Thank you to everyone who supported our Parkinson’s Foundation fundraiser. Together we raised over $800 through the raffle, and we donated all of it to the Parkinson’s Foundation and covered the transaction fees ourselves.

This cause is especially meaningful to us because of our long relationship with our in-house neuro PT, Dr. Laura Beck, who specializes in Parkinson’s care.

Raffle Winners

1–1 Session with Hayley: Jacqueline​
1–1 Session with Roxanne: Jessica​
1–1 Session with Gina: Kayla​
Fitness Program: Anna

All winners have been emailed to claim their sessions and program!

If you would still like to donate and help us reach our $1,500 goal, you can make a contribution on our fundraising page here. This was my first charity bib race, and it has been incredibly rewarding to raise money for such an amazing organization.

My Half Marathon Update: Fastest Time Yet!

This past weekend I ran another half marathon and set a new PR (personal record)! I raced the Tobacco Road Half Marathon, which is organized by an all volunteer board that has raised over $2 million for charities since the race began, including $150,000 from this year's race alone.

A few weeks ago during Princess Half Marathon weekend I raced the 10K and was hoping to break 45 minutes for a new PR. Unfortunately, the humidity was brutal and mentally I just felt off. I did break 50 minutes, but just barely.

So, I decided I wanted another shot at a faster race and looked for a course where I could try to break 1:40 in the half marathon. My previous PR was 1:44 from the Disneyland Half Marathon in February.

The Tobacco Road race was close to home, so I headed up to Cary to see what I could do. The weather was perfect, the course was fast, and I felt strong from the last two months of training.

Not only did I break 1:40… I ran a 1:37:25!

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My next big goal is to eventually break 1:30, which will likely take more time, but honestly after improving my PR by over 7 minutes in about six weeks, who knows what could happen. Maybe my May race will surprise me!

Running Has Helped Me Through This Season

I have shared this a little bit in previous emails, but getting back into racing has been really important for my mental health.

After Zoe was born, I struggled with the idea that this chapter of pregnancy and birth in my life was ending. Not because I want more kids, but because it reminds me how quickly time moves and how fast my kids are growing up.

Usually around this point in my postpartum period, I would be starting another pregnancy and resetting any fitness progress I had made over the previous 18 months.

But this time I get to keep progressing. I am getting stronger in the gym and faster in my running. This realization has been really helpful for me.

My kids are going to grow up regardless of whether I have more babies. Zoe will never be a baby again, and neither will my other kids.

But something beautiful about this next chapter is that I get to know them as big kids now.

My next race is in May, and then we will all be running a Disney race together in October. Roxanne will be testing out how her running feels around 10 months postpartum, and my two oldest kids will be running their first Disney race too.

While I loved the baby and toddler years, it is also really special getting to enjoy my kids as they grow and experience these things together.

Thank you for supporting our fundraiser and for following along with my motherhood journey over the past 8+ years.

It truly means so much to be part of so many of your stories, and to know that you are also part of mine.

Gina