My son, Sergeant Brandon Parr, was killed in Iraq on March 3, 2007. I crawled into bed, gained 60 pounds, and gave up.

A friend in Florida who had lost her son in the Iraq war the same year suggested we run the Marine Corps marathon to honor our boys. That was very funny to me because at that point I had peaked at 227 pounds, was surviving on depression medications, and I had never run other then the mandated PE running in school a long time ago. But, I had finally had enough of her prodding so I gave in and agreed.

I contacted a local running program and told them what I was planning. I was secretly hoping they would tell me that ship had sailed and at my age and weight there was no way I would ever complete a marathon, but they didn't.

I built the miles we are all so familiar with in this sport, lost 93 pounds and not only did I complete the 2011 Marine Corps marathon for my son, but I've completed 22 marathons and 15 half marathons in the last year and a half.

Big Cottonwood was one of those marathons, and it was truly one of the most beautiful. I will never be able to fix what has been lost, but running has given me my life back.