8 Miles - For Monica

Monica is in the black jacket & her sister Jolene in the red shirt

The past couples weeks have included going out of town, fourth of July and some heartbreak. I found out a couple weeks ago my very first boss, I ever had, Monica, passed away from Cancer. To say I was devastated and shocked doesn't even begin to explain how I felt.

It has been years since I have seen or talked to her, but in my heart knew she played an important roll in me wanting to own my own business and knowing that it is important to balance family and work. She was an amazing person with an amazing family!! Her sister is a good friend and did my nails for years when we lived in Salt Lake City. Her oldest daughter watched our brand new puppies, that were terrors, when Brian and I went on our honeymoon years ago in Salt Lake City.

This Saturday we were tasked with running 8-10 miles. As I was driving to pickup my friend and teammate my mind kept wondering to Monica and her family and how her family was handling her loss. I knew this run was hard, but knew as hard as my run was for me this week it was nothing close as to hard as the heartbreak and pain her family and friends are currently experiencing and will for a lifetime. I decide that I was running for Monica and her family this week.

I picked up my friend and teammate at 6:45 in the morning and the first thing we said to each other was I am terrified for today's run. The most we had ever run was 6 miles. My teammate and I started together and finished together which was kind of cool. We talked in places and in were silent in others. We encouraged each other and when we finished both wanted to cry because we actually finished 8 miles!!! It was a great run and milestone in my training and was done for an amazing woman who I will be thinking about when I finish my marathon in October!!

Here is to you Monica, thank you for the quite inspiration you gave me without even knowing it!!

xoxoxox Ashley