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Tell Us About You >> View the Inspiration 2008
March 2008
As an obese (morbidly obese) person I had tried every quick fix to try and lose weight. I was frustrated that nothing
worked and even more frustrated that I was not willing to try harder at something that was so essential to my living a
long and happy life. Then, 18 months ago in late 2006 I had a health crisis following surgery that scared me into trying
to lose weight one more time. I joined Weight Watchers again (this is my 5th time to join) and started to see a little
success which spurred me on to try even harder. After my initial weigh in of 310.8#, I have (as of this email) lost 123.6#
and hope to be able to hit my goal of losing 155# by the end of this summer. I have gone from not even being able to walk
from my door to the car without strain to training for a half marathon! This will be my first official exercise event and
I could not be more excited. I can't wait to cross the finish line with my walking partner and have the satisfaction of
knowing that I am not only thinner, but healthier!! I now have my whole life to look forward to, and I never have to look
back!!
Sharon Wilkins-Saltzgaber
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March 2008
I was a moderately active teen/young adult—I participated in sports and worked out when I could make the time.
As I started getting older, my weight gradually crept up until one day when downloading vacation pictures, I didn't
recognize myself. I realized that I had gained a consistent 10 pounds per year since I was in high school. I always
felt that my weight never hindered me—I still walked, rode my bike, and occasionally went hiking.
A friend had been begging me to go to weight watchers with her for over a year but I always refused. My response was
always, "I KNOW how to diet—I just don't really want to". I was comfortable with being overweight and
"dieting" required too much effort and time that I didn't have. Besides, I really enjoyed going out to eat
with family and friends and drinking beer on the weekends. She really wanted me to go so I could encourage her to keep
going so I finally decided to go. On March 15, 2006, I finally joined Weight Watchers at work. On that day, I weighed
in at 251.8 lbs!!! (I felt like I weighed no more than 170). After reading through all of the materials and tools, I
realized that this really wouldn't be that difficult so I started making tiny changes to my diet. Once the weight started
coming off, I became addicted! However, I was still "too busy" to incorporate any exercise into my life.
By Sept. 2007 (6 months later), I had lost nearly 50 pounds. I was so proud of myself and really started realizing
that I was cheating myself out of life by maintaining my healthy lifestyle. My father died of a massive heart attack at
the young age of 55 and he was robbed of his life. He had such a passion for life and was such an outdoors enthusiast!
In remembrance of my father on his birthday, I decided to quit smoking, which I had done since I was 13. Since I had
already made significant changes in my eating habits, I felt that I should really try to make more minor improvements
in my health so I decided to become more active.
In Oct. 2007, my sister and I took our daughters to New York City for a short vacation. We decided to walk everywhere
(with the kids in strollers) so that we could see each area of Manhattan. After 4 days, and over 15,000 steps per day,
I felt empowered! When I came home, I saw an ad for the Columbus Marathon that following weekend. For a minute, I
thought I wanted to try it! Once I regained some common sense, I decided to research a better and more attainable goal.
This is how I learned of the Columbus Distance Classic. I set my goal! I was going to run/walk either the 5K or the
half marathon on April 12. I had never been able to run but if I can lose 50 pounds, I could certainly learn how to run.
I expressed my goals to my husband and my closest friends, who all offered encouragement and pledged to join in my
journey.
Because I have to research EVERYTHING before I do it, and I have to develop a strategy to accomplish my goals, I
went to Barnes & Noble and bought a couple of books on running, including John Bingham's Running for Mortals.
I could really relate to his story about being a smoker, drinker, over eater, and non-active individual. This provided
me even more motivation to stay focused and accomplish my goal to learn to run. Afterall, it was a relatively inexpensive
activity that I could do with my family and friends.
On Nov. 12, 2007, I went to the park to walk the 3.8 mile trail and tried to run. My goal was to be able to run for
one entire minute. That was the LONGEST minute of my life but I did it! All I kept thinking was that I didn't want to
suffer the same heart problems that my father did and that he would be very proud of me for taking my life back before
it was too late! Naturally, with time, my endurance improved and my run progressed to now over 60 minutes.
This Saturday will mark the one year anniversary of joining Weight Watchers and making that decision to live life.
