On January 1st, Dr. Shanti woke up feeling energetic and had a wonderful idea: she was going to run the marathon. She even looped her family into her goal making that more real.
The timing could not have been more serendipitous. She turns 50 next year and wanted to run a marathon before reaching that milestone. As fate would have it, the TCS New York City Marathon marks the 50th running of its iconic five-borough course this year. "How lucky am I?" she says.
Running as Grown-Up Playtime
For Dr. Shanti, choosing to run for Project Sunshine was easy. She thinks of running as an adult version of playtime, and Project Sunshine's mission centers on the importance and benefit of play for everyone. It's the perfect fit.
It's also a philosophy she lives every day at work. As a family physician and wellness practitioner, she helps her patients find ways to make nutrition fun and to turn exercise into play, because that's what leads to sustainable, positive health outcomes. Running with Project Sunshine lets her bring together her love of healthcare, her love of running, and a cause she wholeheartedly believes in.
Every Run an Adventure
Early on, she made a promise to herself not to miss a single day of training, vacations included. That meant lacing up in new and unfamiliar places, and it has turned out to be the most rewarding part of the whole journey.
In Paris, she ran 12 miles through the Luxembourg Gardens and alongside the Seine. In Cooperstown, where her son was playing in a baseball tournament, she tackled 15 miles of hilly countryside while attempting nasal breathing on manure-packed roads. ("I failed," she admits with a laugh.)
"Every run has brought me on a new adventure that I will never forget," she says. Without the marathon, she never would have been exposed to the sights (and smells) of so many places on foot.
A Second Job, and a Team Effort
The biggest challenge has been time. As a solo family physician, she says training for a marathon is truly a second job. What makes it possible is the people around her. As the saying goes, a marathon is not a solo event.
Her husband and kids have cheered her on every step of the way, even carrying signs through the family's home gym while she logs long runs on the treadmill. And knowing she'll get to send her Strava report to her friends and siblings is what pushes her through the wall on the toughest long runs.
To everyone in her corner, her message is simple: "I could not have run one mile without any of you." She feels truly blessed to be surrounded by such an amazing community of love and support.
Built on Patience
Dr. Shanti is no stranger to the unexpected medical realities that life can bring to anyone. She has experienced a broken an arm, a leg, three toes and two fingers, and torn the meniscus in both knees. Rather than holding her back, every injury taught her something. “Patience through healing builds determination and consistency which will always get you to the finish line.”
Why Every Mile Matters
When she lines up on Staten Island on Sunday, November 1, she'll carry one idea with her across all five boroughs: “every mile I run is 5,000 more steps toward love, play, and a lifetime of health for all those in need.”
Help Dr. Shanti reach the finish line. Support her run for Project Sunshine HERE!