Meet first time Marathon Runner, Kirsten Southam from Durham, CA!

How Many Times have you Run with Team JDRF?
First time running with Team JDRF. Have run the Coloma River run 4 times as a fundraiser for JDRF, and just ran the 10 miler this month. First full Marathon will be the 2019 TCS NYC Marathon with Team JDRF!

Who do you run for?
I am running for my son Hayden who was diagnosed in 2009 as a 12 year old. I took a year off from teaching to learn all we could about T1D to give him the tools to succeed. He’s now 21 and living on his own and graduating from college in May 2019. I’m so proud of him.

My 3 wonderful sons. Hayden is on the left. He was diagnosed in 2009 and went on to play baseball at JC level and is now graduating in Ag business and following in his brother’s and dad’s footsteps as a farmer.

Best Run Moment!
My best run moment was finishing the Bizz Johnson 1/2 marathon last October. It was my first 1/2 and I could feel the spirit of my father in law at mile 11. I was so tired but I could hear him telling me to keep working and speed up. It was very emotional. He was in ICU at the time and passed away a few days later. I felt like he was running with me those last couple of miles. I was so proud to finish something I never thought I’d be able to.

I am a part time elementary PE specialist and a proud mom and slow but steady runner. My good friend lost her husband to cancer two years ago and we started running to get in shape and now we have set NYC marathon as our goal for 2020.