I have lost almost 80 pounds to date. I am in better physical shape than I ever have been—I feel as if I have no
physical limitations. I still have no intention of running the half marathon but now I know that I can run a great
portion of it and can at least walk the entire race! For my daughter, this change in my lifestyle will benefit her
because she will grow up around healthy activities. For myself, my family, my friends, and all of the people that tell
me that I motivate them, I will continue to push myself to achieve my goals and live life to the fullest!
Stephanie Warner Bircher
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March 2008
Sir;
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what your program has done for me.
In Dec. 2004 my niece asked me to run in your half marathon in Columbus in April 2005. I have always liked running
but I never thought I could run that distance. I began to train anyway. On April 2 2005 I ran and FINISHED the half
marathon in Columbus. I was 54 years old then. The next week on April 8, 2005 my wife and I were returning from
grocery shopping and we were involved in a head on crash.
It has taken me this long to get back at running. Probably the only reasons I have are your e-mails and my niece's
urgings. For your inspiration—I thank you. I am taking it slowly though. In May I am running a 5K run in Bellevue,
Ohio. It is to benefit a fallen soldier who was killed in the Iraq War. His sister works with me. After that run I
want to continue to run because I like it.
Hope the Columbus run goes well and I will be there in 2009.
Thanks again.
Jim Karr
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February 2008
I am running the half marathon this year for the 3rd time. I trained with MIT the first two years and successfully
completed the program by crossing the finish line April 1, 2005 and April 2, 2006. I am once again training with MIT and
have made it through most of winter and look forward to better days of running outside. I really don't like the treadmill
but it gets the miles in. People ask me why do you run. I say... because I can. Running has been my "therapy"
after 2 c-sections and abdominal surgery to remove a tumor. It has given me the physical and mental strength to recover
from these set backs. I have two young children, I work part-time, manage a house hold, and care for my mother and
grandmother. Running is my time. I take these few moments during the week to care for myself. Running with MIT has
introduced me to some very nice and fun people. I have learned a lot about running and what amazing abilities I have
as a human.
Rebecca Shorter
Running since 2005
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February 2008
This will be my first 1/2 marathon, with my longest race ever being only a 5 miler, fifteen years ago. I'm a HS,
college sprinter and, for the most part, hate distance running. I'm running for my close friend Stef (age 37), who was
diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer last July. After finding out he was defiantly looking at 2-5 years to live (he
refuses to accept that range), I asked if indeed he was looking at a shortened time frame, what is one thing he'd like
to do. Without hesitation he said he'd always wanted to take his boys (age 8 and 6, with also a little girl) to a classic
baseball park, like Fenway. He wants them to have that memory with him. So I started to think of a way to get him there.
It took a bit to come up with a good fundraiser, but I realized that since he'll never be in a comfort zone of his life
again, I could certainly be out of mine for a brief period of time. So I decided to run a 1/2 marathon as a fundraiser
to send him to Boston this summer. The response has been good so far. My knees are holding up, I've hit my second 9
miler and the donations are about 60% of my goal. That's why I'm running the Cap City 1/2.
Russ Beitzel
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February 2008
I signed up for the Capital City Half Marathon as part of my New Year's Resolution. 2007 was a difficult year for me,
starting and completing my first year of law school, ending a long term and long distance relationship, and moving to a
city where I knew no one. I decided as the year was ending that I needed a BIG change. I'm using the half marathon as
a way to channel and focus my energy on myself instead of the external circumstances which I cannot change. Somehow,
by talking about my purpose in running in the half marathon, I've inspired 3 of my friends to participate as well and
I am excited to complete the race.
My goal is to run the entire 13.1 miles without walking and I am following the training schedule. I already feel
a sense of accomplishment with each mile I am able to add by the end of each week of training. I cannot wait for April
12th!
Lindsay L. Smith
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February 2008
The Cap City Half Marathon was the first half marathon I ever ran last year in April 2007. I had never been a runner
and challenged myself to train for this event with the Team in Training local chapter. I remember almost giving up in
the training and thinking I would go back to believing that running wasn't for me. Somehow, I kept going and finished
the race with friend and family cheering me on. Since then I've run 2-3 other half marathons and 2 full marathons! I
am thrilled to once again participate in this event, as it is very close to my heart. This year, I'll have another
friend with me who has been inspired by my own efforts and began training herself for her first ever half marathon!
It will be a thrill for us both... thank you for all your efforts to make running a joy... even for us penguins!
