I.Can.Do.This - Why I'm running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for LFAI

By Michelle LaNoue   Why did I choose to run a 26.2 mile marathon – a distance I’ve never run before – to benefit the LFAI?  Because of two amazingly gifted and talented women in my life whose bodies just happen to be attacking them.

Michelle and her inspiration Amanda

 
Running a marathon was not something I was always interested in doing.  I was diagnosed with asthma when I was very young.  My mom would always write out a note in grade school and high school for me to opt out of having to run the dreaded mile. ONE measly mile! Even as a young adult, my trusted inhaler would go with me to the mountains for hiking.

My first 5k was February of 2010. I actually had tears at the finish line. I could NOT believe that I ran over 3 miles without walking at least part of it - it was mind blowing and EXTREMLY gratifying.  So, after I realized that I had it in ME to push myself and build the endurance to run 3 miles… I kept on PUSHING.

I continue to keep pushing because of those amazing women, my Aunt Ruth and friend Amanda.

When I was a teenager my Aunt Ruth, whom I idolized, became withdrawn and was having good days and bad days physically.  She went from a person who played competitive volleyball, and any other sport she could - to nothing. She went from working as a civil engineer – to nothing. The aunt I knew was smart, funny and ridiculously talented – EVERYTHING I wanted to be and more – to being another person over the course of a DECADE. It was mindboggling to our entire family. This was the first time I ever heard the word “lupus”. The more our family learned about the disease, the more support we were able to give her. 

Then, in 2010, my dear soul-sister, Amanda, was diagnosed with lupus. Amanda is a young mother of two, a sports enthusiast, flies helicopters, is an encyclopedia of jokes and is hands down the most intelligent person I have ever had the pleasure to know.  In short I adore her.  No matter what ailment ever comes about in her life – I want to do whatever I can to combat it.

They are my inspiration and come marathon mile 15 or 20 – when I want to give up, I will think of them and push ON. Running 26.2 miles is NOTHING compared to the junk they have to deal with on a daily basis. (I want to make you ladies PROUD.)

I’m using the marathon to raise funds for the LFAI because I know every dollar counts and LFAI will allocate the funds to education, public awareness and research.

For more information on the Bank of America Chicago Marathon click here.