[mariposai]

<b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">1. Why do you run?</span></b> <span style="font-family:Tahoma;">I run for life. Seriously, my mother died at age 59 due to diabetes complications and my father had a stroke at age 47…so I am destined to run for life as a way to avoid their diseases.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Although I started running on and off as a teenager, it was not until my mother’s death that I started running on a regular basis. Literally, the minute I arrived home after burying my mother I laced up my running shoes and started running and I hope to keep on running the rest of my life. S</span></span><br><br><br><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;">2. What is your greatest accomplishment?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">As an athlete- having trained and ran 5 marathons within 15 months with no major injuries and having a blast while doing it.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">As a professional-having received the “Heroes of Healthcare Award” for my work in the area of access to healthcare and health equality in my state.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">As a woman- having a love affair with my husband for more than 22 years and counting.</span></span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">3. What is your motto/theme song</span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">? Only those who will risk going too far can possible find out how far one can go. –T.S. Elliot:</span></span><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Theme song:</span></span></b> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">I run for life</span></span><br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBZDvsWqSSo" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#0000FF;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBZDvsWqSSo</span></span></span></a><br><br><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>4. How do you deal with bad runs</b>? I view running as an art, not as a science for this reason, I let my body, mind and heart tell me how hard or how easy I should push at any given training day. I do follow a training plan, but not a set plan for each day thus I hardly ever have a bad run. Yes, I do have those “mind over matter” runs, but not bad ones.</span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">5. Do you reward yourself for good runs? How?</span></span></b> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">The run itself is my reward. During peak marathon training I may reward myself with some fresh flowers for my office, a pedicure or a massage. Also a nice glass of wine makes me feel special after a long/hard run.</span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">6. Who do you admire most?</span></span></b> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">First of all, my husband, he is my hero, my knight in shining armor and a great example of a true gentleman to our sons<b>.</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Second, anyone who is true to themselves.</span></span><br><br><div style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">7. <b>What is the greatest advice you have ever received?</b> Live each day as if it were your last day on this earth.</span></span></div>
<br><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;">8. <b>What do wish you had learned younger?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">To be generous with my compliments and my smiles towards others.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;">9<b>. What do you wish you could do but can't?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Run a mile with my mother.</span></span><br><br><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;">10. How would your friends describe your personality?</span></span></b> <span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;">Runaholic, vibrant, joyful, passionate about life, a go-getter.</span></span><br><br><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;">11. What do you wear running? favorite outfit?</span></span></b> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Race-ready shorts are the best! I like to wear my race shirt for longer or harder runs because they serve me as a great morale booster. Oh, and I always wear a pair butterfly earrings for my races.</span></span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">12. <b>What has been your favorite race</b>? Marathon International de Paraguay.</span></span><br><a href="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22662&highlight=marathon+paraguay" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#0000FF;">http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22662&highlight=marathon+paraguay</span></span></span></a><br><br><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>13. Do you have a goal race right now</b>?</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Wenatchee</span></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Marathon</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">on April 20th.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">My long range goal is to run a sub4 marathon (a self imposed time) to treat myself to run the Athens Marathon</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>14. What makes you happy?</b> Seeing my husband and my sons happy. Running, dancing, cooking, being one with nature, quilting. A glass of wine with a friend.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="color:#000000;">15<b>. Tell us one interesting thing about you that you haven't said (at least not often) on this forum in the past.</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">I am a professional storyteller focusing on folk stories from</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">South America</span></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">. Have stories….will travel.</span></span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">16. <b>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</b></span></span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Divechief ran 12 marathons in 2007 (a marathon a month) now tell me if he is not the epitome of being a Marathon Maniac</span></span>

 

[hally]

Great POTD Mari, no joking <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
You are one of the most upbeat people I have ever met online and I so hope we get to meet IRL soon!<br><br>
Thanks for being the POTD and sharing you with us.<br><br>
Barb

 

[Mustang Sally]

Thank you for that uplifting POTD, Mariposai. You may have just derailed my Grumpy Day <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[CoyoteMark]

Nice POTD, Mari. I went back and read your Paraguay marathon report- what a fantastic journey! I have traveled throughout South America (alas- not Paraguay yet), and found the people to be some of the warmest and most welcoming in the world! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
Cheers!<br>
Mark

 

[Mustang Mom]

Thank you, Butterfly Lady! What a lovely POTD. And thank you for your work in healthcare!

 

[breger1]

Hey Butterfly Lady! I definitely enjoyed reading this. Your love of life and running is really cool. I hope your attitude is Contagious! I loved how you wrote of your dear Mother. She is very proud I am sure.<br><br>
Bill

 

[millbot]

Hey mari, you are such a ray of sunshine!<br><br>
You're a quilter! My wife is a quilting addict! (That's her term, not mine. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">)

 

[choovie]

Mari, you are such a wonderful addition to our Kick family. Thank you for all that you bring to us on a regular basis and thank you for this wonderful POTD post. You are a delightful inspiration to me.

 

[Tamster]

I didn't know you were a quilter Mari! My mom is a wonderful quilter as well and has entered several of her quilts in shows in Oregon. Someday I'll be a quilter too.<br><br>
I loved reading your POTD and seeing even more dimension to you than I already knew there was. I'm very very blessed to call you my real life friend, as well as my running forum friend, my dear sistah!

 

[Buxtehude]

This was wonderful and uplifting to read.<br><br>
Thank you!

 

[dtoce]

Great POTD, oh lady butterfly ...thanks for all you do!<br><br>
You are one of the most consistently positive and upbeat personalities on this board. We are blessed to have you here.

 

[Dove]

Wonderful POTD. You are a professional storyteller? I've never met one before, that's fascinating!<br><br>
For those of you who have never met Mariposai in person, she absolutely radiates beauty. A deep,deep internal beauty that just makes you happy to be around her.<br><br>
-Dove

 

[RunsTheBitterroot]

Hi Mariposai! What a great POTD. I lost my mom when she was 39 for complications of diabetas also. It is great that you are part of KR.<br><br>
Larry

 

[winejunky]

Butterfly girl I love ya!! I knew you'd get a wine mention in there somehow...

 

[Hanging Jury]

Great post, Mariposai.<br><br>
I'm glad I had the opportunity to get to know you a little better.

 

[rosecoloredglasses]

That was a good one!<br>
(well, I enjoy them all)<br><br>
Mariposai,<br>
Thank you for sharing your POTD story.<br>
Now I want to hear a South American tale... in Spanish!