Maggie Sweeney
The Denis James Sweeney Memorial Marathon

In 2007-2008 I was on a 400-day tour in Iraq. One day while at the gym in Iraq (January 2008) I saw a sign up for a 5k fun run. I wasn’t sure I could run that distance. I knew I could do 2 miles as that was part of the Army physical fitness test, but 3.1 sounded long! I actually did quite well, coming in third in my age group and I was instantly hooked.

Fast forward to Spring 2009 when I ran my first half marathon and then soon after began training for the Las Vegas Marathon in December 2009. I completed my training and was set to head to Las Vegas when I got a call from my mom that my dad had passed away. Instead of Nevada I hopped on a plane to my hometown in New York. The day of the Las Vegas Marathon was the day we buried my father. I felt unsettled in so many ways.

I woke up on Monday morning and I decided I would run the distance myself to honor my father and process my feelings. I headed out from my childhood home in my car and marked a 13.1-mile course for an out and back. Along the way I buried water bottles every 4 miles in the snow.

Tuesday morning came, bright and clear and 32 degrees. I set out by myself for what would become a transformative experience. I felt so free and the burden of grief lifted. I did not have a fancy Garmin in those days…just a simple Timex. When I completed the 26.2 miles my watched showed 3:53.

Since then, I have run dozens of marathons, but the Denis James Sweeney Memorial Marathon will always be the most special.