WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The Parkway Subaru Battleship NC Half Marathon is just a few days away. For six months, WECT has followed three runners training to participate in their first half marathon.

These three runners also allowed our cameras to document their progress. The good and the bad.

For Michelle Carbonaro, this race is about raising awareness about multiple sclerosis and proving she could overcome pain.

“Working on my illness and the problems that arise from it. So I had leg cramps,” she said.

Carbonaro, Andrea Cherry and Victoria Broughton trained with the Without Limits Running Club.

Cherry has managed to balance her busy schedule. Working to maintain her daily routine while also making time to workout has kept her on her toes.

“Family, work, my own life, doing the workouts, finding time for my long run. So time management was the biggest challenge,” Cherry explained.

Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, which was the case for Broughton. On the first day of training, she wondered what she had gotten herself into.

“When I first started, I would just get off the couch and introduce myself. I mean, you really have to do it, like Nike says, ‘Do it,'” she said.

Less than a week before their first half marathon, the three women have made a huge transformation. And despite the challenge, they loved the training every step of the way.

“It was a really fun experience. I appreciate how much I push myself and I can see that I can still actually do these things and follow the process,” Carbonaro said.

“I love seeing what my body can do. Get to know this great community. Everyone has been so welcoming and amazing,” Cherry said.

“Every moment of it has been an enjoyable experience and I can’t wait to continue the 2023 version of Victoria, I would never have said that,” Broughton said.

So what do they think about race day?

“I feel excited, nervous. I can’t believe it’s happening soon. So I’m ready to keep going and keep going and show up,” Cherry said.

“I’m excited, but it’s also kind of like I know that on race day it’s different than just going out on your own and doing it at your own pace. There’s a little more pressure with a bigger group, especially when 99 percent of them are faster than you,” Broughton said.

They put in the hours, the miles and overcame the pain, and are now able to finally cross that finish line.

WECT will be present on race day to celebrate their accomplishment.

All three women say they couldn’t have done it without the help, encouragement and coaching of the Without Limits Running Club.

Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.