Runner of the Week: Jeff

It's been a while since I've featured a Runner of the Week. I'm happy to return the feature with an awesome runner and person, Jeff Williams. Some of you blog readers may know him better at Detroit Runner host of the blog of the same name.. Jeff is pretty new to the fitness world. He started exercising for the very first time in 2009. In about 2 years, Jeff has done a 360 with his fitness and health. Read on to learn more about Jeff "Detroit Runner" Williams and his running and fitness quest...

Over two years ago I went to get a medical exam for my life insurance.  The insurance company put me in a high risk category.  I didn't like it!  It also didn't help that I was turning 40 as well.  So I decided that I needed to do something about it.  My life had been work, come home, eat dinner and snack...and snack....and, yes, you guessed it, snack.  Then I went to bed.  There was really no physical exercise in my life.  Unfortunately what that did was increased my weight to about 195 pounds(I'm only 5' 6") and gave me high cholesterol(280!!!).  I knew I needed to do something about it so I bought myself a pair of running shoes, started walking and started eating healthy.  I walked for probably five months and lost about 30 pounds but could lose no more.  Then I started to lift weights which really did help get me fit but I was not losing weight.  So I thought, I'll start running!

I started by trying it on the treadmill but I could not figure out what was wrong.  I would run but I would just get too tired after a minute and have to start walking again.  I took things outside but the same thing happened and I could not do it.  I talked to my brother-in-law who is a doctor and a runner and he said "slow down!".  That was it, it helped tremendously!  I was just going too fast and losing energy too quick.  My first run was about six houses long.  Haha!  I remember huffing and puffing out there.  Each day I would go out for a walk and try to run one additional home.  I kept doing that until I could get through a block, then two blocks, then my subdivision street until I could get to a point where I could run for 30 minutes at a time and so on.  As I progressed I also lost the weight really fast and by the time I was nine months into the start of my exercising, I signed up for my first 5k and had lost 65 pounds and reduced me cholesterol to 140 points!  I have since put on about 5 pounds but have managed to keep the weight off since I started two years ago.

My wife was very supportive and we purchased an American Heart Association cookbook which my wife uses daily for our meals.  The racing is what really did it for me.  I loved it!  It kept my interest and gave me goals to work on.  I felt incredible every time I finished a race even if it was not my best race.  I wanted to PR every time.  Haha!  Crazy, I know.  I moved through the 5k to the half marathon in about seven months and raised almost $3,000 for a local hospital for my first half as well.  I figured if I'm going to do a half marathon, I might as well do some good for others at the same time.  It also secretly helped keep me motivated because there was no way I was going to tell people that donated money that I did not finish the race.  

I did not realize it at the time, but I was actually pretty good at running.  I did my first half marathon(which was hilly!) in 1:45:55.  Not super speedy but very respectable.  I have since run four 5k's, four 10k's, three 10 mile runs and three half marathons.  I also did my first full marathon in May(Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, Michigan) with my running buddy with a time of 4:12:17 less than two years after I started exercising and I'm currently training for my second marathon, the Detroit Free Press marathon in October.

Running has completely changed my life.  Also, my family has helped support me throughout the process.  In addition, the running community and the many blogs I read are great sources of motivation.  Blogging about my progress also helps me - kind of like therapy.  I love talking about running with other runners and my blog (www.detroitrunner.com) is a great place to do that.  Runners are very supportive of each other and I have met some great people over the last couple years.  I hope to be able to run for the foreseeable future and I do what I can get other other people involved in the sport.

Thanks Jeff for sharing your story! Be sure to check out Jeff's blog Detroit Runner!

Runner of the Week: Jill

Last March, I shared with you John's story and his amazing journey to a healthier life-style and a life of fitness and running. John is an amazing man and when he suggested I share the story of a friend of his (Jill), I knew it would also be an inspiration.

Jill definitely is just that. After a year of personal struggles and loss, Jill has prevailed and become an even stronger young lady for herself and her family. Read on to learn more about Jill and her journey.

When people ask me why I run, my first response is usually “blood pressure”. Even though I am overweight and need to lose several more pounds, it isn't my first thought or concern. My second response is usually the newly adopted motto of our team in training group “I run because I can. I run because they can’t” and then I follow up with some brief overview of Caleb’s Crusade, the non profit organization that put together the marathon training program in which I participated. This non-profit’s mission is to help families affected by childhood cancer.

The real reason I started running is because it’s not complicated. All you need is a good pair of running shoes and motivation to walk out the door. I now know that there is a lot more to it, but still, running is relatively simple. And it is the only “sport” I have ever been able to stick with.

I am NOT an athlete, nor am I a particularly fit personality. I am competitive, but not a competitor. I have had times when I wanted to get healthy and lose weight trying diets or gym memberships but nothing really stuck. I feel lost in the gym with all the choices and bored out of my mind in circuit training centers like Curves. I love to eat and will try just about anything (fresh, cooked, raw, steamed, fried, green, red or white) as long as its prepared well and seasoned right, I love it all.

But, I have been increasingly gaining weight for several years (on average about 5 lbs a year), capping out at around 185-190lbs at 5’ 4”. When I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, I knew that I needed to make some changes.

Early last year (2010) something really changed for me. I started to get embarrassed about the way I was looking and feeling. I went for a walk with a coworker at lunch one day. When I came back from what ended up being about a 30-minute walk, my face was so red, I looked like a tomato. Yes a tomato. It took a better part of the afternoon for my color to return to normal.

I joined a fitness challenge at work and started going to the gym everyday (treadmill and elliptical machines, nothing too complicated). And I set a new goal for the year--Work on working out, don’t worry about diet, just worry about developing a work out routine and stick with it. I was up to jogging (inside and out) about 2 ½ miles a day four or five days a week when a friend convinced me to run in a local 5k. She convinced me that having short term goals, like signing up for a run, would help me stay motivated to keep working out. I had followed her husband's (John) own success story of going from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one, so it wasn't hard to buy what she was saying. (Great for John but unfortunately for me, he made it look a whole lot easier than it would turn out to be). I hung tight though and did in fact cross that 5K finish line on April Fools Day with a time of 35:13.

Later that month I was invited to a running group meeting. Little did I know, this group was working to raise awareness for a new non-profit organization (Caleb’s Crusade) in an effort to raise money to support families affected by childhood cancer. The group would be training as a team for the DISNEY MARATHON …. Wait…. What?... Train for a what? I walked away from this meeting thinking they were CRAZY. I was touched by their story and moved by the dedication of the coaches and volunteers involved, but REALLY a marathon. Yeah right!

