It was the spring of 1990, I was in 6th grade, and I will never forget my 1st 400 meter dash on Track and Field Day for gym. I had on a pair of stone washed pink jean shorts, a teal blue T-shirt with Mickey Mouse on the pocket, and my white KED shoes. (WARNING: Shoes could cause shin splints within 1 mile). I actually won, and throughout Jr. High and High School the 400m was my race.
Post
Accomplishments: Favorite Route: Any run with my dog, Browning. |
At age 45 and 245 pounds I was pushing my two-year-old twins in the stroller for fresh air and exercise. I have always admired those who could run so I gave it a try. At first I could only run 100 yards then 200 and more. After a while, I could actually jog. Later that year I entered the Jingle Bells 5K. That was an exciting day, and I noticed some people wearing River Runners jackets. What do you know, there is actually a running club in town, maybe someday I can be a part of that. My favorite route today is the Sunday 9-mile hill route in St. Joe or the University route from Coborns in Sauk Rapids. My favorite race is the half marathon. I used to think I liked running alone, and occasionally still do; however, I have become a much better runner being challenged by this group. Running has changed my life and I’m very thankful. Wanting to share this experience with others is my goal as the Membership Director.
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I was never much of a runner for most of my adult life, although I had an interest! In college I ran the bridges between St. Cloud State and Division Street a few times and felt pretty tough! After marriage and children, I ran occasionally, but never routinely. I remember the one and only time I ran 5 miles. I was so proud! New Years Eve 2001, a friend suggested I run the Earth Day Half Marathon. I thought he was crazy! People tend to say crazy things on New Years Eve! But two weeks later, after a lot of thinking, I took him on. I trained with my own program and did it! That was my first real race at age 42! And then I was hooked. I did my first marathon in 2003 - Grandma's in Duluth. I could not believe that I finished! I continued to run. All training runs were done with my Golden Retriever, Nelly. Eventually I felt I needed something more (although I still love running with my dog), and joined the River Runners Wednesday night runs in August, 2006. Believe me, it was a BIG STEP! Ron S. started a group of "slower" runners coming on that night, and that was all I needed! Eventually I got brave enough to try the weekend runs, and it was the breakfast/socializing after the run that got me coming back routinely. Now I have found real friends, and have done some fantastic trips to races! I never, in my wildest dreams thought I would get any faster. But running with the River Runners has helped me PR at marathon number 4, the Des Moines Marathon, in 2007, at age 49! Thank you River Runners for your continued support, and friendship!! |
I
was born seven days before Pearl Harbor was struck and went to a one room
school through the eighth grade in Benton County, left home when I was
sixteen, working for farmers for my room and board and $5.00 a week. I
managed to buy a car and graduate from Milaca High School on my own in
1959 at seventeen. |
My running life began many, many years ago in the 8th grade after a friend convinced me to join the cross country team, promising me that it would be FUN and a great way to make friends. And since I was slowly coming to the realization that I was not coordinated enough for ball sports, I figured I had nothing to lose. Yes, our choices at my very small, Catholic high school were CC, BB, VB, and track. I can still remember those grueling, hot summer days that year prior to school starting. We would be running around the lake in my town and try to run the length of one telephone pole to the next and then walk because that was an accomplishment. Before we knew it, we made it all the way around the lake! Little did I know then that running would become a big part of my life. I had many accomplishments both in CC and track throughout high school, primarily my freshmen and sophomore years when we were the team to beat. We always had fun despite an overly-aggressive coach who always made things interesting. The burnout factor hit me hard into my young adult life and I ran only one season each of CC and track during my college days at CSB. I continued to run off and on for fitness, but just didn't want to be committed anymore and told what to run and how to run it. Then in '94 after the birth of my first daughter, one of my best friends told me she was training for the Twin Cities Marathon. It sounded like something fun to do, so I signed up. I did not train properly, but managed to finish (the experience was comparable to childbirth for me). Somehow, I became hooked and realized that I could continue to do this, I would just have to put in the miles and actually train to have it be more enjoyable. A couple marathons later, I joined the club in '98 and found instant success in running with the group. I was pushing myself more than when I ran alone and found myself getting better and better every race, shaving ten, fifteen, and even twenty minutes off marathon times. I truly believe that I owe a lot of my successes to the SCRR's for challenging me and making me become a better runner. Unfortunately, those days of PR's are probably done, but I still enjoy running and racing when I can and always feel lucky enough to be able to do so. For me, running is relaxing and stress-relieving, but most of all it will always be a gift. I can see myself running for many, many years to come! |
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I
began running shortly after I began walking as I have 7 older brothers and
sisters. Much of the motivation and a certain urgency was added to
my training by my next older brother. When I left home and escaped
my siblings I took up sitting and eating as my major activities.
