WATCH: Midlands Runner Recognized for Fight Against Domestic Violence
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WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – A West Columbia woman is one of the finalists for Runner’s World magazine’s annual cover search contest.
Elizabeth Gray, 43, was chosen from more than 1,000 runners nationwide. Gray is on a quest to run a marathon in all 50 states by September 2018. So far, she’s finished 20 marathons in 19 states.
Along all the miles, Gray has shared her story of survival, and given others the hope they need to get help through her mission, Marathons Against Domestic Violence. Gray also served on Governor Nikki Haley’s domestic violence task force last year.
In addition to physically abusing her, Gray says he was emotionally abusive, telling the former Marine that she would never be able to run a marathon. A year-and-a-half after leaving him, Gray ran her first marathon.
“Everything that he ever did to me, said to me, it all came flooding back and I remembered everything, and when I saw the finish line, it was one of the most emotional moments of my life,” she said. “So, running has definitely been a healing factor in my life, of overcoming domestic violence.”
Gray was able to combine her love for running for her desire to help others get out of abusive relationships. When she races, she wears a banner baring her mission’s name.
Gray submitted her breakthrough running moment, that light she saw at the end of her first marathon, to Runner’s World in May. She learned that she had been chosen as one of ten finalists in late September. In two weeks, she heads to New York City to do a shoot for the December issue of the magazine. Regardless of whether she’s chosen for the cover, she will be featured inside. Runner’s World will choose both a man and woman. We’ll know if she’s made the cut in early November.
