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April, 2007
I came across the John Bingham Half Marathon Distance in Columbus, OH in 2006. I start
running back in 2004 and joint Team in Training in order for me to run Columbus Marathon.
I never been a runner ever in my life but life is very short and we all need to enjoy when we
can and what we do. The 2004 Columbus Marathon I have finished in 5 hours. 2005 - 4:25 and
2006 - 3.55. I have a family and son 6.5 years old who loves to run and he is actually
completed 1/2 mile race in 2006 - Powell 5K Event. I do all my trainin in my own and train
other people for a different events. Also I'm a member of advisory Board for Run Wild Racing
Club / LTF Member since 2002. Came to US from USSR in 1994. All I want to say is: Running is
the best for your health.
Irina Strickler
Run Wild Racing Club / Columbus, OH / Westerville
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April, 2007
I signed up to do this race through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training
program. While I know of family and friends who have struggled and suffered through cancer,
this endeavor was something I also needed to gain esteem and strengthen my view of myself.
I never thought I would be strong enough or capable enough to enter something like this and
thus completing this half marathon will be a huge deal for me. I still can't believe it, as a
former "slow kid" on the playground, I'm terrified and yet excited all at the same
time....I'll wear the medal for weeks!
Amy Avery
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April, 2007
A little more than a year ago, I weighed 286 pounds and couldn't slog through much more
than a half mile without stopping for a rest. My dad and one of my two brothers already are
diabetics and I had experienced some of the symptoms myself. My intense fear of needles
overcame my intense love of cookie dough and my big-boy-sized La-Z-Boy. I'm more than 50
pounds lighter and still dropping, a lot healthier and have seem to have outrun what appeared
to be my destined date with diabetes. No symptoms. Hooray!
One of my duties at the newspaper for which I am an editor is to be the public face of our
annual Fitness Challenge. Last year, I took the Challenge a little more seriously and decided
I would run my first half marathon. I did so in January in Disney World. (John and Jenny were
Fitness Expo speakers.) The sense of accomplishment was so much and the sense of unfinished
business so much that I knew I had to do another half. Lo and behold, there's one "right
down the street" from me — well, three hours down the street — and I have
college friends living in the Columbus area to boot. And they've both taken up walking and are
shedding the pounds, too. I haven't convinced them to join me yet but I'm still working on
them.
I followed — sort of — the Runner's World training plan and drew inspiration
from John Bingham's "No Need for Speed" columns. He was speaking to me! I'm slow and
won't set any course records. But I WILL finish. I am getting better and more addicted to
running.
Looking forward to Columbus,
Burt
Bib No. 1098
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April, 2007
Thirty is a tough age to hit right? So what better way to face 30 than
with a challenge — a half marathon. After overcoming a broken leg with two
surgeries, I had a goal in 2005 to run one mile. I did it but never thought
there was any way I could do much more. But 30 being such a big year for me
I wanted something big to work towards achieving. This half marathon was a
big goal and while my internal motivation might have been enough to
accomplish it, goals are always better when you share them with someone. So
who better to partner with than my Mother. She turned 60 last year and boy
does she look like she was turning 40!! I admire her every day and have
sought courage and motivation from her during this race preparation.
She and I will be flying from Chicago with troops in hand to cheer us on to
meet our goal!
Can't wait to kick some butt.
Jennifer Stoltz
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March, 2007
Last August, when my size 16's started getting tight, I decided it was time for a change.
I have a friend who had lost weight through Weight Watchers so I decided to join. I had always
exercised, but thought that I could eat whatever I wanted because of it—obviously that
was not the case. I reached my goal weight right before Christmas by making the right food
choices and exercise. I soon became bored with the elliptical machines and treadmills. Then
one day I started running... A woman in my kickboxing class always ran on the days we didn't
have class and was always trying to recruit running partners—she found one in me. That
was in early December. I have completed a 5 mile race and now try to run between 20 and 30
miles a week. I hope to complete a marathon before my 40th birthday which is 2 years away.
Running has not only gotten me in the best shape of my life, but it has given me a sense of
pride in myself that I've never had before. I have also made a friend that I think I will
have for life—I am so glad I said yes on the day Jen asked me to start running with her.
