Redefinition of Self

By Samantha Doolittle

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All pledges will be collected automatically until October 31, 2015.

About the Author

Samantha Doolittle
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https://www.facebook.com/sd015

Twenty-five years old (26 years since writing this) and running my first(now second) marathon. Running has been an acquired passion for me, but one of those always difficult activities to stick with long-term. At this time in life as I reevaluate life goals, I've decided that running is the right direction I want to head for a better mind, body, and soul. Below is a summary of what led me to this decision in the first place.

Upon completing my graduate degree in speech-language pathology and dedicating a total of six years to my education and bettering the lives of others as a student graduate clinician, I decided that it was time to do a little something to better my own health. That said, I wanted to make this pursuit while keeping my educational and professional passions in mind. When I moved back to Colorado in summer of 2014, I was fortunate enough to move closer to some friends I met back in university before pursuing my graduate school career. It was one of my best friends who was the first to introduce me to the idea of a marathon, specifically, the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon. On May 17, 2015, I officially became a marathoner with my completion of the race at four hours, forty minutes, and seventeen seconds. The crazy thing? Before having completed one marathon, I had already signed up for a second marathon, and on October 11, 2015, I am due to complete my second marathon in Chicago, IL with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. I will join over 40,000 athletes of all backgrounds and running abilities - aside from the fact that we all are running a marathon. Now let's not get ahead of myself...

When I discovered that I could preoccupy myself with a distraction while training (fundraising for a good cause), I immediately knew that I wanted to relate this new experience to what I had spent the past six years working so hard for, my profession. Aside from my family and friends, one sole reason I made it through all of my schooling was because of the population I worked with. From that population, I feel that I learned the most, both professionally and personally, in working with the brain injury community, who first and foremost exposd me to persistence and survival against all odds.

With that, I declare my personal transformation and redefinition of self. All of my blood, sweat, tears, and mental challenges in training for and completing these marathons will be dedicated to the brain injury community. My pain will never begin to measure up to what they experience on a day to day basis for simply being a survivor. Furthermore, I am honored to admit that my fundraising pursuits will go directly to the Brain Injury Association of Colorado. I have personally researched and confirmed that they are deserving of any and all donations, let alone my time and energy set forth in preparing for these races. That said, on behalf of the BIAC and myself, we thank you for your considerations and contributions. Thanks!

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Event: October 31, 2015

Denver, CO

As a recent speech-language pathology graduate student, and a young professional in the field, I credit my educational experience to the rooted passion I have towards working with the very diverse brain injury population. As a result, I have opted to pursue my dream of running a marathon on behalf of the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado for the 2015 Colfax Marathon and Chicago Marathon. This fundraiser is dedicated to those individuals and families impacted by brain injury, in addition to my pursuit and to train and complete this arduous goal I’ve set for myself.

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September 7, 2024

Redefinition of Self

By Samantha Doolittle

$280.00

7

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Redefinition of Self

By Samantha Doolittle

$280.00

7

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