I Ran A Marathon!

As I sit here writing this blog post, my legs are still protesting from the strain of the marathon (yes a full month later), but my heart is soaring with a sense of achievement that's impossible to put into words. Yet, I will try. Six months ago, I embarked on this journey with the goal of running a marathon. It was a personal challenge, a testament to my resilience, and a tribute to the person I was before my cancer diagnosis.

And here we are – I did it. I ran my first marathon.

The marathon was as grueling and exhilarating as you might imagine. The sound of the starting gun sent a thrill through me, an adrenaline rush that was both terrifying and electrifying. As I began my first strides amidst the sea of determined faces, I felt a sense of unity and camaraderie, knowing that each of us was there for our own reasons, carrying our own stories of determination and grit.

The first few miles were a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation. As the race progressed, the physical strain started to set in. There were moments when I questioned my decision to undertake this monumental challenge. However, each time I felt like giving up, I thought about the journey that brought me to this point – the late-night training sessions, the physical pain, and the self-doubt. I thought about the strength I discovered within myself, the resilience I had cultivated, and the man I was becoming.

I remembered Joan Benoit's advice to me, "Don’t do anything new on race day.” So, I just kept going, as I had done so many times during my training. Each step became a testament to my strength and determination. Each mile was a victory, a celebration of the human spirit's ability to rise above adversity.

For the first 22 miles, I was flying through the course. Up to the 35K point I was running at 9 min/mile pace. But, those last 4 miles I felt my foot throbbing in pain. There were so many moments that I wanted to give up but I knew I had come too far. In the end I ended up running a 4:24 marathon. Not an ideal time - but one that lends itself to lots of improvement in the years to come!

Crossing the finish line was a blur of emotion – relief, joy, exhaustion, and a sense of accomplishment that was both overwhelming and deeply satisfying. At that moment, I was a runner, a warrior, a cancer survivor, and above all, I was me – stronger and more resilient than ever.

In retrospect, running a marathon during the day, in the rain, and after a month of fasting and nocturnal training wasn't just a physical challenge, it was a transformative journey. This experience reaffirmed my belief in the limitless potential of the human spirit and the power of resilience. It was a reminder that we can overcome life's obstacles, no matter how daunting they may seem.

To anyone reading this who is facing their own marathon – whether literal or metaphorical – remember, you are stronger than you think. Your body and mind are capable of amazing feats. The only real limitations are those we place on ourselves.

If you want to know how I trained for this marathon in effectively 1 month - here’s a spreadsheet where I tracked my activity leading up to the big day. You’ll note that I didn’t follow the training plan exactly.

So here's to resilience, to push past our perceived limitations and to the joy of running a marathon. We are all warriors, each in our own unique way.

Until next time,

Mussab Ali

Wanted to take a moment to give a special shout-out to all the donors who helped us raise money for Welcome Home JC.

Welcome Home plays a vital role in our community by providing essential services to refugees in Jersey City. Your donations will contribute towards their noble mission of making our city a welcoming, safe, and nurturing home for those fleeing turmoil and instability. Through your generosity, we will be able to provide resources such as language classes, employment training, housing assistance, and social support to those in dire need.

In the endurance test that was the marathon, every step I took was made more significant knowing that it was part of a collective effort to bring about positive change. It was a journey that transcended personal achievement and touched the lives of many. This couldn't have been possible without your support.

I am immensely grateful for your generosity, and I assure you that your contributions will make a real, tangible impact in the lives of many. I look forward to keeping you updated on the progress and achievements of Welcome Home, all of which are fueled by your kindness.

Together, we are making a difference. Thank you to:

1. Hamza Chaudhry

2. Islam Elgarhi

3. Mahmoud Dardir

4. Bushra Amiwala

5. Sirfaraz Ahmed

6. Tom Prol

7. Tom Zuppa

8. Leena El-Sadek

9. Ankita Satpathy

10. Emily Litman

11. Anonymous

12. Iqra Niazi

13. Nadine Youssef

14. Joshua Goodrich

15. Anonymous

16. Saeed Ahmad

17. Maryam Zafar

18. Mohanad Mohamed

19. Hejir Rashidzadeh

20. Will Vandenberg

21. Salma Abdedullah

22. Sabrine Djemil

23. Vivek Patel

24. Ayah Elmansy

25. Devin Monserrate

26. Zayden Puton

27. Nilofar Chaudhry

28. Amer Farge

29. Omar Abuattieh

30. Assad Akhtar

31. Arabi Hassan

32. Noah Barbieri

33. Ali Hassan

34. Thomas Dowling

35. Ahmed Mahmud

36. Melody Batholomew

37. Areeb Siddiqui

38. Alaa Belhadj

39. Darren Touch

40. Hamzah Raza

41. Ramsha Syed

42. Amna Rashid

43. Matthew Kassi

44. Reema Doleh

45. Michael Blank

46. Omar Shalakhti

47. Mubeen Shakir

48. Elsa Alvarado

49. Jorge Lopez Jr

50. Ben Mazel

51. Asiya Jaffer

52. Shan Asif

53. Bobby Zhan

54. Amani Ahmed

55. Michael Shum

56. Patrick Ambrossi

57. Ayesha Durrani

58. Jack Jia

59. Marisa Syed

60. Muskan Effendi

61. Abdelhamid Arbab

62. Ariq Hatibie

63. Zubia Hasan

64. Rosie Kaur

65. Sana Mojarradi