I have been told by other runners that because of how fast I have progressed that I must have
been a runner all along—it was just inside me waiting to get out—I don't know
about that, but I do know that it is something that I have really come to love. I am so
excited to complete this race and then move onto my next challenge.
Joan E. Steven
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March, 2007
My name is Kristin Shuman, and I am a 36-year-old mother of two. When
I got pregnant with my son, Bradley, in 2001, I weighed 223 pounds.
Two years later, when I got pregnant with my daughter, Katie, I
weighed 228 pounds. When I was three months pregnant with Katie, I
joined the YMCA. Through working out regularly, I managed to only
gain 15-17 pounds through the pregnancy. I had a second C-section,
and my recovery was much easier.
When Katie was 8 months old (October 2004), I joined Weight Watchers
(for the third or fourth time in my life). I was tired of being a
size 20, I could barely climb a flight of stairs, and I wanted to be
healthy for my kids. By May of 2005, I had lost a total of 60 pounds
(45 through WW), and went from a size 20 to a size 12. I have kept it
off for nearly 2 years.
Last May, I decided to walk the Flying Pig Half-Marathon in
Cincinnati. Well, after that, I got the bug. I walked the Cap City
Ten Miler in June, the Columbus Half-Marathon (Dublin) in August, the
Home Stretch Ten Miler in September, and the Columbus Half-Marathon
(downtown) in October. I averaged a 14.5 minute mile for all my races.
This Half-Marathon will be my first race this year, but I plan to do
six or seven. They help keep my weight off, and I have a lot of fun
doing them! Oh, and my kids don't even recognize me wearing the size
twenty bridesmaid's dress that inspired me to stay healthy for good!
Kristin Shuman
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March, 2007
Completing the Columbus Distance Classic will be a tremendous landmark in my life and this
is why:
I "ran" my first 5k on St Patrick's day last year, slowly stuttering through the
course at a windy fifteen and a half minute pace. "Why in the world am I doing this?"
I thought to myself. Then I caught a glimpse of the guy running (basically walking) next to me
and as my heart started to beat fast (for reasons unrelated to running) I remembered, "Oh
yeah! I like that guy."
Tim and I had just begun seeing each other. He was an experienced runner with a dozen
marathons under his belt and here I was huffing and puffing and hardly finishing 3 miles.
Humiliated? Sure. Awe-struck by this man and falling in love? Yep.
In the summer I decided to improve my fitness and began running with a close friend. She
and I would shuffle down the Westerville bike path, stopping for "walk breaks" every
quarter of a mile. Christi's goal was to run a marathon, but at our current level of fitness
that was never going to happen.
A few more 5ks and a terrible 4 miler go by and then Tim told us about a running group
called "Marathoners in Training". We thought the name said it all and signed up
immediately!
Here we are, 15 weeks later completing eight and ten mile runs weekly. We trained all
winter long and have knocked off 3 minutes/mile. Thanks to the support and training of our
coaches and comrades. We are ready for the half-marathon and are overjoyed to be running it!
So what happens after April 14th? Christi will soon resume training for the full marathon
in October. I, on the other hand, will not be able to run that race with her because Tim and I
will be on our honeymoon. :)
Hannah Callaghan
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March, 2007
Hi, I am a soon to be 51 year old man who ran the Air Force Marathon in 2000 and the Flying
Pig in 2002. Since those marathons, I have undergone a series of surgeries including disk
surgery for my back, knee surgery for a torn meniscus and two hernia operations, one in
September 2006 and another on January 3, 2007 in which my right testicle had to be removed to
prevent the hernias from recurring. Throughout the health woes I had continued to gain weight
from 190 up to almost 290 and was not running anymore at the start of 2006. I began to diet
seriously and walk in 2006 and had my weight back down to around 220 by the time of the
September hernia surgery and I was jogging again. After the surgery in September, I took off
3 weeks and went back to training, running and lifting, and I tore another hole in my abdomen
sometime in November. The doctor told me I probably did too much too soon and that may be
what caused the new hernia. I put off surgery until after the holidays, had it on January 3rd
and was not allowed to do anything but walk for 6 weeks, no lifting at all and no jogging.
