Sending love ❤️ spartan kai and marrianna!! Marianna completed a long time dream this last weekend at the PORTLAND MARATHON half marathon. Our plan is to do full marathon next year !!

Dealing with a lot, my mom had a heart attack Friday before Hurricane Lala hit Hawaii. She's okay now, but due to her surgery to remove cancer from her breast and her losing a lot of blood, her heart became weak and now she has heart failure. She's struggling both emotionally and financially because medical insurance is not paying for all her meds. On top of everything, Hurricane Lala damaged my hometown and we lost loved ones' graves in the process. My great-grandmother's ashes are gone from her resting place along with a few others, so my heart is devastated. On top of that, coworkers are being rude to my mom. My mom asked for help opening a door at her job that was heavy and she's losing strength in her muscles. Her coworker tells her, "What, is your arm broken?" My mom is starting to feel like a burden and it's taking everything in my power to make sure my mom doesn't spiral. I am ok physically but my emotions are all over place but I refuse to give up.

Today I want to open my heart a little bit and share something that isn’t always easy for me to talk about. Behind the Spartan name, behind the training, behind the determination and the fight… there is still a person who has hard days. There is still a heart that feels deeply. There is still someone who struggles, hurts, and has moments where the weight feels heavier than others. Lately, I have been fighting an emotional battle with my depression. With October approaching fast, I can feel the heaviness starting to creep in. October brings memories I wish I didn’t have to carry — the anniversary of losing my friend to a senseless act of violence. The reality of knowing the person responsible is still alive while she never got another day, another laugh, another memory with the people who love her… that pain is something that never truly disappears. Some wounds heal differently. Some memories stay with you. On top of that, life has been challenging in many ways. I’ve dealt with negativity, hurtful opinions, and moments where I have felt judged and attacked for simply being myself. I’ve carried the emotional pain of being away from my mom while she fights cancer, and that has been one of the hardest things my heart has ever had to process. Some days I feel pulled in a million directions. Some days I feel exhausted. Some days I wonder how much more I can carry. But today was different. Today I got up. I laced up my shoes. I put on the shirt that means more to me than anything I own. And I reminded myself why I keep moving forward. Because the truth is… my goals, my dreams, and my purpose are not waiting for me while I sit still. The people I fight for, the people I honor, and the mission I believe in deserve my effort. Training today wasn’t just about getting stronger physically. It was about reminding myself that I am still here. That I am still fighting. That even when life knocks me down, I can choose to stand back up. Strength doesn’t mean we never struggle. Strength means we struggle, we hurt, we cry, we feel everything… and we still take the next step.

Dealers of Hope family… my ohana… In March, my mom, Michelle Correia, was diagnosed with breast cancer and has been in the fight of her life. On September 20, 2026 at Spartan Seattle, we are taking that fight onto the course. I will be wearing pink in her honor and carrying her with me every step of the way. This is more than a race. This is a race for hope— for those fighting cancer, for families going through this emotional battle, and for those we’ve lost… because cancer sucks. If you feel it in your heart, I would love for you to stand with me by wearing pink in her honor. No pressure—just love, unity, and hope. Hope for healing. Hope for strength. Hope for remission. God, please cover every person fighting this disease, bring strength to their bodies, peace to their minds, and healing in Your perfect way. Walk with every family carrying this weight and remind them they are not alone… with a heart filled with gratitude, Spartan Kai

Sorry I missed the meeting. My mom let me know she has stage 3 breast cancer and it spread to her lungs, so I have been down for a bit, just worried about her. Please pray for her