“… you can do it if you just put your mind to it.”
What inspired you to start running?
Back in the beginning, my mom had rheumatoid arthritis. So, I found a group that was running the marathon for the Arthritis Foundation. I raised money for that group and trained with them and it was awesome.
Can you talk about how running helps your overall well-being?
I mean, I love to run. I found I actually got hooked on running because of Tufts Health Plan and the Tufts 10K. A colleague stopped me in the hall once and said, “Hey, I think you should run the 10K.” And I was like, “No, I don’t run.” And she said, “No, you’re gonna run and I’m gonna train you.” And I said okay. The Tufts 10K was the reason I started running. I loved that, and then did a half marathon and then did the marathon.
What’s the best advice you’ve received or would give about running?
Joan Benoit Samuelson said don’t ever agree to stay with a running partner in a race because you never know who’s going to have a good or a bad day, so make that agreement right up front. Like: Okay, we’re going to go our separate ways if needed, it’s not like [you have to] try to stay together. That was really good advice.
[Advice I would give:] That you can do it if you just put your mind to it. It might seem so big at first, but it builds, you know, the training just keeps building, and you’re surprised at how you end up getting there.
How do you stay motivated during the tough parts of training?
I ran with somebody once who said: “You have to love the hill.” So, as I’m going up the hill and I’m struggling, I’m like, “I love this hill. I love this hill.” So, I do things like that and just mentally prepare before it days in advance. I’m constantly talking about it, and I’ll announce it many times: “I have to do this long run on Saturday, and I’m doing this many miles.” I just put it out there so my brain is focused and ready for it.
What’s the most interesting or unexpected thing you’ve experienced during a marathon?
Seeing the Hoyts. That was amazing. How can you worry about a little pain here and there when you see people like that running the marathon and pushing a wheelchair?
The last marathon I did, it was 90-something degrees. That was unexpected. I ended up getting three IVs at the end. I was so dehydrated … and I went to the medical tent. I did not expect that.
Do you have any pre-race rituals or superstitions?
I have to eat a bagel even though I never eat bagels, but it has to be a bagel in the morning.
Do you have a dream marathon you’d love to run someday?
No. I didn’t think I’d ever do another one, and I feel like this is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It’s almost handed to us, so how could I not? I didn’t really want to do one, but I said, “All right, I’m going to do this.” So, you never know, I might get a bug and want to do something else, but no, no plans.