I walked 1 hour every day on the treadmill at the YMCA in Fairborn and when I got the O.K. to
start jogging again in late February, I did. I need to run this half marathon to prove to
myself that I am back to health and to prove to everyone who told me that running was the
cause of my health issues that they are wrong, running is what will make me healthy both
mentally and physically. My time is unimportant, finishing is everything to me and I look
forward to the challenge. This will be my first half marathon and my longest run in 5 years.
Thank you.
R. Duke Spiker
Fairborn, Ohio
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March, 2007
Hello,
This will be my first distance run and the first time I've stuck with an exercise program
in my life! I will be 40 this year and my husband and I decided at Christmastime to sign up
for this event to motivate us into keeping with a running program and become "runners".
Now that we are 3 weeks away, I'm thrilled with my progress! I've learned to enjoy running
rather then dreading and hating it. I've shared my enthusiams with my two sisters in Seattle
who have both decided to sign up and join us for the race! This is a huge committment as my
one sister has claimed in the past to rather die then run a mile! I have not lived within
several states of my two sisters since I was a teenager, and with our busy lives, this will
mark the first time BOTH my sisters will be here at the same time for a visit! This event has
been the focus of our new healthier lifestyles and has brought my two sisters in town for a
very special visit! We are so looking forward to it!
Stacia Jordan, Dublin OH
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March, 2007
This time last year I weighed more than I did when I was nine months pregnant and the
highest weight I ever was. My arthritis has rendered me practically immobile. My mother had
died unexpectedly of a heart attack in Jan 2006 and I was eating to deal with my grief. Then
one day my five year old daughter was sitting on the couch with me watching TV. She poked my
arm and said "mommy you are squishy like dough, why?" I did not have a good answer
to her hurtful question. It took a few months before motivation kicked in but in July 2006 I
joined Weight Watchers. To date I have lost 51 lbs and about 20 inches. In January, my Weight
Watchers leader talked to us about the Weight Watchers walking team to train to enter this
race. I thought, no way can I do this. But each week, I get stronger and faster. I have never
done anything of this nature but I want to be around and able to be active with my family and
not watch while my daughter runs and plays. I have worked through the cold and snow just
hoping for decent walking weather, but I am going to give this my best. I am doing this for
me, first then my family and finally for my mom who is the angel who will be cheering me on
from heaven as I cross the finish line.
Kim Pareso
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March, 2007
Here is my story. I am a thirty-three year old mom of three. My
daughter was born in September of 2006. When I went to my six week appointment
they found that I had high blood pressure. I was put in the hospital for
four days so they could figure out what was going on. Never have I had high
blood pressure even through my pregnancy and after her birth, so this
was something very strange. The doctors felt it had something to do with
extra fluid volume still from the pregnancy and that it would all go back to
normal the further away I got from pregnancy. Well, four months later
that has not been the case. They have run many tests and are still trying to
figure out why this all happened.
While I was in the hospital, my husband who is a marathoner, told me I
was going to run a half marathon. I am not a runner at all, in fact I hate
to run. We thought that this would be a great way to get into shape and
lose weight. I figured if they couldn't find what was going on I was going to
do everything I could to be healthy and maybe see my blood pressure go
down. My highest weight with pregnancy was 237 pounds. At my six week
appointment I had lost a little and was 208. My goal now was to get down to 150
pounds and walk the half marathon in Columbus. I began to walk and jog a month
after my six week appointment and started Weight Watchers. I first
started off walking and getting to a slow jog. The weight started to come off
slowly at first. I thought walking 13.1 miles by myself would be a
little boring so I asked one of my friends who had just had a baby to join me.
Little did I know that this was going to be the first of many people who
would want to go.
All of a sudden another friend said she would do it. They started
telling family and friends about it and they decided to train. Then at our
Church people seeing me lose weight and training thought 'we could do this too'.
Some are training to walk some are coming to run. We now have close
to twenty people who in January started a training program to either walk
or run the half marathon. As of today which is the beginning of March I
weigh 155. I really believe by watching what I am eating and running that the
weight is coming off. My blood pressure is under control and I hope to
be off medicine soon. Never in a million years did I think I would be
running or walking a half marathon. I am excited though and can't wait
to complete what I feel is one of my greatest accomplishments in life. I am
thankful for all that are coming with me and who have supported me
through all of this. I am really blessed and counting down the days until April
14th.
