As Oddy Grullon looks to the final race of her four-marathon challenge, the assault survivor says she is more empowered by her journey than ever.
She is also thankful for the support which has enabled her to surpass her goal of raising $15,000 for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre.
As of Tuesday morning, Grullon had raised $15,910.37 through her fundraising page.
“I have to confess that after my first race, even if I trusted my training, at some point of my challenge I thought, ‘What if I can’t keep it up, what if I get injured, tired or I can’t finish?’ But when I saw all the support that I was getting… that gave me more confidence and strength,” she explained.
“I’ve run every marathon with my heart, not with my legs,” Grullon said.
Initially, Grullon had set a $10,000 goal, but had surpassed that by her second race, last month’s Chicago marathon. She is now contemplating setting a new goal of $20,000.
“Even if I reached the goal they can keep donating to the cause, no donation is small and the Crisis Centre needs every support we can give,” she said.
Her final race, the Walkers Cayman Marathon set for 4 Dec., will be the most difficult of all, she said.
“This will be challenging for me since I will have to run through the place that I was attacked and that I have been avoiding more than 10 months. Although this will bring back bad memories, it will also remind me that I am strong and… was able to turn something bad into a good cause to help others. It will also help me to leave that chapter of my life behind,” she said.
Grullon started the four-marathon challenge as a form of therapy after she was attacked while jogging in January. She suffered a fracture to her leg and other injuries from the incident.
Her attacker pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for 25 months, with the court recommending deportation after he serves his sentence.
Looking back at the journey
Grullon said each race has left her with a life lesson.
“Revel Utah marathon was tough and taught me strength. Chicago marathon was emotional and taught me endurance and the New York Marathon was celebration and taught me bravery,” she said.
Grullon said the New York race in particular was “magical and full of celebrations”.
The organisers of the event – NYRR – selected her to represent the Cayman Islands as the official flag bearer at their ceremony of nations, which was held two days before the marathon on Sunday, 6 Nov., she said.
Grullon said she was excited when Minister for Sports Bernie Bush and his team honoured her by presenting her with the Cayman Islands flag to use in the parade.
“The NYC marathon ceremony went very well; it was a unique and amazing experience,” she said, adding a local NYC TV station included footage of her waving the Cayman flag as she walked in the procession.
“Although I had some challenges during the race, I was able to push on and keep going,” she said, adding, “For me, [the] NYC marathon was also a celebration of justice, life, opportunities, goals reached, support from others and gratitude, all of which focused my mind to finish this marathon strong,” she added.
Looking ahead to the Cayman leg of the challenge, Grullon said she feels “very ready”.
“I will leave everything I have left in this last marathon and couldn’t be more grateful for all the support I’ve received not just from our community but from all over the world,” she said.
Grullon would like to ask one more time for the community to come out on 4 Dec. to support her and all the other runners.
“It’s very important to feel that energy to help us to push harder,” she added.
The marathon begins and ends in front of Hard Rock Cafe on Seafarers Way on the George Town waterfront, with runners setting off at 5am.
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