Isolina De La Cruz

It's Almost Go Time!

As I sit here in my hotel room in London, just hours away from the start of the London Marathon, I’m filled with a mix of excitement, nerves, and gratitude.

This is the race I’ve spent months training for — a race I once wasn’t even sure I’d be able to line up for — and now, it’s finally here. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous. The forecast calls for warmer temperatures than ideal, and trying to navigate a new city to get to the start line has added a layer of stress. Being away from the routine I relied on during training has pushed me out of my comfort zone.

But there’s no turning back now. Tomorrow, I’ll stand at that starting line with thousands of others, all of us chasing the same dream: to cross the finish line of the 45th edition of the London Marathon.

I can’t express enough how much your support has meant to me — not just the generous donations toward the charity I’m running for, but every message, every word of encouragement along the way. You've all been with me on this journey, and tomorrow, I’ll carry your support with me every step of the way.

See you at the finish line! 

Training Update :-)

Pushing Forward: Embracing the Journey to London

Worse things can happen, but getting injured while training for a race can feel devastating for a runner. The last few weeks haven’t gone as I envisioned for my training. Since mid-January, I’ve been dealing with an injury that has limited my ability to train at the volume and speed I had hoped to train for this race. It’s sometimes been frustrating, but I’ve stayed committed to the process.

I haven’t stopped training—though that might be part of why my injury hasn’t fully healed yet! I’ve been following modified workout plans, significantly scaling back my runs, focusing on strength training, and only now starting to ramp things up again.

I held off on fundraising because I wasn’t sure what things would look like. I wanted to see a doctor first and ensure that running this race was still a realistic goal. From the beginning, I said deferring wasn’t an option, and I’ve done everything possible to make sure I’ll be at that start line in London. That’s meant PT twice a week, acupuncture, and chiropractic care—whatever it takes to keep moving forward.

Staying optimistic hasn’t always been easy. I’m disciplined and work hard in my training, so being unable to push as planned has tested my patience. 

But I had a conversation with my coach recently, and he reminded me that not every race has to be about a PR. Some races are about the experience, and that’s okay. That perspective shift has been challenging for me, but I’m working on embracing it—and honestly, I’m starting to get excited.

So, I wanted to share an update: I’m pushing forward. No matter what April 27th looks like, I’m committed to making it an incredible race. London, I’ll see you soon!

Luv,

-Iso

My Running Journey with Luv

Three years ago, I didn’t think I could run. To be fair, I had never really tried. I just told myself running wasn’t for me. Somehow, I believed that anyone who ran—let alone completed a marathon—must have been born a runner. And at that point in my mid-thirties, running felt out of reach.

I remember in 2019, two of my friends at work were training for the NYC Marathon. The idea of preparing for something so intense completely blew my mind. They kept inviting me to join them and encouraging me to run, but I never accepted because I didn’t think I could. In hindsight, joining friends already deep into marathon training probably wouldn’t have been the best starting point anyway.

Fast forward to 2020, during quarantine—I was tired of just eating and drinking and decided to start working out over Zoom. When the gyms reopened, I joined one and began working out consistently. Then, a friend invited me to run a 5K. It felt like a big leap.  Going from being mostly sedentary to transforming my habits and my body gave me a confidence boost, so I said yes. I told my friend, “I’ve never run before. How am I supposed to go from not being able to run for two minutes to finishing a 5K in three weeks?” My friend gave me some tips, and three weeks later, I ran my first 5K. I was over the moon! I was on such a high after the race that I said out loud, “I think I can run a marathon.” My friend immediately said, “Bet. Here’s what you need to do if you want to run the NYC Marathon.”

That was October 2021. I joined NYRR and, in 2022, completed the 9+1 program to secure a guaranteed entry for 2023. Fast forward to the summer of 2023—I began marathon training. I had a fantastic training cycle. The energy and hype around NYC were incredible, and on race day, I had the best experience. Family, friends, and the entire city came out to cheer. Once the race was over, I was on a high for weeks. I couldn’t wait to do it again. Shortly after, I signed up for my second marathon in one of my favorite cities—Paris. I had another successful training cycle and race. Then, I ran the NYC Marathon for the second time.

I never thought I’d be running marathons, let alone more than one. I never considered whether that first marathon would also be my last. Now, I feel like I’ll keep going as long as my body allows. I hadn’t even heard about the Abbott Six Star program until last year, but here I am, in the process of earning my second star. More than that, I want to keep running. I want to run in cities I love, cross places off my bucket list, explore beautiful destinations, and enjoy the journey every step of the way.

Thank you to all the friends and strangers who have supported me on this journey. I can’t wait to continue sharing it with you. 

Luv,

-Iso