In last week’s post, I shared a bit about the miserable conditions at the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run. This week, I could say the same about Boston on Monday (though I got to watch from the comfort of a warm, dry home). The conditions were miserable, but oh, what an amazing day of running.

Congratulations to Desiree (Des) Linden, the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years. She’s proof of what happens when a woman keeps chasing after her dreams, showing up day after day, mile after mile, to make those dreams come true.

Here she is in 2015, wearing her usual look of determination, flying toward Monday’s crowning achievement.

Linden running the 5,000m during the USATF Championships in 2015.

She didn’t win that day, but she didn’t stop running either. For runners, is any race ever wasted? If nothing else, not winning that race in 2015 fueled her desire to improve, to train harder, to keep working toward her championship dreams.

I love this NPR interview with Linden after Monday’s win. Give it a listen. And then ask yourself: How do I need to show up?

For me, though I’ve allowed myself time away from my writing project to move back across the country, visit with friends, and get settled back in to life in North Carolina, it’s time to start showing up again. Time to sit at my writing desk. Time to get to work again on my dream.

So thanks to Des, for reminding us all that—even when conditions are terrible—we have to show up.