I'm absolutely bursting with excitement because guess what? I've been selected to run in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon on behalf of Peace Wind Japan!

You know, it's funny to think about where I started. Back in high school, I wasn't much of an athlete. The most exercise I got was during gym class! But everything changed in 2005 when my family and I were living in China. I started running a few miles on the treadmill just to stay in shape. Then, a fellow expat friend suggested something daring – the Great Wall Marathon. I couldn't resist the opportunity, and that's where it all began. Shoutout to Mary Pesch for introducing me to the joys of long-distance running!

When we moved back to the States in 2007, I decided to take on the Chicago Marathon. Armed with a beginner's training guide, I successfully crossed that finish line. Something amazing happened next. A friend told me I actually qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon! Can you believe it? I knew I had to seize that chance, and I ran Boston not just once, but back to back in 2011 and 2012. Then came the New York Marathon in 2013 with a qualifying time. Each race seemed to lead me to the next, and soon, I set my sights on an ambitious goal – conquering the Abbott World Major Marathons. I completed Berlin in 2019 and then London in 2022. To date, only around 12,000 runners worldwide have achieved it, and fewer than 4000 of them are women!

Now, the Tokyo Marathon is my last star, but unfortunately it's the hardest one to get into. But I'm even more motivated because I'll be running for a cause that's very close to my heart. Peace Wind Japan is all about saving dogs' lives and training disaster relief and therapy dogs. As a dog lover myself, this is the perfect match. Both Cooper and Bear were adopted from shelters, and I can't wait to run for a charity that supports something I care about.

So, here's the big day – March 3, 2024! I'll be pushing myself to the limit to complete the 6 World Major Marathons with the help of this amazing organization. But hey, I need your support to make this journey truly special. If you could help me reach my fundraising goal, it would mean the world to me, and it'll add even more meaning to those 26.2 miles.

Thank you so much for being a part of my incredible journey. Your encouragement and support mean everything to me!

With a heart full of gratitude,

Kathy