After reading my mom's self-written story published in a newsletter for her upcoming race (see below), I am reminded of how impressive my mom is, and not just in terms of running. Whether taking care of our family, getting her degree, or running, her persistence and dedication is truly incredible. After having taken care (and continuing to take care) of our family for so long, helping us in whatever endeavor we pursued, I am so happy she has been able to find and follow her own.
RUNNER STORY – LOUISE
So here’s my story…. Not too inspirational and not too well written, but it’s my story.
For almost 16 years I was a SAHM (Stay at home mom) raising my four children. My life was all about them. I knew the day would come when there would be time for me. They were only going to be young once. When the youngest started middle school I returned to work full time at the University of Hartford. After two years of adjusting to working full time I began some changes not only for my physical improvement but also to challenge myself intellectually.
A co-worker encouraged me and in January 2001 I took my first college class. I had never taken any college classes. One class led to the next, which led to the next. In May 2005 I completed an Associate’s Degree (in running, a half marathon). I then continued taking classes one at a time until I eventually completed my bachelor’s degree in 2013 (the full marathon). Summa cum laude I might add! Obtaining my degree opened doors for better opportunities for me at the University. As Assistant Secretary of the University I now sit in on Board meetings and Executive Committee meetings of the University. Fun stuff!
In those 12 ½ years while taking classes so much happened in my life. Four children began and completed their bachelor’s degrees, two received their master’s degrees, two children got married, three grandchildren were born (we currently have six), my father in law passed away, my father moved in with us, my father went to a nursing home, my father passed away, and my husband Robert was diagnosed with colon cancer. Life was passing by in the fast lane while I was chugging along in the slow lane. Around the time I started taking classes, I decided to improve my physical fitness too. I was 41. My husband had always been an avid cyclist, so I thought I would try that. My first ride out was on September 4, 2001. We rode six miles. I remember the date since it was exactly one week before 9/11. That first fall I put about 400 miles on my bike and I was hooked. Subsequent years I clocked over 1500 miles on my bike each year, including two centuries, one of which was a charity ride from Boston to Hyannisport.
I continued cycling and at age 48 I bike rode the coast of Maine. Three hundred miles in five days. My favorite story occurred in Portland. I was stopped trying to figure out how to cross a river without having to go on the highway. Another cyclist stopped to assist. When I told him what I was doing, I think he was impressed as he asked “Wow, that’s cool…. Cause how OLD are you?” I took that as a compliment. I’ve also completed New Hampshire, ½ of Massachusetts and 2/3 of Connecticut. Mostly all on Rte 1.
In the fall of 2011 I decided I needed a new challenge. My daughter Julie was the runner in our family, having completed numerous marathons and even more half marathons. So I started running at age 51. My first run on the treadmill was .25. That’s right, a quarter of a mile. I did that three times the first week and then increased it to .3 for a week. Then .4 for a week. When I got to one mile, the weekly increases were .2, until I got to three miles. I completed my first 5K at the O’Hartford race in 2012. I went to the race with my husband’s encouragement but not his presence. He had just been released from the hospital from his colon cancer surgery and encouraged me to go. My daughter Julie did the race with me, coaching me along the way. At the end of the race she stated “I’ll meet you at the car….I’m going to go running now”. OUCH, I guess I was too slow for her.
I continued running, completing a few more races including the Manchester Road Race. In spring of 2013 I increased my running and checked out a training schedule for a half marathon. I was now 52 year’s old. Just looking at the schedule one week at a time wasn’t too intimidating and so I continued my training. The 10 weeks brought me to the first weekend in June when the Ironhorse Half Marathon is held in Simsbury. That was the perfect race for me. So close to my house that I even did some training on the course. My first half marathon was going to happen. I completed it on June 2, 2013 under extreme heat conditions. The RDs had us walking at the end since they had run out of ambulances. I had listened to my body and felt great. But I did say ONE and DONE. I did one more 5K in July 2013 and then running tapered off for me. I returned to mostly cycling.
In 2014 we bought a pool so that we could enjoy some time with the grandchildren. Every afternoon I enjoyed floating around and would do a few laps around the perimeter before calling it a day. When we closed the pool at the end of the summer, I moved to an indoor pool and would do the doggy paddle for a few laps then walk a few laps. After purchasing goggles, I actually started swimming like a real person, doing a pretty decent freestyle stroke. Around March 2015, I swam a full mile. I was happy to share that with my daughter’s cross country coach, Kathy Manizza, who is also a tri-athlete. She encouraged me to do an indoor TRI. Which I did in April 2015.
It was time for another challenge. I felt good enough to do a sprint triathlon. Since I hadn’t run a 5K race in almost two years at this point, I found a local race and did my “training triathlon”. I bike rode to the gym, swam a half mile, bike rode to the race, ran the 5K, then bike rode home. At this 5K in West Hartford, I met Richard, a member of the Run 169 Towns Society. He talked about the group and I listened. I went to their website and even registered as a member. Summer of 2015 was spent training for my sprint triathlon.
I completed my first triathlon, a Women’s Sprint Tri, in August 2015 at age 55. It was a great feeling. I didn’t consider myself a runner, but the running portion of the tri was my best event. If you don’t know, when you do a tri, they write your age on the back of your calf. I’m not sure why, but they do. That was my motivator. The run was a trail run which I had NEVER done before. My confidence rose so much as I kept passing ladies who were younger than me. I actually got quite the attitude as I passed these women. My running time placed me in the middle of the runners!
After that was over I was now in the best shape I had even been. I had lost 17 pounds and felt great. Now what could I do to keep the momentum going? Ah… that Run 169 group, maybe I’ll do that. So on September 7, 2015 I began the journey of running a race in every town in CT. I would be so much further ahead on the trek if I had done some official 5Ks while training for the tri last summer. Oh well, the towns aren’t going anywhere. As of this writing I have 51 towns complete and Redding will be town # 60. Once in a while I’m lucky and get to place in my age group. I have also started to run races when I visit other states. Four down, 46 to go! I’m a RUNNER!!! I’m keeping track of my races with a pictures and notes.
So now I’m going to be running my second half marathon at the Redding Road Race. The friends I have met through the Run 169 Towns Society are just awesome. They are the reason I’m registered for this race. Stacey Fulton and Lori Riley, thanks for the push. Contrary to all the whining I have done, this has brought me to the next level and I thank you. My neighborhood runs have gone from four miles to six miles to eight, to ten. Last week’s training run was 14.5 miles with eight of those miles with Kelly Pabilonia, who will be one of the pacers at the Redding Road Race.
My daughter has given me my next challenge…….. a marathon. YIKES. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. So here’s to 26.2 at age 56 next fall.
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She is the true definition of "Piti Piti" - little by little we will get there.
