I’m really excited to share today’s post with you. It’s from my friend Suzanne. She is one of those people that inspire others even when she doesn’t know it, or isn’t trying. She’s the one who brought the tutu fiasco to light in my running group. She is dedicated, and an awesome cheerleader within the group. I was really hoping to meet her at the 10-miler in Louisville but we couldn’t match up schedules, so we will just have to rendezvous in the near future. Probably after the Boston Marathon… 🙂
Here’s Suzanne!
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ABOUT ME
I am a runner (I
suppose). I am also a mom and an
attorney. The attorney part
is pretty boring so we won’t dwell on that! My kids are Sloane and Connor and
they are the loves of my life (along with my husband, Chase, of course!).
suppose). I am also a mom and an
attorney. The attorney part
is pretty boring so we won’t dwell on that! My kids are Sloane and Connor and
they are the loves of my life (along with my husband, Chase, of course!).
My sister in law, Whitney,
is the reason I started running.
At the time my youngest was three years old Whitney suggested we do a
half marathon. It’s at
approximately that age that folks begin to give you the side-eye when you
describe the extra weight as “baby weight.” So her suggestion was… timely.
is the reason I started running.
At the time my youngest was three years old Whitney suggested we do a
half marathon. It’s at
approximately that age that folks begin to give you the side-eye when you
describe the extra weight as “baby weight.” So her suggestion was… timely.
Up until that point I had
probably run an aggregate of 13.1 miles over my entire life span. You see, I was that chubby girl in
elementary school. I dreaded gym
glass. The words “President’s
Physical Fitness Test” stuck terror into my heart. Dodgeball. (Enough said).
probably run an aggregate of 13.1 miles over my entire life span. You see, I was that chubby girl in
elementary school. I dreaded gym
glass. The words “President’s
Physical Fitness Test” stuck terror into my heart. Dodgeball. (Enough said).
That first half marathon was
more than a dozen half marathons and one full marathon and one Tough Mudder
ago.
more than a dozen half marathons and one full marathon and one Tough Mudder
ago.
Now I run nearly every
day. Every weekend I hope that I
can time my long run to match the sunrise. There is nothing more beautiful than
seeing the sun come up over the Lincoln Memorial. It takes my breath away every
single time.
day. Every weekend I hope that I
can time my long run to match the sunrise. There is nothing more beautiful than
seeing the sun come up over the Lincoln Memorial. It takes my breath away every
single time.
So I am a runner (I
suppose).
suppose).
Now on to the questions…
What are
you training for (if anything)?
you training for (if anything)?
I am training for the Boston
Marathon. I didn’t qualify but I
am proud to be a charity runner for Boston’s Children’s Hospital. I am running for Joey Corcoran, a
little boy who loves the Patriots and spends far too much of his young life in
the hospital.
Marathon. I didn’t qualify but I
am proud to be a charity runner for Boston’s Children’s Hospital. I am running for Joey Corcoran, a
little boy who loves the Patriots and spends far too much of his young life in
the hospital.
I know that it is going to
be the most challenging race of my life and I am terrified. But I think that I am going to use my
fear to my advantage and use that adrenaline to avoid coming in last.
be the most challenging race of my life and I am terrified. But I think that I am going to use my
fear to my advantage and use that adrenaline to avoid coming in last.
That sounds like a plan,
right?
right?
How do you balance your training with family time? With work?
Balance? Hmmm… I don’t think of my life as being
in balance. That evokes the image
of a seesaw that is perfectly weighted.
My life is more like a game of Tetris where I shove things into existing
spaces and hope that it all doesn’t fall apart.
in balance. That evokes the image
of a seesaw that is perfectly weighted.
My life is more like a game of Tetris where I shove things into existing
spaces and hope that it all doesn’t fall apart.
And no matter what – I
always try to make a space to work out once a day. I need that for my health – both mental and physical.
always try to make a space to work out once a day. I need that for my health – both mental and physical.
And I try to dedicate
Saturday to my kids. My daughter’s
favorite thing to do is hike with me and our dog, Gator.
Saturday to my kids. My daughter’s
favorite thing to do is hike with me and our dog, Gator.
Who is your biggest supporter?
Me. I have to be my biggest
supporter because I am the only one who can get me off the couch or out of bed
and into my sneakers.
supporter because I am the only one who can get me off the couch or out of bed
and into my sneakers.
That said, my family is
extremely supportive. Chase always gives me the time to get out and run. And my sister in law is the best race
buddy ever. I hope we get to run another dozen half marathons together!
extremely supportive. Chase always gives me the time to get out and run. And my sister in law is the best race
buddy ever. I hope we get to run another dozen half marathons together!
—
How is YOUR training going?
Do you have a story to share? Please email me if you do! I would love to hear it and post it. (And hey, if you’re a blogger, we can swap stories!)
achieveBoston Children's Hospitalboston marathonhalf marathoninspirationLincoln Memorialmarathonrunningrunning in tutusrunning-life balancetough muddertrainingWashington DC