I was signed up the next day. I’m not exactly sure what attracted me more, Caleb’s Story, access to professional coaches, or the closeness of the group. You could tell they were good people and I liked them right away. They were training for the full, the half and even had walking coaches for people who wanted to walk the entire race. So I had options. But, was I really going to do this?

We had our first group training run on May 8th. I talked to the coaches and decided very quickly that I wanted to set my goal high, again competitive but not a competitor. I wanted to accomplish something great, but I didn’t feel the need to be first in line. After all, if they were telling me it was possible for me to run a marathon, who was I to tell them they were wrong. So I signed up for the full marathon. Was I really doing this?

Training went well through June. We started off pretty easy and the team was really great. July was a different story. It was hot! Training two nights a week and doing one long run early on Saturday's to beat the heat, or so they keep saying, but it was HOT!

In August I ended up with a strained hip flexor from all the training. Then I received devastating news from my family. My sister-in-law’s breast cancer spread to her cerebral fluid and she was given just a few months to live (by this time she had been fighting off breast cancer since giving birth to her youngest daughter two years prior).

A few months later in October I received more devastating news. My grandmother passed away. This was a great loss for me. One that has changed me forever. A life without her is a sadder place to be. I will miss her more than I can even put into words. With this news, I went out of town to be with my family and ended up not training for another two weeks. I considered putting off the marathon. With the hip flexor injury and the break in training I was worried about being too far behind to catch up. I didn’t want to push it and get hurt even more. I was also emotionally drained, but I wanted to keep going. At the recommendation of my coach and my run buddy, we modified my training to a definite run/walk goal and continued to move forward.

My life was getting a little overwhelming (husband, two teenage kids, work, training, recent loss of my grandmother, my sister-n-law’s illness, and studying for my masters degree). Something had to give. I decided to put off school for the semester and re-prioritize my life.

Then my sister-in-law took a turn for the worse and I took leave from work. I was able to stick with the training program to an extent while in Texas, but I was definitely getting worried about meeting our training goals and being ready for the marathon. My run partner and I adopted the Galloway ½-mile run to 1-minute walk training program for the marathon run and decided to use this method in all of our training runs from then on. Everyone assured me I’d still “finish” the race.

Sadly, in November, my sister-in-law (Healther) passed away from breast cancer at the age of 33, leaving behind my brother and five children ages 2½ to 16 years. This loss affected me in a way I don’t think I will ever truly be able to verbalize. It gave me an appreciation for life and motivated me, more than I can explain, to continue with this training goal. I needed to make a difference in the way I was living my life. Heather fought every day for 2½ years for the opportunity to spend another day with my brother and her children. The least I could do is appreciate what a gift good health really is.

Three weeks after taking leave from work, I was back home and back on my training program with the group.

2010 saw a lot of loss, but I made a lot of gains too.

• Adopted a training program and saw it through to the end of the year
• Ended the year running four or five times a week
• Successfully completed my longest run alone 13.1 miles (training run)
• Successfully completed my longest run ever 22 miles (training run)
• Raised $1,133 for Caleb’s Crusade
• Met and became close friends with 20 or so really great people
• Lost 25 lbs.
• Learned a great deal about personal loss and personal triumph

2011 has also started with a lot of gains. On January 8th, I watched as several members of our training group crossed the 13 mile mark of their half-marathon race. They were definitely going to finish! And a couple of them, crazy enough, would be running with me the next day. I was scared but so proud of the work they had put in and very proud to be standing on the sidelines to support our Caleb’s Crusaders team.

The next day on January 9th, I crossed the full-marathon finish line. I never gave up even though I wanted to after hitting “the wall” at mile 19. I honestly didn’t think I would be able to take one step further and then (with the support of my team)… I did. Chip time: 6:25:02.

Collective accomplishments so far for the year 2011:

• Finished my first marathon 26.2 miles
• Lost another 4 lbs
• Running three days a week
• Cross training two days a week
• Committed to participate (with a team) in the March 2011- Sunset to Sunrise Relay (180 mile run from Florida ’s coast to coast)
• Training to participate in an awareness run that I have coordinated for the past three years, but have previously been unable to run. The Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Florida April 15th, 2011. The training challenge for me: Pace- 10 miles at a 10 minute/mile pace.
• Back in school (signed up just waiting for the class to begin in February)
• Planning out meals on a weekly basis and am still eating great food, with limits
• Living life daily with an appreciation for my ability to live an active lifestyle, when others can not.

“I run because I can. I run because they can’t” a motto that I am truly starting to believe. So I guess I could say that I am hooked. I found motivation through personal loss, friendship and success. Equipped with a good pair of running shoes, the rest is easy, right?

Do You Know a Running Hero?

You may not know it, but there are heroes all around us. They're not given medals. They're not recognized on the 6 o'clock news. And they're not rich and famous. But, they are heroic nonetheless.

These are ordinary people who overcome extraordinary obstacles—weight challenges, the death of a loved one, a chronic illness, the loss of a job, and/or mental or physical disabilities, just to name a few. Many of these people use running to help them overcome those life obstacles.

Over the past two years, I've featured over 40 examples of these everyday running heroes. These are some of the most inspirational and motivating people I have had the privilege to encounter.

There is Noah who lost over 60lbs to make sure he was setting a good example for his son and so he'd be around to see him grow up. There is Ann affectionately known as "Grannie Annie" who decided to take up running at age 50 and who now at age 67 has run over 70 marathons. There is Danica and her amazing story about her courageous mom's battle with cancer and how running helped Danica gain back some normalcy in her life after the passing of her mom. There is Mel who has an amazing 2nd-chance story of how she regained her life from mysterious seizures. And there is David who used running to help him deal with his sister’s cancer having come out of remission. These are just a few of the 40+ stories shared on the blog.

Recommend a Runner of the Week!
Do you know someone like Noah, Ann, or Mel who with an inspirational running story? If so, I'd love to hear it and share it with the thousands of runners all over the USA and the world who read RunnerDude's Blog. If you know of a great candidate for RunnerDude's Runner of the Week, please email me at runnerdudeblog@yahoo.com. Be sure to put "Runner of the Week" in the email's subject line.

Runner of the Week: Chris Wojtowicz

If you ask 10 different runners how they got into running, you'll probably get 10 different reasons. That's a big reason running is so appealing to me. People are drawn to running for so many different reasons. Some use it as stress relief, some use it to draw attention to a cause, some use it to build confidence, others use it as a means to stay fit, and still other use it as a means of working through the grieving of a loved one or to help them cope through a traumatic time. This week's Runner of the Week (Chris Wojtowicz) is a true inspiration and a true testament of what one can accomplish when they have the desire and commitment. Read on to learn more about Chris and his story.

