Saab Magalona Shares How Running Made Jim Bacarro a Stronger Dad

Parents know that this season might be one of the most challenging eras anyone can ever face in their life. From juggling multiple tasks with little to no sleep, to making life-changing decisions at any given time, parenting is not for the weak. And for most of us, we each have our own ways to cope to get through the day.

For Jim Bacarro, that something became running.

In an Instagram post, Saab Magalona Bacarro proudly shared that her husband is running his first ever full marathon—the Sydney Marathon, while also looking back at how Jim started running. She shared that Jim started running in 2023, following what she described as several traumatic experiences their family had gone through. “Jim has been very open about his anxiety on our podcast,” she started on her caption. “In 2023 after all the traumatic experiences as a family, he just put on his shoes and started running. At first, it was an escape for him. A way to clear his mind when he just felt so lost and scared.”

Eventually, running became something more for Jim.

What initially started as an escape grew into something much more for Jim. “Over the years, running has become so much better than that,” Saab continued. “Instead of being an escape, he used it as a way to reach a goal. A goal of being a strong father and husband.”

Instead of simply running to get away from fear, Saab said Jim began using it as a way to take care of himself, physically and mentally.

“Instead of mindless running to get away from fear, it’s now about being good to his mind and body so that he can be as present as possible to bravely face reality.”

And there may be something to the clarity Jim found whenever he put on his running shoes.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even a single session of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can have immediate health benefits, which include reduced feelings of anxiety. Regular physical activity is also associated with improved sleep, brain health, and a lower risk of depression.

However, research into exercise specifically as treatment for anxiety is more nuanced. While studies have found that physical activity may help reduce anxiety symptoms, researchers still continue to study how effective exercise is for people with anxiety disorders and how it should fit alongside other forms of care.

For Jim, running became his own way of taking care of his mind and body—and eventually, a way of working toward the kind of dad and husband he wanted to be.

Of course, training for a full marathon requires a lot of time and discipline. And Saab couldn’t help but wonder how Jim managed to squeeze it all in while still showing up for everything else in his life.

“And can we please acknowledge the discipline of training for a marathon while still showing up for his businesses and his family… Sheesh,” she wrote.

“When he updates me on his many projects, I always ask him when did you have time to do that?!? Lol. I can’t relate!!! But somehow he always gets the job done!!”

It’s a familiar struggle many parents can relate to. Finding time for yourself can already be challenging when there are kids to take care of, work to finish, meals to prepare, and a seemingly endless list of things that need your attention. But taking care of yourself doesn’t necessarily mean taking away from the time and energy you give your family.

Sometimes, finding an outlet that allows you to recharge, process your thoughts, or simply taking care of your own body can help you return to your family feeling more ready to be present with them.

Jim’s first full marathon also carries another meaning close to their family. He’s running the 42.2-kilometer TCS Sydney Marathon on August 30, 2026, while raising funds for Running for Premature Babies, an Australian charity that supports sick and premature babies.

The cause is particularly personal for the Bacarro family. In her post, Saab also included a video of Jim “training” with their own son, Pancho, who was born a preemie, for his future race.

“He’s running for charity - for premature babies @runningforprems huhu and he sent me this sweater he had made,” Saab wrote. “I wish we could have been there with you, my love!! I included a video of you training our own preemie for his future race. Thank you for running for us!! I’m so proud of you!!! Always and always!”

Running for Premature Babies says the funds raised through its Sydney Marathon campaign will help provide neonatal equipment and support research for sick and premature babies in Australia.

At the end of the carousel, Saab included part of a love letter Jim emailed her while he was on his way to the airport.

In it, Jim reflected on the years they have spent together, the difficult things they have faced, and the family they have built. And among the lines Saab chose to share was a simple message to his wife: “As long as I have you, I am safe.”

For parents, taking care of ourselves can sometimes feel like another thing we need to squeeze into an already packed day. But Jim's story is also a reminder that self-care doesn't always have to be about escaping our responsibilities. Sometimes, it's about finding something that helps us carry them.

For Jim, what began as running when he felt lost and scared eventually became training with a purpose. It became a way to care for his mind and body, raise funds for a cause deeply connected to his family, and work toward his own goal of being a stronger father and husband.

We don't all need to run a marathon to do the same. But perhaps there is value in finding that one thing that helps us take care of ourselves, so we can keep coming home and showing up for the people who make us feel safe, too.

Here's how Jim and Saab Magalona Bacarro are raising kind humans.