After about 20 years of this I must have been completely bored as I took
up running. I became serious because of the positive results it had
on my love life. There is nothing more attractive to the ladies than
a little fat guy in spandex with sweat and salt all over him. Who
knew? |
I
started walking/running again at age 44 after a 26 year hiatus. My favorite race is any marathon that I run with fellow SCRR members. |
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I was Not born with an athletic bone in my body - I tried sports in high school at Apollo but just didn't have any talent. At 40 I joined our health club and was talked into Saturday morning group runs. I really enjoyed the social aspect of the group run. I was challenged by my husband to try to beat him in a 5k. I then realized that I am also just a little bit competitive. Our group decided to try the Earth Day half marathon and then Grandma's marathon in 2005. I ran it with severe shin splints, but finished. It was an incredible feeling! The group then decided to try the Chicago marathon in 2006. I had my PR of 3:39 and without even trying, qualified for Boston. I then ran Twin Cities last October and finished a disappointing 3:46. My next quest is Boston in April. I graduated into a new age group last year and had some success with 5k finishes. I give so much credit to Jacki DeVine. She is the greatest mentor anyone could ask for! (not to mention an all-around great gal.) I enjoy the 5k distance because I like pushing my body to see how hard it can go. I hope to expand and do races of different lengths this next season. I am excited to be part of the Circuit Team. I joined the River Runners as I feel I have reached another level in my running and with such a large group there will be plenty of experience to learn from and advice to hear. (Note: Wanda lowered her marathon PR to 3:13 at Phoenix in 2009, then lowered it again to 3:11 at Portland, Maine.) |
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Synchronized Swimming, Speech team & Musicals. These non-running events filled the first 30 years of my life as I dabbled with the idea of running, got started mountain biking and then ONE DAY trained for the Earth Day 5K. Hooked-oh-rama-big-time! Sign me up for the St. Cloud River Runners!!!! Reading everything & anything on running, I trained for my first marathon inspired by Amy Mareck, a young writer who died from complications of osteosarcoma at 19. Four marathons & a half ironman triathlon later, my internal energies are shifting. (creeeaaak) Balancing
teaching, yoga, traveling, motherhood, biking, swimming & running; I
hope to ONE DAY complete an Ironman. I run for life, friendships, mental clarity, meditation: to create as much happiness, joy and love I can possibly experience in this lifetime. |
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I started running
sporadically when I was 10, just enough to finish the 5Ks that preceded
the marathons my dad was running. In fact, the first time I ever ran
with the River Runners was when I was 12 or 13 years old (story provided
below). |
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I began running in 9th grade, when I was 13 years old.
I joined cross country to get in shape for basketball. Personal
PRs: Some of my favorite running routes or races? Ok, I have a few. I
love running routes from the old SR High School (or SR Coborns). Anything that goes through Munsinger Park is pretty cool.
I know that most hate it, but the Hillside Hill is basically the most fun a person can have going uphill. I
had the opportunity to build a 1.5 mile trail in the East Sandia Mountains in
New Mexico...I miss that trail. Missoula has some great trails to run on,
the only problem is that they are mostly out and back. |
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I'm
afraid mine would read like the diary of a mad man. |
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I
started running when I turned 40 as a way to keep my weight down and to
reduce the chances of heart disease.
At one time I was over 230 lbs. and now I run at 150 lbs. |
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I
started walking in the mid to late 1990's (about age 36 or 37) to lose
weight. I started by walking a 3 mile loop in the neighborhood, which
included a half mile downhill stretch. Eventually, I started running that
downhill half mile and walking the rest and then progressed to being able
to run the whole loop. After running 3 to 5 miles most days for a year or
two, in 1998 a friend asked me to run half the Med-City marathon with her.
I had only a couple of weeks to train. I told her that I'd never run that
far before, but that I was willing to give it a try. So I ran the first
half of the marathon and my time was about 1:50 (I don't keep very good
records!). I was hooked. Shortly thereafter I signed up for the local
marathon training program and ran my first marathon, Twin Cities, that
fall. I run a marathon in the spring and fall most years. I've run 12
marathons and have qualified for Boston 5 times. I've run it twice and
would really like to run it again in 2010.
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1988
was the year I Got-in-Gear. It
was a family affair, with my older brother and sister joining me at the
starting line of the Get-in-Gear 10K.
Being younger than them I was confident that I’d finish first!
Something didn’t add up that day as I crossed the finish line 3rd
in the family lineup. So I
spent the next 18 years running the Get-in-Gear and challenging my
siblings to a do-over. Fast-forward
to 2001 when, after years of running spring 10Ks just to get in shape for
cycling season, I committed to train for a marathon.