RD: Where are you located? Original hometown or a transplant?

Chris: Born and raised in the Detroit area, which I still call home.

RD: Share a little about yourself. What do you do for a living? Hobbies?
Chris: I’m a 36-year old dad to three great kids and have been married to my wife for 10 years. Our youngest is not quite 2 years old and together, they keep us very busy. As a software sales executive, I work out of a home office and find myself on the road visiting customers almost every week. When I’m on the road, big business meals and bar time with co-workers isn’t uncommon at all.

RD: How long have you been running?
Chris: Less than a year. In the fall of 2009, I got an email from Rodale for a promotion for their Biggest Loser book, 30 Day Jump Start. My wife and I love the show, and thought that we’d give it a try in 2010. I started walking/running on January, 9th, 2010. At first, I could only go a ½ mile on the treadmill at 4.5-5.0 mph before I’d have to get off, out of breath and with lots of pain in my legs. I wanted to just give up and tell my wife “I’m just not a runner….let’s find something else.” But my wife and I promised ourselves that we’d stick with exercising and a better diet for THIRTY DAYS….no matter what. I’m a grown man! I can stick with something for 30 days, right? On days when I was too sore to run, I’d climb on the treadmill and walk instead. Sometimes for 20 minutes, sometimes for 2 hours while I watched a ballgame. Sometimes 3mph and flat, sometimes 4mph with incline. It dawned on me that if I was sweating, no matter if I was walking or jogging, it was good. I was tracking all running/walking activities at www.nikerunning.com. Looking back on my workout history, I was able to jog my first non-stop mile on day 10 (Jan. 19th). I did this mile in 10:57 and remember collapsing on the couch a sweaty, sore, PROUD mess! I did a mile! After a few more days of recovery walking, I tried again at the mile and failed! I gave up after ¼ mile! I was so frustrated and again wanted to quit. On Jan 27th, though, I completed my second 1-mile run, this time a slower 11:19. Then more walking, more jogging, more, more more. Through these first few weeks, I was beginning to learn that jumping off the belt was a conscience DECISION I was making! This realization allowed me to stay on longer. On Feb 1st (22 days after climbing on the treadmill) I finally completed my first non-stop, 5k jog, in 36:44. I was SO proud (sore and sweaty, too). From there, the confidence and determination was INFECTIOUS! Now that I knew that I could do this (seemingly) ridiculous distance, there’s no stopping me! I did another 5k the very next day in 36:30 (a new PR!). A few days off, then another 5k. I now had a base. A 3.1-mile run was my new standard! In just a month! WOOOOHOO!!! When our 30 day commitment was over, I was HOOKED! On days that I couldn't get in a run and a good sweat felt miserable, like something was missing. So we stuck with it. My wife and I signed up for a 5k in April. Having a date on the calendar allowed us to stay focused on making sure we were getting in our 4-5 runs per week. I ran my first 5k in 25:31! Since I was hooked, I needed my next event, Chicago’s Rock and Roll Half Marathon! The mileage increased and I was getting stronger and stronger. I finished my first half marathon on August 1st in 2:02 (9:18/pace). I had to put on my sunglasses as I crossed the finish line because I didn’t want my finish photos to show me crying! A September 5k was next and I came in at 22:04 (7:06/pace). Finally, in October, we ran the Detroit Half Marathon and finished in 1:50.  Next Event: We’re heading to New Orleans to run the Rock and Roll Mardi Gras FULL MARATHON on February 13, 2011!

RD: You’ve lost a great deal of weight. Did the running drive the weight loss, or did the weight loss drive the running?

Chris: On January 9th, I weighed 262. Along with climbing on the treadmill, we also made a 30 day commitment to watching and, most importantly, tracking everything we ate. It wasn’t easy, especially at first. We had planned a day trip to ski on January 9th and instead of enjoying a big pizza lunch with the rest of the group in the ski lodge, we brought our own salads and chicken breast. Tracking our input on www.thedailyplate.com was a fantastic way to set goals and track our daily and weekly progress toward those goals. Also, tracking our exercise (calorie burn) on this website helped bring the two most important numbers together….on one screen…for easy analysis. We learned quickly that if we monitored our food (for the first time ever) and made a commitment to daily exercise, then good things would happen. We weighed in every Saturday morning, and after one week, I had dropped ten pounds! After our initial 30 days, I was down a total of 24 pounds to 238. There is no doubt that without running, the weight would have been much slower to come off. Conversely, there is no doubt that without a conscience effort to eat more healthily and with reasonable portion sizes, the weight loss would have been slow. Combining these two practices, however, was like magic! Plus, carrying 24 less pounds HAD to make running easier. Easier running means longer distances and more miles. More miles means more weight loss. It was an exciting and very enjoyable cycle!

RD: What initiated the weight loss and a new life of fitness??

Chris: I carried my weight above 260 for a few years. I was waking up with ankle pain, sore knees, back pain, recurring gout attacks, etc. For SO long I just chalked this pain up as “…getting old…”. Getting down on the floor with the baby and (even more so) getting off the floor was very hard. Wanting a new body, more strength and energy was my primary motivation. Then the 30 Day Jump Start book showed up and the message was simple: Give us a 30 day commitment and see what happens.

RD: What do you enjoy most about running?

Chris: At first, the biggest enjoyment I got out of the daily running sessions was the “alone time”. For a few minutes or 1 ½ hours on long runs, I’m able to think about the kids (how can I be a better dad), the family (what can I do more for my wife and family), work (I get great work ideas when running), or simply create a great playlist and enjoy some tunes. Often, on the long runs, I get through all of these topics! Nowadays, we’re training for a full marathon and our training plan is defined from now until race day in February. So, I enjoy getting the “Check In the Box” after each day’s assignment. Some days, when I’m not in the mood to get on the treadmill or put on 3-4 layers and hit the street, I remind myself that there’s an empty box on my training plan. I hate an empty box staring at me, so I lace up and check off that box.

RD: Are you a lone runner or do you run with a group?

Chris: 90% of my runs are alone. On the rare occasion that my wife and I are able to free our work schedules and send the kids to friends/families, then we run together. Long runs with your best friend, especially after all those runs alone, are absolutely priceless.We chat about running articles or blogs that we’ve read, the latest running gear for cold weather runs, etc. It’s absolutely perfect. The best thing about running with someone you’re so close to is, in all actuality, hard to explain (but here goes): Running is magical in its ability to allow one person to give another person energy and motivation. Similar to reaching into my pocket and giving her a quarter, through chatting and pacing each other, I feel like we can give each other a few points of energy to keep running, to get through the rough patch, to fight through the pain, and finish the run. More often than not, I’m in need of the energy points, but on the rare occasion I’m able to talk her through a rough patch is nothing short of magical and a lot of fun to talk about over a post-run smoothie.

