Abigail IgartaAbigail was inspired to start running aftter volunteering at the 26th mile of the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. As she cheered for the runners to complete this awesome feat, she was so overcome with emotion that she vowed to return the following year as a runner! (she did!)
The girl who dreaded running the mile in gym class. So not sure if those who knew her believed that she would do it! She ran the 2017 race as a charity runner for Ronald McDonald House Charities, and joined her local running club Calumet Region Striders to meet other runners in the area.
She trained and raced consistently in preparation for the Chicago Marathon. The Humana Rock ’n’ Roll Half Marathon was my first 13.1-mile race. Her goal was to break two hours. She was pacing herself with other runners. It was a warm day, and she began to celebrate as water was sprayed everywhere during the finish. However, she had technically not crossed the finish line yet. As she was dancing with her arms up in the air, she soon realized that other participants were still running past! Luckily, she realized that she had just a little further to go in time to still break the two-hour mark.
Rest assured, she always runs well past the finish line now!
