My Story
Running for the Boundary Waters — and for Myself!
There comes a point in everyone’s life where you start thinking about the things you still want to do — your “someday” list.
Maybe it’s visiting all 50 states, backpacking through Europe, or finally doing that one thing that scares you the most.
I’ve got my own list:
✅ Take a solo trip to the Boundary Waters
✅ Go skydiving
✅ Run a marathon before I turn 50
Well… I’m 47 now (48 in November), so it’s time to stop saying “maybe next year” and start saying “why not now?”
When my daughter set a goal at the start of 2025 to run one race a month, she asked if I’d join her. I figured I’d tag along for a couple of them. But one race turned into two… then three… and before I knew it, I was running every race she ran — even when we were in different states!
Life got busy (as it does), and we took a short break from racing. But next weekend, we’re back at it with the Hot Chocolate Run — a race that’s been on our bucket list for years.
Then, after watching the Chicago Marathon, I took my daughter’s sage advice and said, “YOLO” — and signed up for the Grandma’s Marathon (which, fun fact, happens to be the 50th anniversary this year!).
This will be a huge challenge — mentally and physically — but I’m ready. I’m a Marine, after all! 💪
Now, about that Boundary Waters goal…
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is one of my favorite places on earth. I first went there in 2012 with friends and fell in love instantly — the peaceful lakes, the quiet mornings, the stars. Since then, I’ve made over 15 trips and shared the experience with people I love — my daughter Savanna, my boyfriend Mike, his son Evan, and Savanna’s boyfriend Cameron. Everyone who’s gone has said the same thing: “I’d go back in a heartbeat.”
But this special place is under threat from growing infrastructure and pollution. The organization Save the Boundary Waters is working hard to protect it — to make sure future generations can experience its magic, too.
That’s why I’m dedicating my marathon run to raise $500 for this cause.
Every dollar helps keep the Boundary Waters wild and free.
If you’re able to donate — no matter how big or small — it would mean the world to me.
Thank you for cheering me on, for supporting conservation, and for believing in crazy goals at any age.
Now… I need to stop procrastinating and get back to training! 😉
— Marci
Description
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is an undeveloped 1.1 million-acre federal and state-recognized Wilderness Area. It is an expanse of lakes, rivers, and forests in the Superior National Forest, located along the Minnesota-Canada border, that has been protected by statute and international treaty for more than a century. This is the sixth most critical region in the lower 48 to protect for climate resiliency and contains 20% of all the freshwater in the entire National Forest System. The water in the Boundary Waters is so clean, you can dip your cup and drink straight from the lake.
Save the Boundary Waters is the locally-based, national campaign led by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness based in Ely, Minnesota dedicated to permanently protecting America’s most beloved Wilderness Area – the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 23 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
