Musings from Training for my First Marathon
By Lauren Kugler
Earlier this year (and a bit out of the blue), I decided to sign up for a marathon. I have always enjoyed endurance sports, but I have never had a desire to do a marathon. It caught my eye because it was close by, not on pavement, and benefitting a good cause. It was the first year for this event to raise funds for The Nature Connection. The course covered dirt roads and trails over a mountain pass in an area neighboring us that I really haven’t explored much. It seemed like a motivating way to see a new part of our region. So, a friend and I lined up on October 5 and ran from Crawford State Park over Inner Ocean Pass (no, there is no ocean in sight) to Paonia. I really enjoyed the race (more than I thought I would). Of course, crossing the finish line to then spend the weekend with friends and family in orchards and pumpkin patches didn’t hurt either. Ultimately, it was the preparation that was most gratifying. I enjoyed spending time running on local trails with friends. I enjoyed solitude out in the hills. I appreciated the reminder that preparation pays off. Of course, there were bumps and lessons learned along the way.
Training Trail Run with Kaya
Training Run Double Rainbow
Early Morning Training Run
Race Day
My marathon experience is parallel to much of our work at CFGV. The visible part was race day, but that was only a sliver of preparation that went into success. At CFGV, there is a lot of coordination, counseling, and preparation that often isn’t part of the story we tell. Frankly, the details don’t always translate well when we try to give you a snapshot into our world. Laying the groundwork and building trust are critical, whether we’re working with donors, nonprofits, or the broader community.
If you work with one of our local nonprofits (as a paid staff member, a board member, or a volunteer), I want to take a moment this month to say thank you. Your work is important, even the stuff that not everyone notices. Sometimes the challenges are big and seem insurmountable. Your service makes a real difference in our community, and we thank you.
Simplified Summary
This year, I ran a marathon for the first time to celebrate my October birthday, and it was also to raise money for The Nature Connection. The race was on dirt roads and trails over a mountain pass, which helped me explore a new area. I enjoyed the race more than I expected, but what I really loved was the training, where I spent time running with friends and also had peaceful time alone. This experience reminded me that success comes from preparation, just like in the work we do at CFGV, where a lot of important things happen behind the scenes. If you volunteer or work with a local nonprofit, thank you for making a difference, even when it’s not always noticed.
