Caroline McKnight: Blog Post #4

Ciao! How is it already April?! Time has absolutely flown since arriving in January, and I can already feel how fast these final weeks in Florence will pass. I could write about so many things from the past month, but one of the highlights—one of my proudest moments—was running a half marathon in Rome!

We left for Rome early Saturday morning, March 1st, for a quick 48-hour adventure. I met up with Anna that day, and it was such a joy to spend time together! We grabbed a delicious brunch, attempted to visit the Sistine Chapel (spoiler: we failed), wandered around the beautiful Villa Borghese, and just soaked up the time together despite the rain.

But beneath all the fun, I was feeling the weight of nerves. The anticipation of the race had me on edge. I walked nearly 10 miles that day, barely drank water, stayed up too late, and my mind kept returning to nagging concerns about my knees and Achilles. For my past two races, I had been super disciplined—resting, hydrating, preparing mentally. This time? Not so much.

It forced me to rely deeply on God’s sovereignty and strength. I felt like my faith in myself had run dry, and I feared that even my faith in Him wouldn’t be enough. I had to come to terms with the possibility of pain, walking part of the race, and definitely not getting a personal record.

But once again, the Lord overwhelmed me with His grace and kindness. I didn’t feel a single ounce of pain the entire 13 miles.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

It was an absolutely stunning day to run. The race started just south of Rome and followed a beautiful straight path to the coast of Ostia. I ran alongside 33,000 other runners from around the world—everywhere I looked, I felt inspired and encouraged to keep going. It was a reminder of just how rewarding it is to push through months of training and show up on race day.

There’s something sacred for me about running half marathons. I feel closest to God in those moments—completely in awe of His creation, His strength in me, and His presence alongside me every step. My favorite moment? Hitting the mile marker I thought would be the hardest… and realizing I was still going strong.

Oh, and the cherry on top? I hit a PR! Make this race even more of a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” – Hebrews 12:1–2

I truly believe God was delighted to be invited into this race. He didn’t just strengthen me—He ran with me. I prayed, I meditated on scripture, and I felt His encouragement with every step.

And I can’t forget to shout out the one and only Anna Unger—the most encouraging, loyal, and loving friend. She and Marissa we’re right there at the start of the race, cheering us on with a handmade sign 🥹. It meant the world!

I am so proud of myself for checking this off my bucket list! It was a race I will never forget, and one that will hold a special place in my heart forever!