RD: What’s the funniest or oddest thing that’s happened to you while on a run?

Chris: On a vacation in Scottsdale, I was getting in my daily run (alone, because my wife had gotten ill) through mountainous/hilly neighborhoods when, much to my shock and surprise came a coyote….and his friend. I froze in my tracks, as did my new friends, about 20 feet ahead of me. Waiting to see what their first move would be, I had scanned the area for my ‘escape’, which would have been a sprint to a nearby 5 foot concrete wall that I’d have to scale and hope they weren’t very good jumpers. As luck would have it, though, it appeared that I scared them as much as they scared me and they took off in the opposite direction and out of sight! Phew! I don’t run across coyotes much in my Detroit suburbs.

RD: What’s your biggest running accomplishment? Why?

Chris: Even though my 2nd half marathon was 11 minutes faster, my 1st half marathon was my biggest/proudest running accomplishment. Running a 5k was a GREAT accomplishment in “becoming a runner”, but my view of a running a half-marathon seemed like a monumental feat….one that very few people can say they’ve done. When I crossed the finish line in Chicago, 13.1 miles and 2 hours and 1 minute of non-stop running, I knew that I did it….I was OFFICIALLY a runner and no one could dispute that fact. I was no longer “the biggest guy in the room” at 260+ pounds. I was a runner. I had a big, heavy finishers medal that I earned!

RD: Do you have a favorite brand of running shoe? Which model? Why?

Chris: My favorite running shoe is the Nike Lunarglide. They’re super light and provide lots of support. For training purposes, though, I’ve fallen in love with my Nike Frees and even the Vibram Fivefingers.

RD: What’s your favorite race distance(s) or favorite race?

Chris: I’ve run a couple of 5Ks, an 8K, and two half marathons. Of these, my favorite race distance would have to be the 5k. Now that I’ve built up a good base of fitness and running strength, I believe I’m finally learning how to race. My last 5K was completed in 22:04 and (for the first time ever) I even finished before my wife/coach!  It’s my goal to complete a 5K in less than 20 minutes in 2011. My favorite of all the races was the Detroit Half Marathon. Starting in downtown Detroit, the course crosses into Canada via the Ambassador Bridge. I’ve driven over this bridge so many times in my life, and here I was….RUNNING across it, high over the water below! Very neat. Then a few miles on the Canadian shoreline was great. Our Canadian supporters were so enthusiastic and encouraging that the miles seemed to fly by. Returning to the US is done via an underwater mile via the Detroit/Windsor tunnel. Again…I’ve driven this tunnel so many times, and it was absolutely amazing to run through it (although it never dawned on my while driving through that getting out of the tunnel was a serious incline!).

RD: If you were speaking to a group of non-runners or runner wannabes and trying to encourage them to run, what would you say?

Chris: “If I can do it….then YOU …. ANYBODY….can do it. It seems so simple to say, but running or not running is a choice. A simple choice to lace them up or NOT to lace them up. I tried to use the excuse that I couldn’t run (or walk in those early days) because I had to take care of the kids, or the house needed cleaning, or there’s just no time. But every day, I had time to watch Biggest Loser, or Wheel of Fortune, or the Evening News. Many times, I set the alarm at 5am to walk/run before everyone else woke up in the morning. Ball game on TV? Grab the Walkman and listen to it while I trekked through the neighborhood. A co-worker of mine, who ran daily, told me three simple letters. EFD. I asked, “What’s EFD?” He replied, “Every ____ Day….just get out there and run. Some days are easy and feel great. Some days are harder than others, but EFD. EFD”. He made it sound so simple and logical. Do you want to run and be a runner? Or do you want to stay in and wish you could be a runner? EFD. EFD.

RD: Open Mike: Share anything you‘d like about your running experiences, past accomplishments, goals, dreams….anything you haven’t previously shared.

Chris: I’m shameless on drawing motivation from any source possible and have become an avid reader of all-things-running. I read every Runner’s World from cover to cover. I use stories of other runners to get me pumped up. If they can do it, I can (at least) put in a great effort as well. I read running books, such as Christopher MacDougall’s Born to Run (which got me into the Vibram FiveFingers), Hal Higdon’s Marathon and Through the Woods. Also, Duel in the Sun was an amazing story of the 1982 Boston Marathon. I’m currently listening to Once a Runner by John L. Parker. I often refer to these stories, these amazing athletes and their accomplishments while I run…especially during a rough patch.

Thanks, Chris, for sharing your story. We will be rooting for you and your wife in February!

Runner of the Week: David

This week's Runner of the Week is David Pittman. David has a great blog of his own and has a great story to tell about his own running milestones as well as the various reasons for his running. Read on to learn more about David.

RD: So, David, where are you from?

David: Originally from Central Indiana farmland (about 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis), now living in suburban Chicago

RD: Share a little about yourself. What do you do for a living? Hobbies?

David: My first job was as a high school English and journalism teacher, which is where my love for writing and telling stories originates, but for the last 21 years, I’ve been in high-tech marketing. Until this year, I worked mostly for small companies, but in February my 350-person company was acquired by 450,000-person IBM. I’m now part of “Big Blue”!

RD: How long have you been running?

David: Wow, it’ll be 36 years this fall. When did I get to be so old?!

RD: You and be both man! Been over 25 for me. Where did all that time go (or miles) go?

RD: What got you into running?

David: One day, my 7th grade basketball coach pulled me aside and said, “Son, as a basketball player, you’d make one heckuva runner.” At first I thought he was complimenting my fast-break abilities (I could fly!), but then I realized he was telling me I really wasn’t very good.

RD: What do you enjoy most about running?

David: Oh my, where to start? My health and well-being are important to me, and running keeps me fit and reasonably stress-free. I have an enormous sweet tooth - running keeps me from ballooning to the size of a VW Beetle.

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But what I enjoy most about running is the fact that I, like any other runner, can make a positive difference to other people. For the past eight years, I’ve run with the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation team of runners and triathletes. In that time, I’ve raised over $45,000 to fight cancer. I originally joined the DetermiNation team as a way of dealing with my sister’s cancer having come out of remission. I knew I couldn’t cure Sharon's cancer myself, but I could provide funds that would help someone get to a treatment, or help a family cope with the stress of being care-givers, or help a researcher who might one day find a cure. [Click here] for more on this story. By the way, everybody always asks about my sister. She has once again kicked cancer into remission and is doing very well.

