Joined
·
13,710 Posts
<span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">1. Why do you run?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">I run because I can…there was one time I would sweat just tying my shoes. It was no fun being super morbidly obese with a BMI of 56. Maybe it was 51. My friend Susan M. won and entry into the P’tree road race on a local radio show. Her daughter was my trainer. I figured if she can do it, why the hell can’t I?</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2. What is your greatest accomplishment?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Convincing the insurance company I needed gastric bypass. I made a great case for myself. I was denied the first time around. I was also denied for my reconstructive procedures, but got those overturned too!</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Once I got the surgery, my greatest accomplishment so far was keeping the weight off. Sure, I have my ups and downs, but this morning I weighed in at 170 pounds lower than my highest weight.</span><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">3. What is your motto/theme song?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Motto: Let me win. If I cannot win, I will be brave in the attempt. (Special Olympics Athlete Oath)</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Theme Song: Feels So Good, Chuck Mangione. It was while I was on a training run I was listening to it on a cold January day in 2005. That is when I decided it will be the Chicago Marathon I would train for!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">4. How do you deal with bad runs?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Keep things in perspective. Everyone has bad runs. I’ve had better runs. I’m sure “this” bad run won’t be my worst! It’s hard sometimes…especially if you head out NEEDING a good mental run day.</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">5. Do you reward yourself for good runs? How?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Sometimes. I try to do something non-food related…like pamper with a pedicure…but gosh darn it…if I ran 20 miles or did a solo 113 bike followed by a 40 minute brick…I sure as hell gonna eat something good later!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">6. Who do you admire most?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Different people for different reasons. 1st…”Coach Jim.” He goes out and can run a marathon without training. He recovers like a rockstar! If I never met him, I would have never gotten into triathlons, or ever contemplated attempting an Ironman. He signed me up for IM FL 07!</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2: A lady in my tri club, Debra. Last year I could kick her a$$ on a ride. This year she’s the BEST biker in our group! She also is an example of turning your life around! She once smoked and weighed 120 pounds more than she does today. She lost it w/o WLS.</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">3: Dad. Any other man woulda left Mom YEARS AGO!</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">4: Purple Hayes. He could run his own cleaning service. I give him a hard time about it, but it’s out of sheer admiration! I will admit, it did disappoint me</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">when he sold the “black monster.” I’m still trying to get over it!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Live each day to the fullest! This might be your last. Make sure you tell those near to you that you love them.</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mr. Tithers’ grandma told me the day I came home from our honeymoon:</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">“Don’t go to bed mad.” (That very evening she also let me in on the</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">‘secret’ that she wears a wig!). She’s passed away 7 years ago. When</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">she was delusional in the hospital I “visited” her everyday. I was also</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">in GA…she was so happy to see me! I guess what I’m saying is, she</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">made me feel special…I really wasn’t there, but she THOUGHT I was!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">8. What do wish you had learned younger?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">If you don’t like something it’s ok to say no!</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Food does not make you feel better.</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Those are both lessons I had to learn the hard way!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">9. What do you wish you could do but can't?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">I can do anything I put my mind to. I’m resilient… but…I wish I could do speedwork without getting injured!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">10. How would your friends describe your personality?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Social, friendly, quirky</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">11. What do you wear running? favorite outfit?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Currently my favorite outfit is my race ready compression shorts paired with my pink Nike tech shirt that matches the question font. Add my black visor and my black Nathan handheld bottle…good to race!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">12. What has been your favorite race?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Chicago Marathon-It sucked from mile 15 on, but I never IMAGINED I would even have been able to run a 5k! It sucked b/c I had a bad nutritionist. I cramped. I</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">always did 14+ miles. When I found my new one, I have yet to cramp on the run!</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Emerald Pointe Sprint Triathlon. Last year it was my first tri. This year I only did a relay, but I PR’d the swim course. Compared to the 25-29 AG I woulda been 4th out of 50. 2nd compared to Athena. Last year I was LAST in my AG and 2nd to last in Athena on the swim!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">13. Do you have a goal race right now?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Ironman</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Florida</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">November 3, 2007</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">14. What makes you happy?<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mr. Tithers. Reaching my goals. My kids at school when they are EXCITED to learn. I love when Romeo sneezes on command and shakes his whole butt when he’s happy to see me!</span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">15. Tell us one interesting thing about you that you haven't said (at least not often) on this forum in the past.<br></span></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Miguel Indurain smiled at me in 1997. I was chosen to play euphonium in an ensemble on the red carpet for the world premiere if Disney’s Hercules. I “mouthed” something to him. He smiled back. So tall. So handsome. Nice teef! I still have part of the outfit I wore from the event…a lightening bolt tunic.</span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Also-I am feautured in Jeff Galloway's Book on Women's Running. I'm in the "fat girlzs" section. My story is told. Also-he gives my tips to help women "of size" when they start on the running journey <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"></span><br><br><span style="color:#FF00FF;"><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><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">APRR Chuck and I met 3 months before we realized we knew each other online. We were at Fellini’s pizza in</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Atlanta</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. I saw this cute guy in skates with a BRAG (Bike Ride Across Georgia) jersey on. Ms. Social person I am…I immediately “tackled” him at the soda fountain and asked him 4000 questions. Then he told me he never rode his bike across GA…that he SKATED it! ROCKSTAR!</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">So-one day I get this PM. Are you the same girl who attacked me at Fellini’s?</span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;">“Why yes, I was!:</span>
