I never felt fully ready to make the leap. Truthfully, even now, part of me doesn’t feel completely ready. A part of me still wants to line up against the best 5k runners and see what I have left. But I also know my heart and my strengths really belong in the longer distances.

When I turned pro, I focused on sharpening myself in the 10k and shorter races. Then, last winter, I was nudged into running my first half marathon. To my surprise, I loved it. The distance just felt natural, like it was made for me. For a while I thought my marathon debut would come in fall of 2026. That felt like perfect timing, with the 2028 Olympic Trials still a couple years away. That was the plan.

But if there’s one thing about me, it’s that my plans don’t always stick.

This past spring I hit a wall. I was overtrained, overraced, and carrying a lot mentally and emotionally. I needed a break. I went to Hawaii, ran easy, and gave myself some space. During that time, I realized I needed more than just a reset. I needed to make a real change.

That’s when I decided to join Ed Eyestone’s pro group in Provo. I’ve always respected him as a coach, but what really drew me in was the group itself. I knew I needed training partners again. I needed an environment that would push me and inspire me, but also bring some fun back into my running. His group checked every box, and it also happened to be a group with a huge focus on the marathon. It felt like exactly where I was supposed to be.

Since joining, I’ve gone all in. For the first time as a pro, I feel like I’m thriving. I’m surrounded by teammates who are not only some of the best marathoners in the country, but also some of the best people I’ve ever met. They make the hard days lighter, the long runs fly by, and they constantly remind me that running isn’t as solo as it looks. And, that I can do hard things. I loved training alone for a long time, but now that I’ve had this, I don’t ever want to go back.

Now I’m about eight weeks into my marathon build, and I’m learning quickly that this is a different level of tired. I’ve never been a napper, but lately I’ve found myself crashing in the middle of the day. I’m hitting 100 mile weeks for the first time ever. I’m stringing together long runs at paces that used to intimidate me. At the same time, I’m feeling sharper on the track too, which I didn’t expect. Every week is pushing me to new limits, and every week I feel myself growing.

The best part is that even with the fatigue, I’m genuinely loving it. I wake up excited to do the work. I feel grateful that this is my job. I feel lucky to be learning from and training with the people I get to be around every day. Even on the hardest days, I find myself smiling.

So why Chicago? Because I feel in my heart that the time is now. Because waiting for the “perfect” moment doesn’t make sense anymore. Because the more experience I can get before 2028, the better prepared I’ll be when the Trials come. And because I want to be brave enough to take the leap, even if I don’t feel 100 percent ready.

I don’t usually like to put my goals out there, but for this one I’m going to. I want to run the fastest debut by an American woman in Chicago. It’s a big and scary goal for my first marathon, and a little intimidating to admit, but I’ve realized I can’t be afraid to say it. It’s what keeps me showing up every day, and I have to dare to dream.

Just under eight weeks to go. I’m tired, I’m motivated, but I’m ready to keep pushing. The dream is big, but that’s the whole point.