You may know her as a science teacher, but Marcy Fagan is an adventurer too. This past weekend, she pushed herself through a demanding three-day, 90-mile canoe race in the Adirondacks. For her, this race was more than just a physical challenge; she saw it as an opportunity to test her strength and determination.
The race required that participants paddle about 30 miles per day and carry their boats between each section, with the longest carry of the race being about 1.5 miles. Fagan and her team competed in a four-person group in the 39 and underage category.
With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Fagan explained that her childhood friend Kelly encouraged her to push herself, not only for this competition but in her day-to-day life. The race meant a lot for this longtime friendship since they’ve lived far away from each other for years.
Fagan spent the months of July and August learning how to paddle, going out to train about twice a week with her longest practice being 12.1 miles. The actual race itself was much more demanding than her training sessions.
One of the most challenging parts, she said, was finishing the first day and being so tired, but realizing she’d have do it for two more days.
The race became both a mental and physical test. Ms. Fagan was experiencing fatigue going into the last day, but she relied on grit to continue. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “You’re stronger than you think and capable of more than you realize”.
After the completion of her race, Ms. Fagan was extremely proud of herself and excited about what she and her team accomplished.
Fagan stated that now she says yes to all the challenges that are being thrown at her because of this experience. Completing a 90-mile race showed her that taking on something out of your comfort zone can showcase just how much a person is capable of.