RD: What are your favorite training foods?

David: I’m not obsessive about any particular food. When I’m in the heavy training time for a marathon, my body just sort of naturally craves food that’s good for me -- fruits, veggies, yogurt -- and let's me know it doesn't appreciate my one true love: french fries. However, I do love me a good ribeye now and then!

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Before a race, any race, I eat a bagel with peanut butter (crunchy, by the way. I don’t even like to acknowledge the existence of “creamy”). After weekend morning runs, I love pancakes! Actually, to be more precise, I love pure maple syrup. Pancakes are just a very efficient and tasty syrup-delivery system.

RD: You and my wife have the cruncy peanut butter thing in common. I don't get it. LOL!

RD: Are you a lone runner or do you run with some buddies? What do you like about each?

David: I run most of my training miles by myself. My time running is when I solve the problems that seem insurmountable any other time, whether that’s how to meet a pressing deadline at work, or how to raise a teenage daughter, or how to convince my wife that I really need to go away for a long weekend in the Florida Keys to run a relay race with 5 other guys.

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When it's time to race, I really enjoy participating with friends and family. Several people in my extended family are runners: a brother-in-law, a niece and two nephews on my wife’s side, and two nephews on my side. We’re spread across four states, but we get together frequently at races, either to run with one another or to cheer on one or more of the others. We’re all very competitive and enjoy the occasional side bet on which of us will do best. Bragging rights can last a loooooong time.

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RD: What’s the funniest or oddest thing that’s happened to you while on a run?

David: I've had some good ones over the years, and most of them involve peeing.

Pee Story #1: Earlier this year, I had the honor(?) of running the Seven Mile Bridge leg of the Keys100 relay. This famous bridge is a two-lane road that is the only link between the keys and the Florida mainland. My relay leg started just after noon on a blisteringly hot, humid day. I had a 24-ounce bottle of water on my belt and carried another 24 ounce bottle in my hand. By the time I'd reached halfway across the bridge, I'd finished one bottle and had to pee ... badly! The end of the bridge was still about 30 minutes away. There I was, at the top of a bridge, with cars whizzing by in both directions -- and me peeing over the side.

Pee story #2: A couple of years ago I was preparing to run the local 4th of July 5K that I do every year. I had jogged a nice warm up then slammed a few cups of water. I glanced at my watch and saw there were 6 minutes till start time, so I sprinted over to a vacant port-o-let for one last squirt. When I was about halfway through, I heard the report of the starter's pistol. My watch said there were still 4 minutes to the gun! I finished as quickly as I could, then flew out the door and across the parkway just in time to be the very ... last ... person ... to ... start.

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RD: What’s your biggest running accomplishment? Why?
David: Without question, my biggest running accomplishment was recording a 3:28:42 at the 2009 Chicago Marathon. Why, because that broke the 3:30 time I needed to qualify for the Boston Marathon! I used to be a middle-of-the-pack guy. (In fact, of my 8 marathons, exactly half are over 4 hours.) Until 2008, I never thought I would ever have a chance of qualifying for Boston. But in 2005, I had surgery to repair an ACL I tore playing volleyball. I worked hard at rehab for a year, then ran the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon ... and finished in a very disappointing time.

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After that, I “retired” from marathons and focused on half-marathons. Whaddya know, I started getting faster. And faster. In December 2008, I ran 1:35:13 at the St. Jude’s Half Marathon in Memphis, beating my previous personal record by 8 minutes! At that point I thought, “Hey, if you continue to work hard, you can go to Boston!” For the next 10 months, my mantra was, “Three twenty-eight will be great.” When I crossed the finish line at Chicago and saw 3:28:42 on my watch ... wow, I can’t even describe how amazingly fantastic that felt. [Click here] for my race report.

RD: Do you have a favorite brand of running shoe? Which model? Why?

David: For two years, I’ve been “playing the field.” Right now I’m alternating between Asics 2150, Saucony ProGrid Omni and Mizuno Wave Inspire. My next pair is likely to be Saucony Kinvaras, but I am strongly considering going “barefoot” with Vibram FiveFingers KSO or Bikila.

RD: What’s your favorite race distance(s)? Do you have a favorite race you run each year?

David: For sheer enjoyment, I’m really into half marathons right now. They’re easy enough to train for without huge miles, but they’re also challenging. They also give you enough time and distance to enjoy a city. In the past seven months, I’ve run halfs in Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana and Washington. My “go to” half is the Indy Mini Marathon. It’s the largest half marathon in the country; it’s back in my old stamping grounds; and it is, in my opinion, the best organized large race in the country. But for the ultimate feeling of accomplishment, give me a marathon. And for a marathon I would love to do every year, take me to Boston!

RD: If you were speaking to a group of non-runners or runner wannabes and trying to encourage them to run, what would you say?

David: You can do it. It doesn’t matter if you’re old, young, large, small, blind, have one leg or no legs. You can do it. IF ... you want to.Oh, and by the way, the feelings of self-confidence and accomplishment you will get from trying are soooo worth it!

RD: Open Mike: Share anything you‘d like about your running experiences, past accomplishments, goals, dreams….anything you haven’t previously shared.

David: My Twitter name is @DP_Turtle, and people often comment about my "pace" as a turtle. That's funny, and I really enjoy it. But truth is, pace is only 1/3 of the story behind the "turtle" name. Back in 2003, when Sharon's cancer returned and I decided to fight it through running, I came up with a "hook" to gain people's interest. (Hey, I'm in marketing - would you expect anything less?) Thus was born Turtles Against Cancer. The turtle metaphor has a three-pronged meaning:

1. My pace at the time was just enough to put me smack dab in the middle of the pack. While my speed has improved, I'm still no Meb or Ryan.
2. I likened the fight against cancer to the parable of the tortoise and the hare. We won't defeat cancer overnight, but slow and steady wins the race.
3. This is the best part - Sharon makes these delicious chocolate confections called turtles: pecans swimming in caramel and drenched in chocolate. Mmmmm! My big hook is for a donation of at least $50, you get a box of turtles. With Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know whut yur gonna git, but with mine, you always know it's gonna be tasty!

