An Unexpected Runner: Merry Wilbert’s Path from Self-Doubt to the Chicago Marathon

Merry Wilbert is the type of person who thrives when she’s forming meaningful connections with those around her. She's a real "people person" who exudes the kind of friendliness you’d anticipate from someone born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In her daily life, Merry surrounds herself with the things she loves: her husband, her two cats, her two dogs—and her passion for running, which became the foundation for her physical and mental health journey.

Making the brave choice

In 2019, a relentlessly toxic work environment became so unbearable that Merry’s mental health went into a tailspin. “I kept telling myself that things would get better and all the bad stuff would pass,” she recalls. But instead of improving, the situation worsened. “It got to a point where I would cry at work and hate going in every day. I would eat to soothe myself.”

The overwhelming stress and anxiety took a tremendous toll on her body and mind. It began affecting her sleep, appetite, and overall wellbeing, and made it difficult to maintain her usual routines and find joy in daily activities.

Finally, in 2021, after months of internal struggle and careful consideration, she decided she had had enough. Taking what she describes as "a scary but necessary step," she left that job to prioritize herself and search for a healthier work environment. The decision proved serendipitous; she now works somewhere where she can combine her love of running with her desire to help others, allowing an intersection of her professional skills and personal interests to flourish.

Finding her stride

Merry never imagined herself becoming a runner. She grew up an overweight child and avoided physical activity at all costs. “I was always the kid trying to get out of gym class,” she remembers. “I would find any excuse that I could: ‘I have a stomachache, I can’t do this today.’ Anything to avoid those timed miles.”

But life had other plans. After deciding to improve her health as an adult, Merry found herself drawn to running, not just as a way to stay active, but as something that felt much bigger. “I wasn’t always a runner,” she says. “I’m not really quite sure how it became so important to me; it kind of just happened. I’m so glad it did.”

Over the years, she went from a kid who dreaded that gym class mile to someone who seeks out new challenges. "Running has impacted my mental health by just being a pillar of hope," Merry says. "When I run, I can forget about the bad things going on in my life and just focus on my running. I can just be me."

Strength in numbers

Merry, of course, couldn’t be satisfied with running as a purely solo endeavor; she’s making her meaningful connections. “I have a strong runner-friend foundation. We organize meetups on the weekend and get together to run and socialize,” she says. “A lot of my ‘runner girl gang’ knows my struggles with my mental health. We talk about it during our runs—how work-life balance affects us, how we could be doing better, and how running makes us feel accomplished.”

Her thirst for community led Merry to discover Still I Run on social media in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the job-related stress. "I saw a post about running for mental health, and thought, 'I do that every day,'" she says. "It spoke to me. And knowing that there are like-minded individuals who struggle daily, weekly, monthly, yearly the same way I do, it just seemed like something I needed to explore."

Since then, Merry has become deeply involved as a Still I Run Ambassador and an active participant in her local Grand Rapids chapter. In addition to joining the group for local runs, she helps organize events in collaboration with the organization through her workplace. The community has become an integral part of her life, providing both support and purpose. “It’s such a cool experience to meet people from all different walks of life doing this,” she says. “It means so much to be able to tell them, ‘Hey, it’s okay to have these struggles.’”

Conquering Chicago

In 2024, Merry set her focus on a new challenge and took on the Chicago Marathon, running for Still I Run, and aiming to inspire other "back of the pack" runners. "I never thought I'd be running a marathon," she admits. "But I realized, if I put in the training and get the proper tools, I can do this. There are some people who say plus-size people can't be runners. Well, I'm doing it.”

Despite her preparation and a solid race plan, the race didn’t go exactly as expected. “My headphones died just before mile 12, and that’s when the wheels fell off the bus. I struggled mentally to get my groove back, and each mile became harder and harder,” she remembers. Without the music she relied on for motivation, Merry had to dig deep to keep going.

But in an unexpected twist, she found something even better than a playlist: companionship. Along the way, Merry met Megan, a first-time marathoner from Boston who was also struggling with the final miles. Together, they alternated between walking and running, supporting each other to the finish line. “We chatted and kept each other going,” says Merry. "It felt great to bring her across the finish line with me."

The emotional highlight of the race came at mile 19, when Merry saw her husband and other runners from her community cheering for her. "I started crying. My music was gone, I'm in the pain cave, and I had over 7 miles to go,” she recalls. “Then you see those familiar faces, and you feel a surge inside yourself: ‘I'm not done yet.’"

Running without limits

While Merry’s journey has had its peaks and valleys, she remains steadfast in her belief that running is for everyone. “A mile is a mile whether you run a 7-minute pace or a 14-minute pace,” she says. “Follow a free plan or get a running coach for guidance. ‘Run slow to run fast’ is a saying I use often.”

She also wants others to know that struggling with mental health doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. “Still I Run has given me lifelong friends. It’s empowering to be part of a community that understands,” she says. "The organization really empowers runners and walkers and anyone who struggles with their emotional wellbeing. You just need to ask, and they’ll help."

Next up, Merry has her sights set on another major marathon: New York City in 2026. She’s not slowing down. Running isn’t just about the miles. It’s about resilience, connection, and finding a way forward even when things seem impossible. As she says, “There’s no such thing as bad weather. Just bad gear.”