Stephen is amazing. Seriously, jaw-dropping amazing. Some folks never even lace up their tennis shoes, let alone run over 100 miles, through rugged terrain, battling both snow and heat — all to help increase awareness of the disease that took the life of a friend's child. Stephen didn't have to do this. And even in deciding to run this crazy endurance race, he didn't have to add to the pressure by also choosing to fundraise. But he did. And we are so, so honored to have gotten to know such a selfless, dedicated, positive, tenacious man over these last several months. The world definitely needs more Stephen Taylors!!!
You have to read about his incredible journey in his words because, well, I could literally never imagine what running 100 miles would be like…Read the entire amazing post on 100Miles4Owen.blogspot.com — it's an awesome one.
It's been a week since I ran my first 100 miler, the Western States Endurance Run. To say that I have been on a tremendous high would be quite an understatement. Today I am feeling a bit blue because the only place I can relive this life changing event is in my mind and in this blog. It will have to do. I feel so grateful and fortunate to have been able to compete in and complete this endeavor. What a wonderful weekend and actually a wonderful six months leading up to the actual race. I have made a ton of new friends, renewed old acquaintances, and lost a few friends. If you told me over a year ago that I was going to run the Western States and finish this race I would have told you that you were crazy. The body, mind and human spirit are an amazing gift that sometimes we forget how amazing they really are. I was fortunate enough to receive that gift, the spark of the human spirit from a little boy I had only met twice. Owen Simmons's gift to me was that spark of the human spirit. I have tried so hard not to disappoint and to honor Owen's memory the right way. I hope I have done so.
We are pretty certain you have done so. Beautiful Owen touched so many people — and you have allowed him to touch so many more! Thank you Stephen for all you have done and continue to do for SMA!