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News: Your StoriesLeading up to the 2010 event:For Taylor My now 3 and a half year old son, Taylor was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare childhood cancer that effects the retina in the eye, December 2008. At 2 years old the doctor found a large tumor in his eye. After little luck with chemotherapy they removed his left eye January 2009. Taylor is now in remission and cancer free. It was by far the most difficult, agonizing and trying time in my life. I am running this race for him. For you Taylor, I love you. — Nicki Connelly Team Spirit I am part of a group of "Stay at Home Moms" in Vail, AZ. We do many things together. We have many good intentions but do not necessarily follow through. However, over time we have managed to stay motivated and committed to our goals. These goals are walking, running, staying active, eating more healthy and possibly attempting to finish a half marathon. A few of the girls have even set up a free boot camp twice a week at a neighborhood park so that they can get together, workout and mingle with people like themselves and at the same time their kids get to play with other kids. We all decided to do a half marathon for the feeling of accomplishment, the commitment to stick to our workout plan and to have a reason to get together. We were planning on doing a half marathon in November 09 but due to some health reason and scheduling issues it just wasn't possible. NOW we are committed. We have named our running group, "THE CLV Footprints" (Christ Lutheran Vail Footprints). This is a group that is sponsored by Christ Lutheran Vail, A church in Vail that reaches out to the community. You do not have to be a member of CLV to be part of this running group. We have not only committed to running or walking the Arizona Distance Classic Half Marathon but we have encouraged other people in Vail, Rita Ranch and SE Tucson to join us. The group allows us to stay in contact with each other, pass great relevant information back and forth and keeps us united so we don't fall off track. The make up of the group is very diverse from the make up of the people to the running experience. We have people as young as 15 and into their 50s. Some have run marathons and some just don't run. That is what makes this experience exciting, we are all committed to our goals and want to accomplish a half marathon running or walking. One of the things I look forward to is actually running the half marathon with very little stopping. My goal for my 1st half marathon is 2 hours and 15 minutes. The other thing I am looking forward to is watching my team cross the finish line knowing that they completed their goal and NOW anything is possible. Leading up to the 2009 event:Walking for a cause I am approaching the five year anniversary of of my successful treatment for breast cancer as well as recovery from bilateral knee replacements. While still in early recovery mode, I did the 5K in this event two years ago while my husband ran the half marathon. Last year I walked a total of five half marathons, this wonderful event in Oro Valley among them. I was also able to ride the Tour de Tucson in 2007, and have done two other long-distance charity bike rides since then. It is a great joy for me to acknowledge my good fortune to have returned to wellness and strength so that I'm able to train for, and complete, these events. This year I have recruited my neighbor in Catalina to join me in walking the half marathon in Oro Valley, and we are working on yet another neighbor to join us. Because my husband and I have three adult children with disabilities (autism, deafness, juvenile diabetes) we are especially interested in events of this kind that benefit a good cause, like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of these cancer patients and their families. My other connection to this population is my volunteer work with Tu Nidito in Tucson, where we provide support for children and their families impacted by serious illness and death. Many of the sick children served by Tu Nidito are battling cancer. Again, thank you. —Cheron Joy Mayhall Coming back to my roots Hello! I'm writing to you with my story: On 1/1/07, I quit smoking, starting trying to lose weight and I started running. Just an average month for this fat and yet competitive overachiever. Fast forward to my first race: the AZ Distance Classic 5k. I ran it in 00:38:56. Not bad for my first race, ever. I liked it so much that I decided to keep running. I ran my first marathon in June of 2007, in 5:58:20. After the buzz of the marathon wore off, and the grip of a nasty case of tendonitis set in, I started gaining weight back. In fact, I gained every pound I lost and some I didn't even know about. I lost that mojo, too, that running fever. My running log looked scanty at best and my sedentary alter ego began bossing me around. "Get me that pint of moose tracks ice cream! I'm too tired to get off the couch." But running—it is hard to shake. Even in the midst of personal tragedy I knew running was always there, but I kept getting in my own way. So here I am. Amongst the weight gain, the infertility, the lack of activity, the