Lastly, people occasionally ask me, "Don't you ever get tired of running?" or "When are you going to stop?" My answers are "No," and "When I die." I really love running. I love those days when I head out for a run by myself on one of my regular routes, then suddenly realize that I don’t quite know where I am. I've drifted so deeply into my thoughts that everything looks different. I love feeling strong and healthy. I love being within single digits of my high school graduating weight.I have two dreams for the future. In one, I'm standing on the starting line of a marathon, and people all around me are whispering "Man, that old guy looks great! I hope I can still run a marathon when I'm his age."

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The other dream involves my daughter. Last year, she joined the junior high cross country team. She loved it and is looking forward to this season. When I watch her run, I remember standing on the side of the road at mile 24 of the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon. As I stood there, waiting to cheer on my friends, I saw a beaming young woman in a yellow T-shirt that read, "I'm running with my dad." Alongside her was a man in his 60s, wearing an ear-to-ear smile and a yellow T-shirt, "I'm running with my daughter." In my dream, one day, I'm that dad.

Thanks for sharing your story David! You've given me inspiration that one day, I too will be at Boston! Be sure to check out David's blog!

Runner of the Week: Suzanne

A few months back, I was at seminar for Triathlon coaches. The seminar was about an hour away in the Raleigh-Durham area of NC. The session was great. It was divided into three sections—yoga for athletes, resistance training for triathletes, and running drills. During a break the yoga instructor asked if I knew the lady sitting in front of me since we were both from Greensboro. I had been looking at the back this person's head for the past hour, never realizing we had both traveled from Greensboro for the session. The instructor introduced the lady to me as, Suzanne Duncan. My eyes lit up upon hearing this name. You see, Suzanne is a yoga instructor as well as a triathlon coach in Greensboro. I'd heard her name many times and had heard great things about her yoga classes, but had yet to have the opportunity to meet her.

We emailed after the seminar and Suzanne stopped by the studio one day and we had a great chat. It was during this chat that I learned of Suzanne's plans to run an Ironman in the weeks ahead. After conquering the Ironman, Suzanne did a free seminar at RunnerDude's Fitness for my clients and other runners in the community. It was a packed house! Suzanne, has a wonderful story of how she came to fitness, yoga, and the world of running, swimming, and biking. Read on to learn more about Suzanne.

RD: Are you a native North Carolinian?

Suzanne: I was born in Ohio but grew up in Carmel, Indiana. After college, moved around through Tampa, Atlanta and Memphis and finally settled in North Carolina.

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RD: Share a little about yourself. What do you do for a living? Hobbies?

Suzanne: I have an accounting degree from Indiana University and am a CPA. I was lucky to be able to give the 40+hour/week job up about 6 years ago to concentrate solely on teaching fitness classes, yoga and coaching. My husband and I travel a lot during the year to some rather exotic locations. However, I'm just as happy laying on the couch reading a good book.

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RD: How long have you been dong triathlons?

Suzanne: I did my first triathlon in 1994. It was an indoor triathlon at the Spears YMCA and I was scared out of my mind that I wasn't going to be able to finish. I cried when I did because I was so happy I had actually completed the 50 minute event.

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RD: From reading your website, I know you lost a lot of weight. What motivated you to do so and how did you go about achieving your great results?

Suzanne: I always tell people that I had been trying to lose weight my whole life. I always remember being overweight. After letting my weight creep up to over 300 pounds and being in a crappy marriage, I finally realized that I deserved to be happy. Something clicked in my brain and I made a commitment to myself to start eating healthier. I joined Weight Watchers and concentrated on my diet for a few months. I then started walking and eventually added in all the other stuff I do now. It was a long journey but so worth it!
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RD: What got you into triathlons?

Suzanne: I had always watched the Hawaii Ironman on TV each year and wondered why people would put themselves through that much torture. Well, I guess now I know why. There was a local triathlon at Sedgefield that some of the YMCA cycle instructors were talking about doing. They asked if I was interested and I said no because I hadn't been running. Once I picked up running, my friend Mary Beth encouraged me to sign up for the indoor triathlon. My current husband had also done triathlons in the past so he was there to encourage me as well.

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RD: What do you enjoy most about the triathlon--the run? swim? bike?

Suzanne: Biking is my true love of all the three disciplines in triathlon. It's the one I do the best at and the one that makes me feel fast. I think it comes from the fact that I started cycle classes way before I began to swim or run.
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RD: What are your favorite training foods?

Suzanne: I certainly have to give a shout out to Erin Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods (formerly Baker's Breakfast Cookies). They are such delicious, good-for-you cookies. She was also my very first sponsor. She gave me lots of cookies to pass out at races and really made me feel special by being on the company's triathlon team. With my recent Ironman training, I also enjoy Latte flavored Power Gels, Pomegranate Berry Cytomax and Clif Bars. Mango flavored smoothies with a shot of protein powder and peanut butter is also one of my favorite recovery drinks.

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RD: Are you a lone runner or do you run with some buddies? What do you like about each?

Suzanne: I first "learned" to run with a YMCA buddy that took me through the paces of building up from a walk to a run. I really enjoyed running with her. Then, I began to run alone because I was slow and most of my friends were faster. I enjoyed being on my own schedule and going wherever I wanted and going at my own pace. Now, however, I have recently started running with a few other people and absolutely love it. I love being able to chat and take my mind off the pain. They push me to be a faster runner which is something I really feel was lacking in my first years of running.
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RD: What's the funniest or oddest thing that's happened to you while on a run or a ride?

Suzanne: In triathlons, the organizers always use an orange spray paint can to mark rough patches of road. During the Woodlake triathlon a few years ago, there was a dead deer on the side of the road - partially in the road and partially off to the side. It was huge and was not something that we would have missed. However, the race organizers drew a big orange circle around it, just in case we did miss it.

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RD: What's your biggest running / triathlon accomplishment? Why?

Suzanne: This one is easy. I just finished Ironman Coeur d'Alene. It's definitely my biggest running AND triathlon accomplishment all wrapped up in one because I had never run a marathon or even anything longer than 19 miles prior to this triathlon. Coming from being an inactive, overweight smoker completing an Ironman is huge. It was a huge boost in my confidence. Today, I feel as if I could accomplish anything.
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RD: Do you have a favorite brand of running shoe? Which model? Why?

Suzanne: I have been running in Asics my whole running "career". They feel fantastic on me and I'm of the mindset "Why fix something that ain't broke?". Some shoes look flashier but I'm good with the Asics.

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RD: What's your favorite race distance(s)? Do you have a favorite race you run each year?

Suzanne: My favorite races are anything that's flat and in cooler weather. I really enjoyed the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. The course has tons of support from locals and lots of music and bands along the way. It was also my very first half marathon. Being from the Indianapolis area, running around the Indy 500 track was an awesome experience. My race schedule seems to change a little each year depending on our travel schedule so there isn't one that I just have to do each year.

