✅ finished

Battling

Before Chicago

Hello again! I’m tapping in one last time to provide an update. The Berlin marathon was a great success. The weather was lovely and the run was a PB. 2:53:58. Maybe it’ll be enough to qualify for a Boston spot in 2026. TBD. Meanwhile, two weeks later I ran the Chicago Marathon. That one was brutal. My legs really started falling apart around 30k. From that point i took made several stops to relieve cramping and leg fatigue. Not my best race but I am happy to be completely uninjured. 3:06:42. International travel to run a race requires practice. I also could have benefitted from a little more time and fewer energy-draining variables between races. I’m very happy and thankful to be where I am and immensely grateful for all of you who have given me the opportunity to test my limits. Onward.

For those who would like to follow along virtually, feel free to download the official Berlin Marathon App to track my progress in real time: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bmw-berlin-marathon-2024/id6575377429 Khari Slaughter - 30424

Dear Friends, The day has come—much faster than I imagined. Life has been a whirlwind, balancing both work and running, but I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. Your donations to the Organization for Autism Research mean the world to me, and your support has made it possible for me to race tomorrow in the 50th anniversary Berlin Marathon. Hearing your personal stories and connections to both autism and running has turned this journey into something truly meaningful—a labor of love. Since starting this campaign, I've run over 1,400 miles, and with each step, I've carried a sense of purpose thanks to you. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey with me. With heartfelt gratitude, Khari

Finishing stretch at the Berlin HM 2024

Following the Berlin Marathon 2023, I pretty much immediately got COVID. I suppose it makes sense - the marathon draws nearly 50,000 runners - and such an effort is a huge blow to the body's immune system as all its facilities are employed to propel the body forward. After taking a month to recover fully, I jumped back in just a little too quickly and started having issues with my Achilles tendon. :/ The discomfort prevented me from running for the remainder of 2023 and only as recently as January 2024 was I able to resume running pain-free. I am immensely grateful to be in motion again and I wanted to share with you a couple of images from the Berlin Half Marathon 2024... It was an uncharacteristically warm day and a bit humid but overall a beautiful run. I finished just under a minute slower than my goal time of 1:19. There's no cheating the training. The 3 weeks leading up to the race did not contain mile volume I would have hoped but things were so busy work-wise that training had to be deprioritized. Onward and upward.

Ready for takeoff

Berlin Half Marathon April 7, 2024

Thank you to everyone who has donated! I am moved by the amount of support and generosity you've all shown towards me and also toward autism research. I have every intention of reaching out to each of you personally to express my gratitude.