I lost my husband, Police Officer Eduardo "Lalo" Marmolejo on December 17, 2018, and there is not a day that I don’t miss him as my husband and father of our children. We met and fell in love when we were only teenagers, but we knew early on that life was going to be hard and often a struggle. We both worked hard and found ourselves relishing life's every little moments. We never took for granted what we earned, but we never stopped encouraging each other to be the best version of ourselves. So naturally, it became our thing to set a goal after one was completed.

At first, he thought I was crazy for wanting to do a marathon. A few years before, we had completed a half marathon and that was hard. But, I knew we could do it. It was a mind over matter thing for me, and I just needed to convince him that he would feel so great once he completed it. We started our training, and we were challenged every single long run. We were bored, aching, and honestly just tired of running toward nothing.  We both loved running, but both ran at different paces, enjoyed running in different weather and times of the day, and even had different ideas of what was a good run.  The hotter the better for him, and “Sun’s out and Guns out”, for him. I loved the cool weather, and a slow and steady pace was key for me.  Being busy parents with crazy work schedules, we struggled to find the time to run, and both felt like the completion of 26.2 miles would be near impossible.

When October 7, 2018, race day came, we just did it even with the rain.  The night before we attended a wedding and barely got enough sleep, but our training and struggle was not for nothing...we finished! Both differently but equally finished... He started with our small group, and naturally, just took off in his own speed. He finished in about 5 1/2 hours, and would have probably finished with a faster time if he would have just stopped, stopping to talk and take selfies with his friends along the path. When he finished, he was happy to finish. But little did people know that at night once all was done and over, with the aches and exhaustion kicking in, he whispered to me, "I'm so glad you made me run the marathon and let's do it again." All that struggle aside, we finished and felt stronger and more capable than ever to get things done regardless of any struggles.  Life is hard and often disappointing, but when you accomplish something through those hard times, it makes that accomplishment that much more fulfilling.

A week before my husband passed away, he sent me an email saying, “I know we didn’t get in the 2019 marathon through the lottery, but we can run for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation”. Immediately after my husband passed away, people from all over the City of Chicago wanted to help my family in any way they could, including the founder of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation asking if there was anything I needed.  I quickly and without processing my thoughts, I responded that I need to run the Chicago Marathon for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.  I need to do this in honor of my husband, but most importantly for myself.  I need to get myself out of bed every morning and keep going for myself and my children.  And, I know my husband will be with me through the entire process regardless of how strong or slow I might finish.  Every single run during my training has aided me in processing my grief, because I’ve made decisions and have had so many conversations with my husband and myself.  I carried him with me the entire time, and I know that just like my training and this marathon, I will always have him with me.  Always with me to push me forward in life and to remind me that I can and I will.

On Sunday, October 13, 2019, I along with my sister, brother-in-law, my husband’s two cousins, and several police officers, finished 26.2 miles as strong as we could with the support of the entire City of Chicago for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation  There were so many signs that Lalo was with each of us the entire time, and we made every single step count!

The 2025 Chicago Marathon is going to be in honor of me and the struggles that I have endured to literally walk forward in life without my partner in crime, my ride or die, and more simply, my best friend and husband.  I run for a charity close and supportive of my family and other families.  And most importantly, I am running to honor my journey and my path after loss....we all choose to survive differently...I choose to move in grace for myself with one foot in front of the other.  I choose to make my life count..... 

The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is a foundation that has and will continue to support my family after the loss of my husband.   They provide support and assistance to the families of Chicago police officers who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.  More specifically, they will support my daughters by covering educational tuition and expenses for years to come, and support Chicago police officers with upgrading their bullet-proof vests after expiration.