My new-found River Runner friends were there to provide pointers
and encouragement. I needed
all of that as Grandma’s turned out to be the mother – no, the
Grandmother – of all my races. I
crossed the finish line and spent the next 6 months hobbling around.
But I did finally recover and I’ve run many (shorter) races
since. Some people say I’m
running better than ever now (they usually tell me this as they pass me
with less than a mile to the finish line). Currently I’m preparing for my first out-of-state trip with fellow River Runners. Rumor has it that Survivor Man turned down the invitation because it was just too dangerous for him! I’ll be sure to take along some extra rations, gasoline, a water purifier and a red handkerchief - to wipe all the tears of laughter from my eyes! |
Our
family vacations, when I was growing up, seemed to revolve around
triathlons. We would tour One
day, I decided I wanted to try running. I had always wanted to try
it, but was never successful; made it half a block, hurt my knee,
was too cold, etc. Finally, I started running for a bit while I
walked. I only had worked up to a ten minute jog. Then I met
my running partner. He pushed me to run farther. We ran on
treadmills and ran on sidewalks and ran on trails. Initially, he
didn't want to go more than 20 minutes, but I decided I wanted to run in a
5k. We pushed each other. Eventually, we were both running 3.1
miles everyday. I have only done a handful of 5ks since I started
running. My best time was 26:___ something. I can't remember. In
the summer of 2007 I did a triathlon with my dad. He beat me, of
course. I would like to do that triathlon again and my goal is to do
it in an hour; however, I have been lacking the motivation to train. I
recently moved up to |
Following in my brothers' footsteps, I started running in 9th grade at Apollo High School. I competed in Cross-Country and Track & Field for four years at Apollo, and was very fortunate to be coached by men like Bob Domek, Scott MacLeod, and Phil Rogosheske. The highlight of my high school career was running with my teammates in the 1978 State Cross-Country Meet, where we finished 7th as a team. After college, my goal was to run a marathon, which I did at the 1984 Grandma's Marathon. After that, I expected to take a break for two weeks, but it ended up being 10 years. After 10 years I wanted to get into better shape, so I started running again. Fortunately, I met some St. Cloud River Runners and soon joined this running club. That caused me to run more, and enjoy running more, than I ever had before. I have run many half-marathons, and 10 marathons. The marathons were all within Minnesota, with 3 Twin Cities, 2 Grandma's, 2 Voyageurs, and 1 each at Rochester, Walker, and Moose Mountain. One of my biggest running accomplishments was running a sub-3-hour marathon (2:57) at over 40 years old (41) and over 200 pounds (202) at TCM 2001. Another accomplishment was competing for nine years in the Family category of the Edmund Fitzgerald UltraMarathon Team Relay with many members of my family. In those nine years, we finished 4th once, 2nd twice, and 1st six times! Two amazing adventures with the River Runners involved one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon. The first was running with a great group rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon in 2005. The other was going back to the Grand Canyon two years later for a 22-mile hike to the Native American village of Supai and the beautiful Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls. Some of my favorite running routes are any of the bridge runs along the Mississippi River between the Sartell bridge and the SCSU bridge, and running the trails at Quarry Park. Some of my favorite races are the Twin Cities Marathon, the Earth Day Half Marathon, the Granite City 5K, Milaca's Runnin' In The Ruff, and the Rutabaga Run in Cumberland, WI. |
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5
miles, 5 days a week, @ This is how my life as a runner got started. It was simply a way to get in shape and stay in shape after having babies and while raising small children. Eventually one friend and I took on the challenge of a half marathon and ran a few of those. Then it was time to try the marathon, just to say I did one, so I ran Grandma’s in 2000. That was enough of that, at least for a few years. Then
all of a sudden I was turning 40 and wanted to do something special to
celebrate this coming of age. Why
not another marathon?! I
decided on About this same time all of my running friends were either injured or tired of running (Can you imagine???). Needing some new training partners, I decided to try running with those infamous runners that I had heard about and seen around town, but was always too chicken to run with. After just a couple breakfast runs I was hooked and have been a member of the River Runners ever since (November 2005). Also in this same time frame I met a friend who had overcome some significant odds to train for and successfully complete an Ironman. Through her story and conversations with her, I was inspired to take on the Ironman myself. After taking the plunge and signing up for the 2006 Wisconsin Ironman I met Nikki and Cindy and found out that they too were going to tackle this challenge. Training with them and several other River Runners that summer was both a highlight and pinnacle in my world of running/triathlon. I was challenged, motivated and encouraged like never before. I discovered the joy of pushing beyond what you think you can do, and the power of a positive group of training partners. It has been all uphill ever since (only figuratively of course)!
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