Welcome to my Blog!

This is my first post on the Sahara Marathon blog. I wanted to set up a place where I could provide information about my upcoming event and race charity, Girls on the Run. My name is Daphne Williams, and I live in Simpsonville, SC. I began running to save myself from myself; I was making some poor life choices with no direction and little self confidence.I stared to run with my golden retriever back in 1986, and with every mile I ran and every race I raced, my life began to change. Running became more than just a form of exercise, it became a lifestyle. I dug myself out of a life of substance abuse and put myself through college and then graduate school at Auburn University (WAR EAGLE). It was no longer acceptable to just get by; I wanted to make something of myself, challenge myself, accomplish something. 23 years of running has brought me pleasure, pain, and purpose. It has allowed me to believe I am capable of accomplishing anything! It has changed my life. That is the message I want to share: how empowering the simple act of running can be.