Cathy's Running
Cathy is a six-time marathon finisher with “The 50th Anniversary Marine Corps Marathon" on 26-October, 2025 in our Nation's Capital being her latest. She is also the founder of what became an incredible year long running adventure, “Running Fir Wreaths” in which she ran in all 50 of the United States in honor of our great Veterans—Veterans of the past, present, and future. With each run she asked anyone who would listen to sponsor a Veterans wreath to be delivered by volunteers to the graves of our fallen in Arlington National Cemetery. Once delivered, volunteers spoke out loud to “say their names” and thanked the fallen soldiers for their Service to our Nation. This same cemetery holds her own 21-year-old son, “Bryce” who was laid to rest in Section 60. Her 1000+ mile running adventure officially kicked off with friends and family in Fortuna, California. Then she was off to Alaska, Hawaii, and eventually she completed runs with likeminded runners in all 50 of the United States. With the help of Wreaths Across America she was given much love and support, and many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities began to miraculously open for her, including running opportunities in Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the Navajo Nation, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and Netherlands. Many of her runs were on Military Bases with Active Duty Troops, Veterans, and our National Guard Servicemen and women running beside her.
HIGHLIGHTS and GOALS MET during her RUNNING FIR WREATHS adventure:
Cathy ran a little over 1,031 miles.
She raised sponsorships for 11,315 beautiful live balsam wreaths for our fallen at Arlington National Cemetery.
Veterans were hugged, kissed, and “welcomed home,” and lives were changed for the better.
“In order to survive you must learn how to be more disciplined, more resilient, more focused. You must learn how to be brave, prepared, and motivated. And no matter what, you just can’t quit!!! Then one day you’re out running your race and there it is, you find your ENDURANCE. We all know that grief and healing look different for everyone. For me, I try to face and embrace my journey one step at a time, usually in a cool pair of HOKA’s”. Cathy