tendonitis, the threat of my own self; I'm running again. I'm breaking myself free from myself. And if breaking free from myself isn't enough, I've got an audience who watches me do it on a daily basis. (I started a blog when I started running and it unintentionally became a runaway hit. My only rule: total honesty about running and life. http://howmanymiles.org) I'm living proof that it is hard. Running is hard. Training is hard. Keeping it going is hard. But it is possible. And it is worth the efforts. I picked the Arizona Distance Classic 5k as my first race back, a coming back to my roots of sorts, as my coming out party. And, can I just say, I'm kicking ass and taking names. Thanks for reading my story. Best, Tears in my eyes I started walking the 2008 Arizona Classic Half Marathon with tears in my eyes. But before I explain why—some background and history. I walked my lst marathon in 2007 at the age of 60 with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. They teach normal non-athletic folks how to do these events, and these non-athletic folks in return raise money for a great cause. I had such a wonderful time with such a great group of people that I've been at it ever since. For the record, that is 1 marathon, 1 staged marathon (thanks to John and Jenny and David on a terrific Alaskan cruise called the Great Alaskan Maritime Marathon), 6 half-marathons, and an assortment of 5k events. I nearly always wear my purple Team in Trainig jersey because you meet the nicest folks and make "new best friends" along the way in these events. After all, walkers "do it slower, take longer, and finish with a smile on their faces!" So the morning of the 2008 Arizona Distance Classic, I was wearing my purple jersey, standing at the back of the line where the walkers usually gather, anticipating a really great day, and visiting with "new best friends." So the couple I'm talking with tell me that the woman had been in an experimental medical group funded by money raised by Team in Training of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She was a leukemia survivor. And THEN—her husband looks at me and says, "Thank you for giving me my wife." Now you know why I started with tears in my eyes. What an amazing experience!! —Donese Mayfield Can't wait I can't wait for March 29, 2009 to do my fifth Arizona Distance Classic Half Marathon! On February 25, 2005 my husband, Mal, and I moved to Oro Valley from St. Louis, MO. Before moving I checked out the available half marathons as we are both marathon walkers recently switched to half marathon walk/runners. I found out about the Oro Valley half and the slogan, "You can't do them all if you don't do the first" got my juices flowing! Now, in St. Louis, in the winter we don't do much training but with preparing for the move WE DID NONE!! I registered the two of us (much to my husband's displeasure) and we were set to go! A couple of weeks after we moved in we were moving out in the Distance Classic! Oh, those hills! My legs were burning and my husband did the job I registered him for — pushed me up the hills! We finished in a little over 3 hours (every year we've gotten better since then) and WE'VE DONE THEM ALL since and will do them all as long as we can. We have friends from St. Louis join us here every year to do it with us. I've now completed 15 full marathons and 16 halfs. Oh, did I say that my first full marathon (in Washington D.C.) was when I was 56! I'm now 67 and my husband is 71!!! Sincerely, Leading up to the 2008 event:Cyclist or runner? First of all, I'm a cyclist, not a runner. Second, well, I'm a cyclist, not a runner. My sister's the runner, and she asked ever so nicely if she could come out and stay at my house so she could run the Arizona Distance Classic in 2005. Oh, and would I run it with her? Right. I'm a cyclist... I walked the half in 2005 and 2006. In 2007 a small miracle occurred and our father - who has been basically sedentary his whole life - read John's book and began to fail to fail. He came out and ran the 5K with my sister and me. I cherish the picture of us with our Penguin medals. The 2008 Classic looms as another important milestone for me. I've signed up to run a full marathon (Right, right... I'm a cyclist, not a runner). I've been teaching cycling safety classes for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training century participants for several years. Having lost a friend many years ago to leukemia, I finally decided I needed to do my part to help eradicate this disease, however I didn't feel right about asking my friends and family to donate money so I could ride my umpteenth century ride. I figured if they were putting money out there, I ought to be putting something of myself out there, too - the possibility of failure. The classic is at just the right point in time to incorporate it into my marathon training schedule. So this year, for Scott, I run. If only I were a runner, not a cyclist... —Donna The family that runs together, stays together In my younger days I ran 35 miles per week, unless training for a marathon, then it went up to 60 miles. I ran alone, without family. Last year, at age 72, I ran the 5K with my two sons. They each