Rev. Amy E. Avery
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February 2008
In February of 2007, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was terribly impactful on us; she is, and
remains, the rock of our family foundation. Since her diagnosis, she has gone through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation,
hair loss and recovery with a quiet dignity that is typical of her.
As a tribute to her grace, dignity and perseverance, I wanted to do something extraordinary, a feeble attempt at
properly honoring her silent strength. To do this, I have chosen to walk the 3 day, 60 mile walk for breast cancer
(September 26-28 in Michigan). This is something that seemed (and still seems) impossible to me last Fall when I decided
to do it; I have three small children and work full time. I take medication for hypertension and, at that time, had no
regular routine for exercise. My husband planned a course of training for me, and indicated that he believed that I
could do it. This was incredibly encouraging to me, and I joined a team and started. At the beginning of my commitment
(Fall 07), I bought a treadmill and began by walking 1.5-2.0 miles every other day at a speed of 2.2-2.5 miles/hour.
As part of the plan he developed, we decided that I would use races that allowed walkers as a way to train (and to
celebrate). I will take the tee shirts from my "training events" and sew them into a quilt for my mother to
show her how proud I am of her after I finish the 3 day. My oldest son, who is 8, began to participate in these events
with me, and my younger sons and husband attend every event to cheer me on. My 8 year old was faster than me in the
beginning, and would frequently race ahead for a short distance, and then wait and race again, all the while cheering me
on. I have progressed to where I can sustain a pace that is faster than he now, but I am so grateful for his early (and
continuing) help. Even now, he reads stories to me during the evenings that I walk on the treadmill so that we can
spend time together, despite the fact that I spend a LONG time doing this.
The Penguin will be a very big day for me. I am afraid that I will not be fast enough to finish the course before it
is "rolled up," but I WILL finish. My family, and my thoughts of the struggles of my mother will see to that.
This will represent the first formal event that would have seemed impossible to me last fall. (All I have done to this
point are 5Ks, as most longer events don't allow walkers). It will be a big milestone in my journey, and the tee shirt
will receive a prominent position in my mother's quilt, but it will also be a stepping stone in my continuing journey
(a physical, mental and emotional transformation). Thank you for allowing those of us that are not elite, that are
trying to cope and manage, participate in something that is greater than ourselves.
Laura Bix, Ph.D.
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February 2008
Why am I running? I ask myself that question at every run. With 2 young kids my only time to run is before they are
up and before hubby goes to work. So at 5:15 AM I get up, eat a little something, read, do my PT for runners knee, then
run at 6:15ish. Each time I start to run my brain says, "I can't do this... why am I doing this... I'll never make
it to X... I can walk this and it wouldn't be as hard..." Fortunately, I'm stubborn and that part wins out most
days.
In 1978 I loved running in the gym during study hall. 42 minutes of running was fun and I loved it. But as soon I
went out for track that spring and was told to run I hated it. The coach made me and my best friend the milers. I HATED
running from that point on. After the season, I promised myself I would never run on purpose for the rest of my life.
And I kept that promise... until November.
My friend Edith trained with MIT to run a marathon before she turned 40. She kept after me to try it. My response
was, "I don't run." But as my family went to 3 different spots to cheer her on I began to consider it. She
looked great! Her stride was smooth and steady. She looked as good at mile 21 as she did at mile 8! Her depression
had fled months earlier. She was calmer and much more upbeat! Hmmmm.... maybe... I thought.
So in mid-November at almost 44 years old, having had MS diagnosis for 3 years, and almost no exercise in years, I
began to run. (my GP and Neuro approved running /marathon training.) At first I could only run 0.10 mile. Only 3
months later I ran 5 miles (walking some after 2.5 miles). That is inconceivable to me! I can't believe I'm running
some distance!!! At the end of the 5 miles I even ran all the way up the Thomas Worthington High School mountain (hill)
without stopping!!! YEH!!!
I'm still unsure about whether I will be able to do a half marathon by April 12th. But they tell me I will be able
and ready. I just do what they tell me to the best of my ability still in disbelief. Jeff and Tim and all the coaches
are great! It helps so much to have the more experienced runners say, "hi - good job... keep going..." as
they pass us. (We are lucky to have a pace of 13:30 for the long runs. My running partner and I just want to survive
them at this point.)
Thanks for the opportunity to run a challenging but smaller than a marathon race!
Susan Whittaker, Columbus, Ohio - newbie MIT member
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