My name is JoJo and I joined the Bulldogs on Jan 18^th 2020. Before that I never considered myself a runner and if we are being honest that first day I barely made it two laps around the reservoir. Fast forward to eight months later, on Sept 19^th 2020, I ran my first marathon.

Like many of us do when a new year comes around, we try and make a resolution. For me, in Jan 2020, it was to get into better health with a goal of maybe one day being strong enough to run a marathon. I found the Bulldogs online through a simple web search; “beginner running clubs near me.” Having been impacted by addiction, when I read about their mission I felt connected and wanted to support. What I didn’t realize was how much this community would actually in turn be the ones who supported me. For that I am forever grateful.

For years, I carried this deep rooted shame for what I looked like which manifested into me believing that I was unworthy of being loved. Over the past year and a half, with support from the bulldogs and my trainer Meg Julian, I have learned how to be kinder to myself. I also learned that life isn’t perfect and it’s not supposed to be. There is beauty in imperfection. We don’t have to bear it alone. And damn, we are way stronger than we give ourselves credit for.

I have demons. I think we all do. For me, one was an eating disorder. For some of my teammates it was drugs or alcohol. But it’s not what our specific demon was that matters; the principles the Bulldogs practice apply the same way. It’s about showing up, for yourself and for each other. And it’s about getting honest, with yourself and each other. When you do those things, you will feel this liveliness and love for yourself and one another that makes you undeniably want to give back. And that my friend is what we call Bulldog Magic.

I ran my first marathon for myself. This one I want to run for others. For those who are afraid to start, I’ll run alongside you. For those who question if it’s worth keeping going, I’ll run alongside you. You are not alone. “It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others”.

Thank you for your support and donation. It’s an honor to be running the 2021 Boston Marathon for the Boston Bulldogs Running Club. I promise to give this everything I got.

JoJo

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Thank you for joining me in support of wellness and recovery!