Dyan Windom
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March, 2007
This is my first half marathon. I never ran distance in my life.
Last summer I attended a speed camp with my son and asked the trainers to train me with a
goal of running 1.5 miles when I finished. I then decided that once I was through the training
I would quit smoking after 30+ years, and start running. My initial intent was to run a mile
and a half two to three times a week.
My training ended in the first week of August and I took the rest of the week off, focusing
on Monday morning. I saved three cigarettes for that morning and when Monday morning arrived
and I smoked all three cigarettes telling myself to enjoy them cause there weren't going to be
anymore. When I finished the last one I put it out and told myself that I was never meant to
be a smoker. The rest of Monday and Tuesday was spent solidifying my new perception of myself
(a nonsmoker). Wednesday I went out after work on the country road I lived on and ran a mile
and a half. Many times in the past I had tried to do this but could not. This was a huge goal
reached, to the credit of the speed camp staff.
I repeated my accomplishment two more times the following Monday and Wednesday. The next
week I ran 2 miles four times. The week after, I ran 4 miles on Monday, 2 miles on Wednesday,
and 4 miles on Friday September 1st. I finished August with 19 miles and felt good. September
I logged 55. I continued with a PR of 60 miles in January. February wasn't as good because of
the weather but better than my first month.
In September I starting talking regularly to a friend who runs marathons and set yet
another goal, running the Kansas marathon in October of 2008. You are probably wondering why
Kansas? My friend has a goal to run a marathon in every state and has just finished number 26.
He is going to hold off running Kansas until then. The other reason is because I used to work
on Titan II Missiles as a missile maintenance technician in Kansas and the Marathon runs onto
the military base and down memory lane that has items from the Missile Wing that I was part
of. I figured running back there where I spent 7 years of my life should help some of those
mile click away.
In December I ran my first two 5K races and then decided I would like to do a half
marathon. So the Columbus Distance Classic is my first half marathon or marathon of any sort.
I have put that I expect to finish in 2:20, another huge goal and probably out of reach but I
am going to try to make it. I currently weigh 245 lbs and plan on slimming down some before
run time.
I have run 11 miles in 2:20 and my longest run to date has been 12.6 in December.
So If you feel like you can't do it, look at me 47 year old ex smoker who weighs 240+. It
can be done! I hope : )
Carey
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January, 2007
In January 2004, I weighed 410 lbs, and had a 60 inch waist. Walking around the block
(2/10th of a mile) was a major undertaking. I'd have to stop several times to catch my breath.
I joined a medically managed weight loss program and have lost and kept off about 150 lbs. I
now weigh 260 lbs and have a 44 inch waist. Instead of walking 2/10ths of a mile then, I now
average between 4 to 6 miles/day, and am currently training for the 1/2 marathon on April 14th.
My goal is to finish the 1/2 marathon in April and shake John and Coach Jenny's hands after I
finish.
See ya in April,
Mark Braunschweiger
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January, 2007
You know when you meet mid-life your body calls out for help. With my older brother's
encouragement I ran my first marathon at age 40. Since then I have done a few other
half-marathons but have had difficulties finding the time to train for longer distances. I
thoroughly enjoyed running the inagural Penguin half-marathon race here in Columbus.
Anyways... my brother and I have now recruited a "family of penguin" runners. My
two nephews ages 29 and 27 and my niece who is 24. My nephews fiance is also running.
These virgin penguins have never run a race before. It has been fun to get together early
Sunday morning for a family run. We are actually spending more time together than we have in
the past. My 80 year old mother is so excited to see so many of her children and grandchildren
cross that finish line. Thanks John for getting me off the couch again and bringing our
family together for some "happy feet" time together.
Marti Mercuri
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
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January, 2007
Hi there,
My sister lives in the Columbus area and signed up along with her husband to participate
this year for the first time running anything over a 5k as a goal and new year's commitment
to getting in better shape. In support of her and to also fulfill our own goals to stay in
shape this year, my other sister and I from Seattle decided to also prepare for the half
marathon and come to Columbus so we can all participate in the event together. We will be
able to encourage each other through the event and share in the accomplishment together!
