Page 4 - October 2025 Parker Co. 4-H Connection

A Word from Kayla

Thi ngs Don’ t Always

GO AS

Planned

Sometimes life has a way of reminding us that no
matter how much we prepare, things don’t always
go as planned.

When I turned 40, I set a goal for myself to run the
Chicago Marathon 5 years in a row. 2 years
rd
complete, I began training for my 3 , the begining
of June. With the help of a very consistant and
reliable running buddy, I was able to maintain a half
marathon base throughout the year so when So, I’ve given myself a moment to be sad, to feel the
training began this year, I was actually ahead of disappointment, and reminded myself that setbacks
schedule. Then, the knee pain crept in.
are part of the journey. I’ll be perfectly honest,
th
when October 13 rolls around, I’ll probably feel a
At first, I thought a short break would solve it, but little bummed, wishing I could be there.
the discomfort persisted and then it happened, I
heard and felt the dreaded pop. A doctor’s visit The new goal is clear: recovery, rebuilding, and
confirmed what I didn’t want to hear, but already setting sights on next year’s race. Life rarely follows
kind of knew—a torn meniscus requiring surgery. By a straight line, and sometimes the best we can do is
this point, I was too deep into the training cycle pivot, adjust, and keep moving forward. It’s not
with too many miles missed to safely return after about avoiding obstacles but learning how to rise
surgery. Maybe if I were a tick younger, I might when plans fall apart. The marathon will still be
have considered pushing on. Adam, my voice of there—I’ll be back stronger, ready to chase it down.
reason, reminded me that we’re only given one body
and it just wasn’t worth the risk.
So my final words to you. It’s okay to be sad, it’s
okay to be disappointed and maybe a little bit mad.
We had already purchased plane tickets for the Allow yourself a moment to process those feelings
three of us, my marathon registration and then move on and begin working on the next
nonrefundable, I exceeded my fundraising goal for goal.
Ronald McDonald House, and my 5 year old was
already talking about what he was going to get at
the the multi-story Target in Chicago! The reality
hit hard, this really sucks (pardon the slang, but
that’s the way I felt). For the first time in a long
time, I had to swallow a bit of the medicince that I
often give my 4-H’ers...sometimes the cards just
aren’t in our favor.