Emerald Rose Corporation is a non-profit organization committed to advocating, educating and removing the stigma associated with mental illness and expanding wellness service options for the seriously mentally ill. Raising awareness will help stop the stigma associated with having and treating a mental illness. Per the National Alliance on Mental Illness, half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14. Therefore, I set my goal at 14 half marathons because my personal struggle with mental illness also began around age 14. I added two more half marathons to my calendar bringing my goal to 16. Sixteen million American adults live with major depression. I use running as a stress reliever and coping skill. For me to bring both together, while raising awareness, will help me feel like I have made a difference in the world. Follow along with my journey here.

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My Running History

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Before my attempt, I completed 41 half marathons, four full marathons and countless shorter races. I am a proud member of the Achilles Race Team, Northeast Running Club, Half Fanatics (#12820) and Marathon Maniacs (#11702, DA #1796). 

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I started running in 7th grade because I really wanted to do a sport and I sucked at Volleyball, so I joined cross country. I really had no idea that it was running. I ran cross country and track through junior year of high school when I started road racing more. I ran my first half marathon without training at age 15. I walked into the expo and signed up the day before the race. Even though it didn’t go great, I was hooked on longer distance road racing. In the next few years I completed a few half marathons and one full while training on my own. When I moved for college I stopped running, I just didn't have time or motivation. One day I was at the gym and saw a poster for the 2014 Pittsburgh Marathon, so I signed up and started training again. It went as bad as that first half I did. When I moved home in 2014 I found a strong running community and I have made some amazing friends and training partners that make the miles fly by. This year I want to focus on improving my half marathon time and finding and breaking a Guinness World Record with the help of my Great Lakes Race Timing coach.