About a year ago, I started running. This was mostly just a chance to get together with my friend on Saturday mornings for a little activity and a lot of chatting. Megan and I joined the Runner’s Edge Training group and started showing up in Boca for 3-5 miles on Saturday mornings, usually wrapping up our early miles with the sunrise. We felt great and ran a few 5Ks. She went on to run the Nashville half marathon and I told her she was crazy. Then, this January, I ran my first 10k and had an absolute blast (shoutout Ariel and all her Orange Theory training for jumping in and running with me last minute!). 

This year’s running season came along and I figured, why not? Let’s see what we can do. So at the end of this year, I’m running my first half marathon in West Palm on December 14 and my second in Key West (!!!) in January. Running is better with friends, and I’m pumped to be running with Megan and Kelly. Training has been such an incredible experience and is going better than I ever could have imagined - I can’t believe I’m looking forward to 13.1 miles! 

And, because I’m apparently insane, I’ve already signed up for my next (and biggest) challenge. Drumroll, please…

I will be running the 2026 Chicago Marathon as a part of Team Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation! 

I can’t really explain it, but I’ve been feeling a call to attempt the marathon since I started all this running business (maybe I’ve gotta get off TikTok), and of course, it had to be Chicago. 

Last year, I entered the lottery on a whim and figured I’d let fate decide, but this year I decided to take things into my own hands. I knew I wanted to run for charity and reached out to Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Almost unbelievably, they offered me the first spot on the team! 

Why Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation? Anyone who has been affected by alcoholism knows that it truly is a family disease. The effects of Alcohol Use Disorder ripple through the lives of so many and can make seeking treatment seemingly impossible. It can be hard to stay hopeful and stay positive. Running has helped me with the positivity part, but the resources that Hazelden Betty Ford provides has helped me (and so many others) keep hope alive. My loved one hasn’t sought treatment yet, but I’m hopeful that she will. And when she’s ready, and when others who are suffering are ready, Hazlden Betty Ford Foundation will be there. 

I am running the Chicago Marathon for so many reasons: to prove to myself that I can, physically, mentally and emotionally, to support the wonderful work that Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation does, and to hopefully inspire others to do hard things. 

I’m asking for your donations to help me reach these goals. (If you want to go far, go together, after all). I’ve got almost a year to fundraise and train, so I’m also asking for your patience and understanding if you get sick of my updates or fundraising requests. If you’ve run a marathon, I’m also asking for your advice and all your training tips! 

I’m going to try to document most of my efforts, so anyone interested can follow along on instagram @chellerunschicago. Maybe I’ll start doing TikTok’s? I don’t know. 

I think that’s all I’ve got for now. Time to head out for a run.