In 2008 on my 40th birthday I was told I had to completely stop running and that I would soon have to have both hips replaced. I had serious pain in both hips. I was training for my first marathon in 21 years and was depressed about this news. Not something you want to hear, let alone hear it on your 40th birthday!

Thinking that getting a second opinion would not be covered by my insurance, I decided to get that opinion anyway. The second doctor, who was a runner himself, looked puzzled when seeing my x-rays and said "you don't need your hips replaced or even a surgery." He said I needed to do certain exercises to get rid of scar tissue. It was a multiple week regimen leading up to the marathon. Lots of pain. He also put me on some medication for six weeks as well. I ran and completed the marathon I was training for!

At the finish line I told my family that I thought I was going to cry. They asked if it was because I was in pain from the race. I told them it was because I was so happy I did it after going through what I did with the news from the doctor, working through an injury, not being able to train like I had hoped, and experiencing a lot of pain. To top it off I got an IT band injury that surfaced at mile 4 of the marathon that caused me to limp for 22 miles. But even with all that my hips didn't hurt at all. Crazy!

Now five years later I have run six marathons, many half marathons, and I am loving it. Within this time I also lost my younger brother to cancer. He was only 35, married, and had five kids. Before he passed away, he surprised me by driving to watch me finish one of my marathons after having a chemotherapy treatment in the middle of the night. He arrived just in time to jump out of the crowd and cheer me on just before the finish. What a memory! To me that's what these events do in people’s lives. You have setbacks and challenges, but often running brings out the best in you as well as in those who support you.

When I saw the Big Cottonwood Marathon & Half I knew it was a race I had to do and train for. Last year it sold out and I am so glad I got in this year! I look forward to more great experiences and triumphs.

Update: Robin completed the Big Cottonwood Half Marathon on September 14, 2013 in a blazing time of 1:39:21. Congrats, Robin!