took a second place in their divisions, and I took first place in mine (there were only 5 crazy old men). Our stories of the fun we had, the beauty of the course, and our joy in running, spread through the family. This year, there are 32 people coming to Tucson for the race and a reunion. Fifteen of us will be running in either the 5K or the Half Marathon. Excitment is already building. Emails arrive daily with stories of encouragment, announcements of goals achieved, or new training PR's. Maybe the family that runs together, stays together. —David Jones Leading up to the 2007 event:Icarus on the Run In Greek mythology, Daedalus and his son Icarus are imprisoned on the isle of Crete. With no prospects of rescue by sea, the father looks to the skies for a means of escape. Using beeswax and bird feathers, he crafts two pairs of wings. Before donning the wings and taking flight, Daedalus warns his son that if they fly too low, the sea's moisture will weigh them down and they'll be unable to hold themselves up. Yet, if they fly too high, the sun's heat will melt the wax, the feathers will fall off, and they'll fall to their deaths. At first Icarus heeds his father's advice; however, gradually his moves become more daring, and he begins to soar higher and higher, forgetting his father's words. Too late, he realizes that the wax is dripping from his wings, feathers are falling away, and he plummets to his death. As a runner with significant health concerns, the story of Icarus is close to my heart. Rather than remaining imprisoned by asthma and an occasionally irregular heartbeat, my doctors and I have crafted a means of escape. Each time I run I push myself, therein growing stronger; yet, I must not come too close to the limits of my breathing or the triggers that cause attacks. Some days are better than others, so determining just how hard I can safely push is a challenge, and sometimes I get it right, but other times I don't. I am frequently asked why I subject myself to the rigors of running; why don't I find a pursuit for which I'm better suited? And, when I'm tired, or when I start to sputter and cough, sometimes I ask myself that same question, but the answer is always the same. The Reason I Run Why do you do it, Sis? Why do you run? To get up on the weekends before the sun rises, Your asthma flares up and you cough and you sputter, And pound out a jazz beat in three-quarter time, Then your quads, hips and hamstrings, they whimper and whine, Tell me, why do you do it? Mary, why do you run? The reason I do it, the reason I run? Since starting this journey my flights have grown longer, I'm careful to soar not too close to the sun, By my soul is an aria, measured and true, And the chance to glide silently over the earth, Please don't clip my wings, nor deny me this run. — Mary Longcore My oldest daughter is a runner. She had encouraged me to start running twenty years ago. I enjoyed the feeling running gave me immensely. Then ten years ago I pulled my groin so badly I couldn't walk without pain for almost 4 years. During that time I also had problems with blood clots in my leg from medication. I started developing fibromyalgia, slowly gained 50 pounds and became severely depressed. Running didn't seem to be an option. Even so, I continued my subscription to Runners World. Reading other people's experiences kept up my desire to run—no matter how hidden—alive. Finally, that feeling I got when I ran was awoken from the recesses of my mind. I could imagine myself running again. Last year as I was approaching my 50th birthday—I made the goal to complete a marathon by my fiftieth birthday. So I started out on our treadmill. I was going along fine, getting my mileage up when I pulled my shoulder out (doing something unrelated) and then the treadmill broke a few days later. Finding an alternative running source was not a problem but I was in so much pain from my shoulder that it stopped me in my tracks. Once again depression set in—it hurt to move any part of my body almost to the point of passing out. That did it—I wasn't going anywhere for a while. I turned 50 in October and thought my dream of running a marathon was gone. Then a friend of mine who is a massage therapist came to my aid. She worked on my shoulder in tandem with getting chiropractic care. Their care literally got me up and running again and running actually helps with my pain. I may not be running through the entire half marathon in Oro Valley this year but I am going to complete the course in whatever time it takes. I am 50. I can stretch, I can kick and I can run. A full marathon is on the horizon and I can see it. See you there! Carrie Rockwell Amerind From the Inaugural Arizona Distance Classic, March 13, 2005I started running in spring 2004 as a way to cope with my husband's pending deployment to Iraq. He'd be leaving me for a year with three small kids, a business, health problems, and the looming reality that a marine in dress blues could ring the door bell at any time. I've never been an athlete—I'm a born penguin—and never thought I could run a block! John's books gave me faith in myself, and gave me the tools to stick to running well after the three week novelty wore