I'm kind of beyond excited to have been chosen as one of nine finalists for Women's Running Magazine's Cover Model Contest!It's one of those things that you kind of can't believe at first and have to do a double take to make sure it is real. Does stuff like this really happen to me?

About a month ago Women's Running Magazine asked their readers to share the moment when you "found your strong." Last year was all about finding my strong, not just in running but in life. I faced some of the most difficult situations I've ever encountered and in the process learned that I am a lot stronger than I think. This is the moment when I found my strong:

In September 2012 our son, Jack, was born with a congenital birth defect. Undetected by ultrasound, we were shocked to find out there was something "wrong" and that he would have to endure two surgeries to correct it. Everything seemed so impossible and so overwhelming.

We were referred to a surgeon at the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD). Once we started receiving care I knew I had to participate in their major fundraising event: the CHaD HERO Half Marathon. I made it my goal to raise $5,000 and finish in the top five women. Based on past race results I knew I'd need to run a 1:35 in order to do so, but my best half marathon time was 1:45. I spent the summer training like never before, fueled by the emotion and anxiety of everything that Jack went through.

When race day came, not long after Jack's first birthday, I felt confident that I could run at least a 1:35. But I went out too fast. By mile eight I was walking, deflated and disappointed.

In those walking moments during the race I thought back to when they first placed Jack in my arms: the immense love I felt for him and then the heartbreak of finding out something was wrong. I recalled the intense fear when he suddenly developed a staph infection after his second surgery. It was in that moment, when I wanted to quit the race, walk off the course and call it a day that I found my strong, because the truth is I had already found my strong in those moments with Jack when the fear and anxiety felt so BIG I thought I would crumble.

I pushed myself up the hill and through the next four miles of the race my quads were shot and I was sapped of all energy. I finished in 1:41 and in 21st place. Not the goal I had trained for, but that race was MORE than just a race to me: it was the culmination of the most difficult circumstances I have ever had to face. That race for me, was the finish line. Regardless of my time or place it marked the end of a very difficult year, a year where I found my strong.

I would absolutely love your vote. You can vote HERE: http://womensrunning.competitor.com/cover-model-contest#finalist

From Women's Running Magazine: To ensure that the cover model contest winner is truly the choice of our collective audience, voting is limited to one vote per person per day. Voting ends July 2 at 12 pm PST.

Thanks so much for your support!

--Sarah

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