Trish Holt
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March, 2006
I am a Registered Nurse and preach health to patients all day... I want to
practice what I preach! I am 42 years old and possibly in the midst of a
mid-life crisis!! I want to say I did this... completed a half-marathon! I
want to be an inspiration to my patients and my co-workers! I am more
excited about this than I have been in anything for a long time! You have
inspired me to make some very important life style changes... come April 1, I
am going to do something I have dreamed about for a life time... and I hope
this extends my life time so I may pass this onto others and in turn,
inspire them!
Sincerely
Carmen P. Shields RN
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There are a few reasons for participating this year...
1. Columbus is my hometown. I've participated in the first two Cap City Halfthons, and want
to be one of those people who, at 99 years old, can claim that I've participated in 46
straight Cap City Half Marathons.
2. Want to reassure myself that the weather during last year's event was just a fluke.
3. Am REALLY glad that "walking" participants are welcomed, not just tolerated.
4. After reading the Penguin's letter to participants of the Phoenix halfthon this past
January, I'm looking forward to enjoying the whole experience, and not just seeking to have a
good "clock" time.
Honk,
Monica
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February, 2006
This is my 3rd year participating in this event. Each year I have participated in the 5K.
This is a great event: it is fun, inspiring, and just a great time.
I use this event as my start to the spring and summer fitness season. I have encouraged
all of my friends to participate because it is so much fun and inspiring.
This should be a keeper event for Columbus, Ohio.
I like to see it grow year after year!
Sincerely,
Deb
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My Penguin biography begins with the diagnosis of my cardiac condition in May of 2002.
A number of symptoms, some going back as far as thirty years, had been worsening over the
previous two years. A combination of tests revealed that I had congestive heart failure,
a cardiac rhythm problem, an ejection fraction of fifteen percent, and a generally weakened
heart that had enlarged to the point of distorting one of the valves.
With these symptoms, I should have been crippled, confined to bed, barely able to roll
over, and waiting for a heart transplant. The technician who ran the echocardiogram asked
me if I had encountered any trouble walking in from the parking lot!
My doctor informed me that I was subject to sudden cardiac death at any moment and he
just hoped that he could keep me alive long enough for some drugs to take effect. When
informed of my intent to start a walking program, he set a number of rules: I was not to
get out of breath, I was not to race the clock, no running, and no pace faster than sixteen
minutes per mile.
Following these rules, I entered a number of races. Each time, I would
wear the shirt and put the medal in my doctor's hands. At first, he would shake his head
and mutter that he couldn't see how I could do it. As I progressed, he came to accept that
I represented an aberration; a miracle of sorts, and no one could know my limits in
advance.
I started to break the sixteen-minute rule unintentionally, so my doctor dropped
that limit. When I asked him, on my return from the NYC marathon, if he thought that I
could do it, he said yes based on my prior achievements, but having the medal in his hands
really drove the reality home. He was willing to let me attempt all this partly because my
sister Harriet, also a doctor, was always by my side during the more demanding events.
Actually, I had two doctors and two nurses with me as I crossed the finish line at the
NYC marathon.
Before this time, I was, as John Bingham would say, a couch potato. I was introduced to
John and Harriet's other Penguin friends, mostly from the NYC area. We would run into
John from time to time, most memorably for me, at the Columbus marathon. In early 2004
we received an invitation from John to join him in the inaugural Capital City Half
Marathon. John personally saw us off on a two-hour early start to accommodate my slow
pace. This provided the greatest incentive to finish the course.
This brings us up to the 2004 NYC marathon, my first, and a year ahead of schedule,
after only one season of formal training. The NYC marathon was hard, really hard.
The view of the glow of the finish line after I made the final turn was hypnotic.
My companions said I immediately quickened my pace and I don't even remember the final
hill before the finish. It took ten hours, 38 minutes. I plan to do it again next year
despite Harriet's caution that many people only do it once to prove a point, but no one
does it only twice. If I do it again, I will be hooked.