off. I signed up for the AZDC half-marathon to have a goal, and to guarantee myself one small treat, without kids, during this deployment. I came to the start line on March 13 glad for the chance to run in the sun while Chicago remained a frozen wasteland. The race did not disappoint. The terrain was gorgeous, everyone was so friendly, and there were penguins galore! Sure, there was a pack of 'real runners,' but there were more people like me than like them! I went into the race without an ideal time to beat, but as I neared the end it began to look like I'd make it in under the 3 hour mark. When I got within 50 yards of the finish line, I started to kick it up, and when the announcer announced my name and hometown, I went into a full sprint. The announcer had the crowd fired up, then got them *counting down* to the 3 hour mark. I floored it, and made it. I felt like an Olympic athlete, complete with play-by-play and photo-finish. I went back to my car and cried with joy and pride and with whatever else breaks loose after a giant act of kindness is bestowed upon someone who has been waiting for another shoe to drop for nearly a year. Then, I found John Bingham to thank him. I intended to shake his hand, but ended up giving him a big hug instead. He was gracious—I'm guessing he gets that a lot from grimy, blotchy, inarticulate new runners who just made it over the finish line thanks to him. My husband is scheduled to return from Iraq in a month, and I look forward to introducing him to the AZDC next spring. No doubt he will want to thank John too, for getting me through this deployment with body and soul stronger than they were before. Thanks to all of you for such a wonderful race. My spirit is renewed, and I am now a runner! Sincerely, Although I have taught fitness classes and have been a gym rat since the 1980's, I am a relatively new runner—I started my running 'career' in September 2003 on a dare from one of my students. I signed up for the Arizona Distance Classic hooked on the "have to run the first to run them all" thing. I felt really good and strong. 
Three weeks before the race, however, my beloved greyhound, Dana, became very ill very quickly. I was spending time at the vet with her and time at home with her trying to figure out if what she had was curable. Unfortunately, it was not and she quietly slipped away a week before the race. So I basically blew off the majority of the last 3 weeks of training for what I was figuring would be my hardest (due to the hill factor) race yet. I thought about not running, but something made me make the trip down to Tucson to do it. When I lined up at the starting line, I had very low expectations—which got even lower as we hit the first uphill. I don't know how I did it, but armed with a small photo of my baby in my fanny pack, I ran a 2:15. No land speed record for many people, but for me it was an unbelievable PR 2:15, given the terrain, my lack of training, and the amount of stress I had recently experienced. I crossed the finish with a big smile of disbelief and relief on my face and Dana's photo in my hand. I look forward to running the race next year and beyond as a tribute to my wonderful pup who I firmly believe was there with me to help get the job done, and I hope that time permits me to join you at the Chicago Distance Classic this August, as well. — Paula I ran the race on Sunday, March 13, 2005 and this is my first race since having lower back surgery in June of last year. I have been changing the way I run, protecting my lower back where the surgery was performed and was up to about 8 miles without any kind of discomfort. I met a few of my neighbors who were amazed that I was doing the race and personally I did not know if I would do on a 13 mile race. However, as I consistantly met a 10 minute mile I focused on trying to increase the speed towards the end and making it in 2 hours. As I rounded the corner I knew that the medal that I would receive meant to me that I was still in great shape, I could run a half marathon, and that my back surgery was behind me and I could run races again!! — Paul C. Our success story: My daughter and I ran our first race ever and had a great experience! I first read about John "The Penguin" Bingham when I was sitting in the doctor's lounge last October waiting for my annual physical. I, like a lot of other people, could totally relate to John's story. I would have never got excited about the 5K, or thought I could have done it, unless I had initially read that article in Fitness Magazine. John's humble attitude and unique viewpoints made me laugh and want to participate. On the eve of the race, I started getting nervous again and was glad I brought a copy of John's book, The Courage to Start. I recommend this book to anyone who is new to running. It made me not take myself so seriously and actually enjoy my first race. My daughter and I are planning on making the Arizona Distance Classic OUR annual event. Thanks to all the smiling volunteers! And thanks John, for asking AT LEAST 15 people for a special pen to autograph my poster. Most people would have given up! — Cindi and Theresa, Glendale AZ |
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