The Marathon Within: How to Overcome Your Limitations

Marion Jones, Terré Holmes and Kimkea Harris

Last month, while visiting Chicago, I had the pleasure of meeting Marion Jones in the most unexpected way. I was catching up with a friend at a summer festival, and she asked if a “new friend” could join us. I happily said yes, unaware that this new friend had an extraordinary story waiting to unfold.

As we spent the day walking through the festival and around downtown Chicago, Marion casually mentioned that she was training for an upcoming marathon. I admired her dedication—she was out every day, running along Chicago’s scenic routes to prepare. Little did I know that behind her calm and steady demeanor was a story of resilience that I wouldn’t fully learn until after her race when she sent me the news story of her journey.

Marion had recently moved to Chicago for a new job and was an active member of Delta Sigma Theta, but that’s where our conversation stopped that day. It wasn’t until this past Saturday, when she sent me a news story about her marathon, that I learned what she hadn’t shared during our walk. Four years ago, Marion had been paralyzed by a rare disease. But instead of letting it define her, she fought back. She didn’t just recover—she became stronger than ever and ran the race of her life.

Her journey deeply resonated with me because I’m personally reminded of what happened to me in October of 2017. That was the day I drove myself to the hospital after months of experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, and lightheadedness. When I arrived at Johns Hopkins that day, I was at one of the lowest points in my life. My car had been repossessed, so I was driving a rental. I had lost my health insurance in a divorce that had blindsided me. And on top of it all, I was struggling to get my real estate business off the ground.

After running several tests, the doctors found I had a massive pulmonary embolism. My right lung was infarcted—black and dying—and there were so many blood clots on my lungs, they couldn’t even count them all. The recovery process took me more than three years, and that illness didn’t just affect my body. It shattered my confidence, made me question my ability to take care of myself, and compounded the emotional trauma I was already carrying from the divorce.

Marion’s story, like my own, is a powerful reminder that no matter how life knocks us down, we have the ability to rise again—stronger, more resilient, and determined to push forward.

So today, I ask you: What have you been putting off because of fear, doubt, motivation or uncertainty? Is there a dream you’ve pushed aside because you think you’re not ready? Marion’s story, and my own, show us that no matter the challenges, if you want something deeply enough, you can overcome anything standing in your way.

If you feel like something is holding you back, it’s time to take the first step toward breaking through. Schedule a Synergy Call with me today, and let’s work together to overcome your challenges and move toward the success that’s waiting for you. Like Marion, the first step is yours to take.

Don’t let fear or self-doubt keep you paralyzed. Let me be your accountability coach.  Book your Synergy Call HERE to get you unstuck and to see if we’re a good fit for your coaching needs.