My Why: Julie Grauert - Reeve Foundation

The TCS New York City Marathon is days away! We have a full team this year ready to tackle 26.2 miles to raise funds and awareness for our cause. We reached out to our Team Reeve members to ask why they are participating in the marathon for the Reeve Foundation.

Julie Grauert

What inspired you to join Team Reeve?

Four people are directly responsible for inspiring me to run for Team Reeve: Alan Brown, Will Reeve, Kelly Lamb, and Rob Summers. It all started in 2015: cheering on the indefatigable Alan Brown as he handcycled the course 25 years after the first time he did the race was a profound, unforgettable moment that captured how dedication, hard work, and perseverance can allow anyone to accomplish anything. A year later at the 2016 pre-race luncheon, Alan said, "Out of tragedy comes life sometimes. Make the race the beginning of what you're doing for Reeve. "I wrote it down and swore at that moment that I would one day run for Reeve.

Also, in 2016, Will Reeve wrote a moving testimonial about why he decided to do the race.He said he was looking forward to the hard training days because "It is on those days when I will see and hear my parents.I will see my dad rising at dawn for hours of physical therapy and training, all in service of a tiny flame of hope that he might walk again, grinding, sweating, bending but never breaking. I will see my mom, resolute in her commitment to all people and things, integrity and reliability personified."If that grace, eloquence, and commitment don't inspire you to lace up your shoes and run 26.2 miles, I don't know what will.

To round out that special marathon year, I became closer friends with a tenacious petite blonde named Kelly Lamb. I learned she had run several marathons already for her boyfriend JD who is injured and had raised over $50,000 for the Foundation. Getting to know her gave me the confidence to say, "Hey, I can do this too."

Finally, my boyfriend and hero Rob Summers inspires me every day.And when he decided to handcycle the race in 2017, my heart exploded.Knowing he was just a few miles ahead of me as he cycled, and I ran the 2017 race is what made it one of the most beautiful days of my life.

What has been the hardest challenge that you have overcome?

The hardest challenge I've had to overcome this year is trying to fundraise without my platform as a TV News Anchor. I retired from TV a year ago, and no longer have the viewers who were so invested and integral to raising $31,000 during the 2017 marathon.

What are you looking forward to the most on the day of the marathon?

The thing I'm looking forward to the most on race day is taking in all 26.2 miles and crossing the finish line with my dear friends and training buddies Hanna Alcock and Kaitlyn Kiely. Both of them are running for their significant others who are paralyzed, and we have trained as a unit for the last three months. A stranger on a bike even dubbed us "Charlie's Angels" as he rode past us! The sisterhood we have formed and the bonds that have strengthened because of our training is unlike anything I've ever experienced while training for any four of my prior marathons.I wouldn't be ready to run on November 3 without them and celebrating our success together will make this year uniquely special.

Remember to follow us on Instagram to follow our team on race day. There is still time to support the team and register for the Reeve Run & Roll!