WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – WECT has partnered with three women training for their first half marathon. We connected them with the Without Limits running club to help them get the training they need to succeed.

Michelle Carbonaro, Victoria Broughton and Andrea Cherry started training about a month ago. All three agreed that their first workout was a bit overwhelming and intimidating, but they are eager to take on the challenge.

Carbonaro suffers from multiple sclerosis and does this to challenge herself and raise awareness of the disease. She says there are days when she can’t even walk, but she wants to stay committed. She works out despite the pain and soreness, even if it means training in the rain.

“Because if you’re not consistent and you don’t follow the plan, you’re going to get set back. So, you know, even on those days when the weather’s not great, I make sure I go out and run and do exactly what the plan says I’m supposed to do,” Carbonaro said.

Broughton works full-time and ran her first 5K in May. She’s never run track or cross country before, so even some of the phrases she hears during training, like “run 200 or 400,” were foreign to her. But she’s proud of how far she’s come so far and says she’s already noticing an improvement in her skills.

“Some days I start running and I think, this is a little easier than last time. And if it’s a little easier now, I just think that in a few weeks it will be a little easier, I will be so much faster, I will be able to run a little longer,” Broughton said.

Andrea Cherry started running after experiencing health problems with her neck and spine. This year marks her tenth anniversary since the necessary fusion.

Carbonaro, Broughton and Cherry have registered for the Parkway Subaru Battleship NC Half Marathon on Sunday, November 17.

We will continue to update them on their progress each month and be there when they cross the finish line.

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