2020’s 20/20 Vision

New year, New you! How many times have we heard that phrase? Every year, most of us make resolutions to better ourselves or make life changes. As we close out 2019, promises will be made to ourselves to lose those pesky 10 pounds, complain less, save more, etc. This year may be a tad more special, because this year we close out a decade. The same decade which started with a MS diagnosis in 2010 is closing with big goals for 2020 and beyond. Goals that I never thought achievable at the start of this decade. What are your goals for the New Year?

Are you fundraising to get HSCT? Are you fresh off the HSCT roller coaster and wanting to ditch the aid devices? Are you trying to check off a few items from your bucket list? Are you training for a 5K? A 10K or perhaps even a marathon?

Whatever your goal or goals may be in 2020, I hope you to see it and envision it. Vision the success of your goal in the coming year, which is so aptly the year 2020, a year for clear vision.

I have two HUGE goals for 2020. The first goal is to continue to raise funds for AIMS as I prepare to run the London Marathon as their charity runner. As you may recall, AIMS is a UK based charity and is the only non-profit charity that raises money to give grants to MS patients to obtain HSCT. AIMS had a vision of helping those with Auto Immune and Multiple Sclerosis obtain HSCT and they are doing just that. Every goal starts with an idea, vision and an aim to succeed, but like so many goals, successful visions take a village and AIMS needs your help so their vision can continue. Please consider an end of year donation to help both AIMS and myself reach 2020 goals: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ShariMcGlynn. Let’s crush my goal so AIMS can continue to crush theirs!

My second 2020 goal follows up on the 2019 Chicago Marathon, which was amazing! We all entered the start corrals excited and a little bit nervous. For my daughter, Hannah, and stem cell sister, Amanda, it was their first time toeing a marathon start line. They both did fantastic and I was so excited for them!

Mile 0.0 Chicago 2019, only 26.2 miles to go!

The reunion with my stem cell sister at the finish line brought tears of pure joy and a feeling of accomplishment. #FUMS is and was the most appropriate hashtag for that day. Amanda and I proved the pharmaceuticals and many neurologists wrong that day. HSCT works, we even have medals to prove it!

Unlike Chicago 1.0 in 2017, I crossed the finish line strong, feeling great and most of all, smiling! Each mile was calculated to maintain an easy pace, to enjoy the crowds and to savor the ability to run 26.2 miles. The success of finishing a marathon feeling that great and running a recent half marathon at my desired marathon pace, has given me the courage to dream big! Chicago is part of the six Abbott World Major marathons. Chicago, Boston, New York, London, Berlin and Tokyo make up the six marathons. AIMS has given me the honor to run London and in the next decade, I would love to run the remaining marathons of the Abbott World Majors. But out of the six majors, there is one that is so exclusive that there is no lottery. You either fund raise or qualify by running a certain time based on gender and age. Since I fully plan on drying up every fundraising pocket that I know of to help AIMS, fundraising for Boston is not an option. So there it is, my second goal of 2020, a Boston Qualifying time, a BQ for Boston 2021. As they say, go big or go home!

My two HUGE goals are now my 20/20 visions for 2020: fund raise big for AIMS and qualify for Boston. That should give the next decade a nice jump start!

In closing, to the last decade, I say thank you. Thank you for giving me the biggest challenge of my life on September 2, 2010. That challenge showed me how to appreciate my blessings, the courage to take chances, the drive to overcome and the opportunity to dream big! London, I am coming for you and Boston, watch out, you are in my sights, because my vision is clear on what I will achieve in 2020 and beyond.