My long-term plans are to regain my health as much as possible so that I can stay
around a bit longer and to shed at least sixty pounds. It has been pointed out that aside
from my cardiac problems, carrying my 270 pounds during these endeavors is a feat in
itself. I have lost ten pounds so far but most of the actual transformation has been
masked by muscle weight gain. My body fat has dropped from fifty percent to less than
forty.
I owe a great debt of gratitude that can never be repaid to John Bingham and his Penguin
organization, my friends (many are Penguins), and my sister for providing encouragement,
guidance, incentive, companionship, and when necessary, prodding throughout our travels.
— Shelton P. Kang, Columbus, OH
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March, 2005
As a New Year's Resolution for 2002, I decided to take control of my health and joined
Weight Watchers. I figured I would commit to attending meetings for one year and aimed for
losing 50 pounds. The program was pretty easy to follow and soon the pounds were falling
off. I eventually realized that to attain a healthy weight for myself I would need to lose
85 pounds. I convinced myself that if was going to the trouble of losing weight, I might
as well end up at a healthy weight. A little over a year later I had burned up 90 pounds.
Inspired by my leader, I trained to become a Weight Watchers leader. I was so excited by my
success that I wanted to share it with others in hopes that they too could take control of
their health. I felt like I had made a huge investment in my life and was reaping the
benefits. I looked younger and felt more beautiful than I ever had in my life. I did it
for myself, but it was nice that others noticed as well.
In addition to following the Weight Watchers food plan, I added walking to my weekly
routine. In January of 2004, a friend of mine asked if I wanted to walk a half marathon.
That seemed like a good challenge for me. Not too lofty, but not too easy either. So I
began training to walk the Inaugural Capital City Half Marathon.
At first I thought it
was a coincidence that my first race was hosted by someone else who had been overweight and
had changed their life by taking control of their health. But more and more I realize that
the Capital City Half Marathon was the race I was meant to be in. I needed to see that
running didn't have to be about being fast or winning. I knew for me that walking over the
finish line was going to be a major accomplishment.
What I didn't realize was that
"having the courage to start" was the real miracle. I crossed the line and
reached my personal goals for that race. I thought that might be the end of it. I could
check it off my "to do" list and get back to my real life.
Ah, but it was only
the beginning. I wrote the race director with some suggestions for making the race more
walker-friendly and he invited me back to the race courtesy of John Bingham. More than
once I cursed and wondered why they couldn't just say thanks for the suggestions and give
me a pizza. Now I felt pressure (from myself of course... the worst kind) to do the race
again and to do it better.
A handful of my friends are runners. I never in my life had the desire to run. In fact
on the eve of the Inaugural Capital City Half Marathon, I proclaimed to a runner that I
would rather walk 13 miles than run 3. But I did start to wonder what exactly made running
so appealing to people. I never found an answer that made sense to me. So I decided to try
it. I knew it would help my weight management efforts and frankly, walking was taking up
too much time.
I started reading John Bingham's articles. One of his suggestions for new
runners was to simply think about running for a while. That I could do. I would just mull
it over and see how thinking about running felt. That lasted for weeks. Then I went to a
running store looking for shoes. The salesman got me set up and said I'd be running a mile
in two weeks. I could not convince him how unattainable that felt for me. Getting a PhD
in the next two weeks seemed easier.
My friends suggested a running/walking routine. So I tried running a minute and walking
a minute on the first outing. After 8 repetitions, I was wiped out. Luckily my heart
continued to beat and my lungs continued to inflate. I was truly concerned they would
simply refuse to accommodate the extra load I was putting on them. They were mad at me,
but they kept functioning. The next day, I tried again. I was able to do 10 run/walk
repetitions. Aha, I was making progress! I played with the run/walk routine for 3 months.
I shortened the walking time, lengthened the running time, then lengthened the walking time
and did what felt challenging, but not torturous.
In August, I went with a friend to a 5K
race. It was a small race and he encouraged me to enter to help the charity. OK, fine I
thought. I'll run a mile or so and then flip over to my run/walk routine. Well, pride
took over that day. Once I started running, it felt like I would be a big cheater if I
stopped. I ran the whole thing, came in just about last, but felt like I had climbed a
mountain.
