[dcoroner77]

<ul><li><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Why do you run?</span></b></li>
</ul><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I started running when I was 10. I was a sprinter and hurdler throughout my entire track career. I started running distance 2 years ago after watching a friend run the Chicago Marathon. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I immediately wanted to be a part of it. When I started running, I was 30 pounds heavier than I am now, and in the depths of a very, very deep depression. I lost my first child 5 months before I started running, and although I didn’t see it then, I was suicidal. Running gave me my life back.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>2.</b> <b>What is your greatest accomplishment?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Personally, my greatest accomplishment is having maintained a good, happy, strong marriage to my best friend for almost 9 years. Completing my masters degree in health administration is also something I am very proud of.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Professionally, believe it or not, I feel like an utter failure.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Running wise, starting and finishing my first race, the LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K is my greatest accomplishment. I overcame incredible personal odds to toe that start line.</span></span><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br>
3. What is your motto/theme song?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I don’t really have a motto, but I really like the quote from Hebrews 12:1 from the Bible – “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” It just fits everything.</span></span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">As far as a theme song goes, I’d have to go with Amazing Grace, or Defying Gravity from Wicked.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>4. How do you deal with bad runs?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I blow them off. In the scheme of the world, a bad run is not a big deal. No one died because of it.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>5. Do you reward yourself for good runs? How?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">No. Maybe when I finish</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Chicago</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I will reward myself.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>6. Who do you admire most?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Everyone at KickRunners, to start. I don’t think you guys have any clue how much I adore you all. There are a handful or so of you that have really, really touched my heart more than you could possibly know. You know who you are, I hope…</span></span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I also greatly admire my husband, my parents, my grandfather, numerous other people.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I’ve always remembered something my PE teacher said to me in high school. It was the day of the sectional track meet, and I was a basket case. I was running the open 400m and the mile relay. I was walking to the locker room to change, and was white as a sheet. She stopped me and said, “don’t worry about this meet. There are a billion people in</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">China</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">that don’t give a rip.” It put it all in perspective. I PRed in the open 400m, and in my relay split. (61 seconds for both!</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">)</span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">8. What do wish you had learned younger?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Honestly? I wish I’d decided I wanted kids younger. It might have been easier.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>9. What do you wish you could do but can't?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I love ballet. I love to do ballet, but I really, really, really suck at it.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>10. How would your friends describe your personality?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">They would probably tell you that I’m pretty intense. I rarely stop thinking. They would also tell you that I have a very good sense of humor.</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>11. What do you wear running? favorite outfit?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I usually wear shorts and some sort of t-shirt. My favorite shirt is a Citadel tech shirt that I got in</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Charleston</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">this past summer.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>12. What has been your favorite race?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">My first race, the LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K in</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Chicago</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">has been my favorite. I had nothing to lose, and everything to prove to myself. I met my goals just by finishing.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>13. Do you have a goal race right now?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Not really. My ultimate dream race is the Chicago Marathon, but here’s hoping that I’m either too pregnant, or have a newborn next year!</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br><b>14. What makes you happy?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">A good run. A dumb joke from my hubby. My cats. A PM from a buddy. Simple stuff, really.</span></span><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br>
15. Tell us one interesting thing about you that you haven't said (at least not often) on this forum in the past.</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Running is not my primary athletic love. Cheerleading/gymnastics is. I started taking gymnastics when I was 3. I was a gymnast for over 15 years before I quit. My main reason for choosing to attend the</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">University</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Illinois</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">was to cheer. I got there, and didn’t try out. (once upon a time, I could do all of those partner stunts that you see at college games. Going up in a basket toss rivals the adrenaline rush of finishing a race.)</span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">16. Tell us one interesting thing about another user of this forum that has not been posted (at least not often) on this forum in the past (make sure the other person will not object to posting the info!).</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Hmmmm. WTR’s little brother was my math teacher when I was in 8th grade. That’s more of a small world kind of thing, though, isn’t it?</span></span>

 

[Xena]

dcoroner...love your post..so nice to get to know more about you. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"><br><br>
now taht you are running distance..which do you prefer?? short or distance and why?? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[QuixoticNotions]

Awesome post! Yay for the POTD! Glad to learn more about you

 

[Nettie]

I had no idea you did track in HS! Very cool. I always wanted to do that, but I was just too slow; these days, I wish I had just worked harder.<br><br>
Running definitely is a great way to get out of a personal funk.<br><br>
Also, I actually work in a organization for health care professionals, PM me with what you're looking for job-wise.

 

[ym]

Excellent POTD, dcoroner77! Thanks for sharing your self with us. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"><br><br>
I really what your PE teacher said to you. Sometimes, we really need things put in persepctive.

 

[McTortle]

You are an amazing person - I always look forward to your thoughts. Thank you for sharing yourself with us!

 

[Tim]

Thanks for a great POTD thread. It is nice to get to know you better. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[solitude]

Steph, that really was a great POTD. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> You were smoken fast in high school! Wow, I had no idea. I wasn't a cheerleader in HS, but if you run Chicago then I'll come be your cheerleader. It was great learning more about you.

 

[dcoroner77]

<br>
I definitely like sprinting better. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> I have a very long stride, so it's just easier to run fast. I have really struggled with completely changing how I run. I have a very hard time going as slow as I need to in order to be able to run for any length of time.<br><br>
Any suggestions anyone can offer to fix my stride and foot strike to be able to run distance better would definitely be appreciated! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[Xavier Dan Q]

I can't speak to your professional career, but I fail to see how in <i>any</i> way you could ever be percieved as a failure.<br><br>
That was really an amazing POTD report, dcoroner. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"><br><br>
It's a pleasure to get to know you a little better.

 

[wherestheportojohn]

steph,<br>
Thanks for the peek at part of your life.<br>
I had no idea that you were a sprinter in HS!!!<br>
~whey kewl~<br><br>
oh, and GO BIG TEN!<br><br><img alt="" src="http://bestsmileys.com/cheering/4.gif" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[bootsie]

Excellent POTD, Steph! Of course, i always like your posts! Can't wait to meet you <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[willrun4chocolate]

Wow that was great. I was in gymnastics when I was younger, I still love an open space to do a cartwheel in <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">

 

[OldBaldHippie]

I admire your perseverance...you have held your head up through some tough times...

 

[jcumming]

Running helps most of us with our fitness, some of us with our goals, but it appears that it helped you regain your life. Thanks for sharing. With an attitude like yours any thought in your mind of failure should be strictly temporary.

 

[thirtyin04]

Thank you for your post! I hope to meet you one day at a Chicago gathering!

 

[JJJessee]

Thanks for your post. My DW loved ballet and after we married switched to Modern, Martha Graham type, dancing and continued another 12 years.<br>
God luck on Chicago,<br>
jjj

 

[drgenie]

This was a great POTD, Steph. You are one of my role models for many reasons.......<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[sistergoldenhair]

You are one strong and classy person, dcoroner77. It's nice to know you a bit better.<br><br>
I cheered too but was way too much of a chicken to do much except pop in to the splits in front of a pyramid!<br><br>
I hope you do not have Chicago Marathon on your calendar for several years yet!

 

[Lincoln]

Cool, I like that.<br><br><br><br>
Bah, I don't like that. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">