EP 224 Grief, Grit And The Start Line Ahead. Whats My Story?
Start lines can carry more than nerves—they can carry whole lives. We kick off Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend with equal parts heart and how-to. We celebrate a shipboard wedding and share practical travel and cheering plans. We dive into two stories that remind us why miles matter.
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What your Story For Marathon Weekend
Wendy
Wendy’s story is a masterclass in the weight and physics of grief. After losing her husband John, she found herself stuck between stillness and survival. He was a man who signed up for a 5K just to support her Dopey dream. Grief surprised her with physical force. It was an ache that sits in the bones. Running felt impossible until community gave her a way to show up again. A Thursday Zoom call, small as it seems, became a hinge moment. With coaching guidance, she rebuilt a routine that began with dog walks and turned miles into memory work. She now threads color and symbols into race day—hot pinks and hearts—to keep John present. Her message to others is gentle and firm. Grief has no rulebook. Move at your pace. Let love be the shadow that proves it’s still there.
Jon
Jon’s journey grounds the second half. He is a single dad choosing a marathon to model dedication for his kids. He also wants to rebuild his self-belief. He confronts the familiar slide of old habits. The “later” becomes never. He replaces it with a commitment to time blocks and consistency. He rejects the temptation to “find time” and instead chooses to prioritize it. Tattoos on his arms carry words that define this season—dedication, karma—and those morals bleed into training. He admits missed runs, injuries, and imperfect weeks, and still refuses the narrative of quitting. The target is a finish, not a hero split. The lesson he wants his kids to see is simple: hard work works, especially when no one is watching.
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The thread that binds the episode is meaning. Wendy runs to hold love and loss in both hands. John runs to show his kids that promises kept to yourself become identity, not just outcomes. The roll call proves that everyone is here for a reason: celebration, recovery, curiosity, or courage. Marathon Weekend isn’t merely a race series; it’s a ritual of starting lines for every kind of story. Wherever you are—healing, growing, or simply curious—there’s room beside us. Lace up, pick a mile that matters, and meet us on the course.
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