At this point it was not too difficult for my friends to convince me to be a part of the
Columbus Marathon. Just the word marathon scares me, but I agreed to do the 3-mile leg.
We organized two teams so we would each have a buddy to run with. I continued my run/walk
routine for another month until I could comfortably run 30 minutes non-stop.
At the marathon expo, I met John Bingham, my secret hero. He had shirts that read, "I'm
slow, I know it, Get over it." This became my new mantra. I participated in the
marathon relay and did my 3 miles with pride and exuberance. At the same time, I felt
like an imposter. This race was full of real runners, people running real distances like
10, 13, or 26 miles.
A few weeks after the marathon relay, my running partner and I declared we would run
the 2nd Annual Capital City Half Marathon in the spring. I started telling everyone I
knew so that I couldn't back out. I registered early. I managed to get about a dozen
friends and acquaintances to register with me. It was time to join the ranks of real
runners.
John Bingham's philosophy really resonates with me. I'm not sure I would have actually
started running if I hadn't encountered some of his articles. There literally is no need
for speed. I am terribly slow, but I am out there on the path running on a regular basis.
And it is not killing me. I'm out there running to make my mind, body, and soul stronger.
I'm grateful that I'm physically able to run. I don't fret too much over the days that I
don't feel like going very far. I know that I want to keep going another day. I'm running
forward with my life.
I get kind of excited to put on my running gear. I tolerate the running and enjoy the
time out from everything else in my day and life. I absolutely adore the post-run
exhilaration. I feel like I've accomplished something for myself. I'm reminded how far
I've come in my short running career and in my life. I'm amazed at how my body has not
only adapted but also responded to the new stress I've subjected it to. I feel stronger
and more beautiful with every run.
— Mary Battershell, Columbus, OH
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Mr. Bingham:
The half-marathon training schedule I have been using to train for the Capital City Half
Marathon suggests participating in a 5K race six weeks before the big event. I have been
lucky enough to find one in Columbus at the right time. Because it is held in mid-February
in central Ohio, it attracts a pretty small field.
Last year, I had decided to work on speed, and I had been training with that in mind.
When I signed up for the 5K, I thought, "I am going to burn up the course."
Race day morning, the air temperature (not the wind chill, mind you, but the air
temperature) was zero degrees. I bundled up and headed for the starting line anyway.
They blew the horn, and off I went. This race is three laps around a 1 mile course.
I concentrated; long strides, controlled breathing, good form. I came around for the first
lap—not a very fast time. Rats! On the second lap I was huffing and puffing, and on the
third lap I had to walk a little. I crossed the finish line, out of breath and red-faced,
with a reasonable time—but certainly not my best.
A volunteer said to me, "How old are you?" I thought, for heaven's sake, I must
look terrible. She wants to see if I still know my age! I told her I was 45, and she handed
me a plaque! Third place, Men's 5K, 45–49! I was ecstatic! I rule!
Later, of course, I found out that there were only three in my age group—but you can bet
the plaque is hanging on my den wall anyway!
This year, at the same race, it was about 35 degrees warmer. I was there to have
fun—but maybe to get another plaque! I have dropped a few pounds, and have been trying to
take better care of myself. I don't think a whole lot about speed training these days—I
run what I run and have a good time. The horn blew and off I went once again.
Each time I passed the clock I had to do a double take. I had never run that fast before!
At the end, a new PR for a 5K! I crossed the line, smiling, and the volunteer asked me my
age, and I told him. He looked at the prize table. "Nope," he said, "all
gone!"
I told you all that to tell you this: Getting a plaque for placing in a race is great,
even if you're sure bet because the field is so small. But I have to say that this year
meant more. In some sense, I placed last year because of other people—it was cold and
they didn't show up. This year was warmer and all those faster runners came out and did
their thing—so no plaque for me. But a new PR was something I did—regardless of who
else was running. This was a first place for me—the fastest 3.1 miles I have ever run!
I thought about Penguins everywhere, running for the joy of it, running for rewards you
can't often hang on the wall.
I can't wait for the race April 2! I'll be a face in the crowd on race day—living
another story!
— Steve Deedrick
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