PRT POTD! 10/29...Tithers

1. Why do you run? 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? 2. What is your greatest accomplishment? 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! 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. 3. What is your motto/theme song? Motto: Let me win. If I cannot win, I will be brave in the attempt. (Special Olympics Athlete Oath) 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! 4. How do you deal with bad runs? 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. 5. Do you reward yourself for good runs? How? 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! 6. Who do you admire most? 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! 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. 3: Dad. Any other man woulda left Mom YEARS AGO! 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 when he sold the “black monster.” I’m still trying to get over it! 7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received? Live each day to the fullest! This might be your last. Make sure you tell those near to you that you love them. Mr. Tithers’ grandma told me the day I came home from our honeymoon: “Don’t go to bed mad.” (That very evening she also let me in on the ‘secret’ that she wears a wig!). She’s passed away 7 years ago. When she was delusional in the hospital I “visited” her everyday. I was also in GA…she was so happy to see me! I guess what I’m saying is, she made me feel special…I really wasn’t there, but she THOUGHT I was! 8. What do wish you had learned younger? If you don’t like something it’s ok to say no! Food does not make you feel better. Those are both lessons I had to learn the hard way! 9. What do you wish you could do but can't? I can do anything I put my mind to. I’m resilient… but…I wish I could do speedwork without getting injured! 10. How would your friends describe your personality? Social, friendly, quirky 11. What do you wear running? favorite outfit? 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! 12. What has been your favorite race? 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 always did 14+ miles. When I found my new one, I have yet to cramp on the run! 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! 13. Do you have a goal race right now? Ironman Florida, November 3, 2007! 14. What makes you happy? 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! 15. Tell us one interesting thing about you that you haven't said (at least not often) on this forum in the past. 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. 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"> 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!). APRR Chuck and I met 3 months before we realized we knew each other online. We were at Fellini’s pizza in Atlanta. 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! So-one day I get this PM. Are you the same girl who attacked me at Fellini’s? “Why yes, I was!:

PRT POTD! 10/29...Tithers

ToddEP

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