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RD: If you were speaking to a group of non-runners or runner wannabes and trying to encourage them to run, what would you say?

Suzanne: Most of my clients are new runners and new triathletes. If you have a desire to do something then do it. It's like putting your shoes and socks and running clothes out the night before. When your alarm goes off, you just go get dressed. Don't think about it or you might talk yourself out of it. Once you get going - or once you get done! - you will feel better about getting your workout done. The other thing is that if you have a big goal set for yourself, be confident that if you follow a plan you will succeed. I always tell my clients to "trust their training". There has never been one time where I have failed if I have been true to my training.
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RD: Open Mike: Share anything you'd like about your running / triathlon experiences, past accomplishments, goals, dreams....anything you haven't previously shared.

Suzanne: The last thing I would want to share is the thing that I learned from completing an Ironman. Don't let previous negative experiences or past negative thoughts hold you back or discourage you from doing something that you want to do. One of my clients gave me a magnetic that I have prominently displayed on my fridge - "Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone". That is so true. Don't be afraid of trying something new. You might just surprise yourself!

Thanks Suzanne for sharing your story! Be sure to check out Suzanne on Facebook and at her website.

RunnerDude's Runner of the Week: Philip

This week's runner of the week—Philip Ciccarello—has been a twitter friend for a while now. I stumbled upon his blog when I was researching how other runners felt about ice baths. A picture of him in another post is perfect for depicting how good, but how bad an ice bath feels when you're having one. He's submersed waist deep in a tub of ice water, his running shorts one, a sweat shirt on, and a toboggan atop his head. Upon seeing this picture and reading the post that went along with it, I knew I'd like this runner. Been following his blog and twitter posts ever since. He also lives in the same great state that I do—North Carolina—although he's a little further west, in Charlotte.

Read on to learn more about this pretty cool running dude.

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RD: I see you’re in Charlotte, NC. Are you originally from there? Where did you grow up?
Philip: I was born and raised on an apple orchard in Amherst County Virginia— small town that borders the Blue Ridge Mountains. As a kid there was always something to do—hiking, bike rides, swimming, sports. I did it all and loved every minute of it. After going to college in Lynchburg (neighboring city), I met my wife @aciccarello and we began to look for a bigger city to locate. We heard awesome things about Charlotte, and after visiting one weekend we were sold.

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RD: Share a little about yourself. What do you do for a living? Hobbies?
Philip: My 8-5 job revolves around technology/Internet/social media, as I am the Director of Technology for the Charlotte Regional Partnership- a 16 county economic development organization. When not sitting in front of a computer, I enjoy running (obviously), working out, biking, live music, cooking, red wines, and networking.

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RD: How long has running been a part of your life? Did you grow up in a sports oriented family?
Philip: Thinking back, I really got started with running while playing soccer at the age of 7. Soccer progressed into cross country and the rest is history.

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RD: What got you into running?
Philip: Most of my inspiration to be an athlete/runner came from my dad. My dad was not a runner, yet for an endurance test he decided to run the Virginia 10 Miller (I was 11 years old). The next year I ran the race with him and finished. From that point forward I was hooked.
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RD: What do you enjoy most about running? Is it the mental? Physical? Both?
Philip: For me, what I enjoy most is the physical rewards of running. The only other cardio that I am involved in is biking and light swimming. After a run, depending on how hard you pushed yourself, your body should feel drained to the core, and I love it.
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RD: I hear you like to cook. What’s your favorite dish to make…sinful or healthy?
Philip: Cooking is something I enjoy thoroughly. People always ask me, “What’s your favorite restaurant”, to which I reply, “My kitchen”. Everything I cook is healthy, mostly chicken breasts, seafood, over the top salads, and vegetables. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy a good steak or burger once a month.
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RD: Do you have a favorite training food recipe you’ve created? What other favorite foods do you include in your training?
Philip: The night before races I eat homemade pancakes with real maple syrup. They digest well and I have never had stomach cramps the day of the race. In the morning I normally do coffee with sugar, either a piece of toast or bagel with half a banana.

Normally I run in the mornings…if the mileage is going to be less than 10, I go on an empty stomach to promote fat burning. Post run/workout I enjoy a bowl of oatmeal (whole oats) with peanut butter.
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RD: Are you a lone runner or do you run with some buddies? What do you like about each?
Philip: 90% of my runs are solo—without any music. Running is almost a meditation/relaxation for me. When I am out there my mind can roam free and there are not too many distractions that break my thoughts.

When I do run with others it’s a very pleasurable experience. What I have noticed, is when you run with a partner, the time goes by so much quicker, maybe it’s the conversation.
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RD: What’s the funniest or oddest thing that’s happened to you while on a run?
Philip: A couple of months ago something attacked my head from the air. At first when I blogged about it, I thought it was a bat…but after talking to a few people they suggested it could have been an owl.

RD: Oddly enough, a running friend of mine was visiting her daughter in Charlotte and while there, went out for an early-morning run. On that run an owl swooped down and grabbed at the hair on top of her head. Maybe it's the same owl!!

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RD: What’s your biggest running accomplishment? Why?
Philip: My biggest running accomplishment had to be when I finished my first official race (Virginia 10 miler) with my dad at the age of 12. The crowd throughout the race was so supportive, I wanted to give up so bad…that race taught me there will be serious pains involved with running—yet you must stay focused and take one step at a time.
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RD: Do you have a favorite brand of running shoe? Which model? Why?
Philip: My feet are flat, really flat. Over the years I have tried all types of running shoes. Back in 2006 I fell in love with the Asics Gel Nimbus brand. They are very supportive and cushiony. Usually every 350 miles I spring for a new pair.

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RD: What’s your favorite race distance(s)? Do you have a favorite race you run each year?
Philip: I love all distances, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be the half-marathon. The half is a good distance and usually will not beat you up as bad as training for a full marathon. There is one race that I return to each year—The Virginia 10-Miler. This race has so many memories, and my entire family gets together to run the full 10 miles or 4-miler.

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RD: If you were speaking to a group of non-runners or runner wannabes and trying to encourage them to run, what would you say?
Philip: Running is a lifestyle…it does not develop overnight. Diet, exercise, and a mental commitment are the keys to success. Running is not about how fast you are, but more about finishing. Always remember one step at a time.

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RD: Open Mike: Share anything you‘d like about your running experiences, past accomplishments, goals, dreams….anything you haven’t previously shared.

Philip: Be serious about injuries. Luckily enough, after years of running, I have only had just a few minor injuries. If you are injured, stop running and let it heal. If you keep pushing you will only make it worse, listen to your body.

There is a really cool website called Athlinks that aggregates all of your race results onto one page- a must if you are into tracking your results.

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Thanks Philip for sharing a little about your life and running! One day I hope to get down to Charlotte and get a run in with you.

RunnerDude's Runner of the Week: Lauren

This week's Runner of the Week—Lauren—is a vibrant young lady who's a frequent commentor on the blog. Her upbeat comments are always refreshing and encouraging. Even though she's a busy college student she's discovered a love for running. Read on to find out more about Lauren and how running has impacted her life.

RD: Where are you from?

Lauren: Grew up in Chicago, moved to Orlando in 2006.

RD: Share a little about yourself. What do you do for a living? School? Hobbies?

Lauren: I'm an accounting graduate student right now, so for anyone who knows accounting you know that my life has been taken over by studying for the CPA exam! Well that and school... My schedule right now is

4:30am Wake up

5:30am Start Running

6:30am End Run

7:30am Be home by now

8:30am Be showered by now

9:00am Eat and be studying by now

Study/Go to school ALL day

9:00pm Read some blogs

10:00pm Go to bed! It's crazy!

RD: How long have you been running?

Lauren: I started running originally in high school and I say that lightly because I'm not sure that what I was doing counted as running. Not to mention I lasted about 3 weeks maybe. Later in college I tried again and got injured because I was an idiot with my training. Or rather, I didn't have a plan. Running as fast and as far as you can at all times every day that you are able really isn't safe, effective, fun, or anything good. After that (also still in college) my mom announced to me she was running a half marathon. That's when it hit me. My middle-aged mom was running half marathons and I couldn't' jog a 1/2 mile. That's just what I needed to get me started, get educated on running, and get a plan. Now I'm going to run the Chicago Marathon with her in October and I'm stoked!

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RD: What do you enjoy most about running?

Lauren: Feeling so strong. I battled with an eating disorder a large portion of my life and so feeling weak was something I had just taken as a "normal feeling" in my life. After my 12-miler the other day I broke down and cried... I just felt so strong, and I loved it!

RD: That's awesome. Running can be very emotional and very empowering at the same time.

RD: What are your favorite training foods?

Lauren: English muffins w/spray margarine and salt. Yeah, kinda weird, but it's like my staple! Oh yeah, and chocolate skim milk afterward.

RD: Are you a lone runner or do you run with some buddies? What do you like about each?

Lauren: Both. When I'm by myself I find I have the most wonderful, deep thoughts. I figure myself and others out, I realize why I'm on this earth, I cry because of sunrises...etc. Sometimes when I'm by myself though I just get bored and that's when it's nice to have someone. I tend to ramble nonstop when I'm running with someone and therefore can only run with people that don't mind cutting me off and can hold their own in the conversation.

RD: What’s the funniest or oddest thing that’s happened to you while on a run?

Lauren: Ummm a really attractive male high-fived me on a run the other day, we were both doing out and backs apparently and I had passed him twice before and the third time instead of the "wave" he held his hand out and **smack** a high five! It was... rockin!!!

RD: What’s your biggest running accomplishment? Why?

Lauren: Just be able to run in the first place.

RD: I guess another big goal is yet to come in October with your mom.

RD: Do you have a favorite brand of running shoe? Which model? Why?

Lauren: Brooks Adrenaline 10... simply because it's my current one and it's my favorite. Very supportive, very cushiony. Love it!

RD: What’s your favorite race distance(s)? Do you have a favorite race?

Lauren: At this point I've only run a 5k, but I'm training now for Chicago in October. I also plan on running the Rock n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon on August 1st and hopefully a 10k before then as well.

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RD: If you were speaking to a group of non-runners or runner wannabes and trying to encourage them to run, what would you say?

Lauren: I would first and foremost ask if they have the desire. They don't have to have the ability to run long-and-hard yet, but they need that desire. Even if it's only been a dream in the past. Now given that the person has the underlying desire to run I'd tell them my biggest piece of advice is to start slow. Nothing needs to hurt in the beginning. Quite the opposite! Some stiffness is normal but really when you're first getting into it, you don't need to be in pain. I feel like the slower I start into a program or into a mileage increase session, the better I feel and the more excited I am to complete it. I'm also not training to be competitive I have to throw that out there. But if you're just wanting to run to run, or to enjoy yourself, I'd say go as slow as you can. Cherish every milestone, whether it's being able to walk for 30 minutes or run for 30 seconds... or a whole mile. Cherish everything. My last piece of advice would be to reflect. Every time you feel like you're progressing SO slowly, think back to where you started. Maybe take a picture of yourself BEFORE you start running and write a quick paragraph as to how you feel about yourself at the moment. I did that actually and looking back on that photo and how I felt about myself really makes me realize how far I've come.

Rd: Open Mike: Share anything you‘d like about your running experiences, past accomplishments, goals, dreams….anything you haven’t previously shared.

Lauren: It's funny that reading this question caused me to sit on my couch and really contemplate for a second. I've always been a runner. That might confuse you after reading my statement above that I started seriously late in college, but let me explain. When I was younger and "mean kids" would make fun of me at lunch I'd go eat lunch with the teacher. When home life was chaotic, I chose to live somewhere else. When schoolwork got too tough, I switched schools. When suddenly I realized in high school I had gained 10 pounds from mindless eating I starved myself so I'd never have to see that person again. I ran... I always ran away from my problems instead of dealing with them appropriately. Teachers, guidance counselors, parents, and even my friends would all tell me that at some point in my life I'd have to stop running and just deal. At some point my life would catch me and I'd lose the race. At this point in my life running has a much different connotation. I still feel that I struggle with avoidance issues at times, but I've also learned, through the physical exercise of running and through just life experience in general, that running AWAY from your problems only prolongs and exacerbates the issue. However, you CAN run THROUGH your problems, and I feel that's what I do now. When I'm on my runs I have time to just think. To be me, with all my issues, complications, quirks, and imperfections. Instead of panicking because of a problem I can see it clearly and think through it, because panicking just takes WAY too much energy and lord knows I have no extra energy past 3 miles. In all seriousness though, I'm going to create a therapy program where therapists will RUN with their patients because while you're running, you don't have the energy to hold back, to be in denial. You're simply you. Don't steal that idea - I'm going to be rich one day.

Thanks for sharing your story Lauren! I can't wait to get the Chicago recap in October!! Be sure to check out Lauren's own blog—Bananas and Toast.