
Itâs often said, âWhat you are looking for, is looking for youâ.
This is a brief story about running. Itâs not about my love for running. Â It is a story about my love for what running has done for me.
As an asthmatic person since 1978 I was always told I could not run. Â I longed to run the relays in elementary school and was stymied by my inability to breath. Â Running a relay or a marathon seemed impossible to a 12 year old girl when I could not even run two blocks. Â I believed that until the age of 37 when I met my future husband Joe G.
I was at a time in life where I was a non-athletic person seeking a sport that was mildly strenuous and economical. Â I was getting a late start. Â Joe G took a risk, and gave me two gifts that greatly impacted my life. Â He gave me a custom set of golf clubs and had me fitted for running shoes.
Fast forward to early 2011, I was an alternate for the Morton Golf Foundation Running TEAM called the âTurtlesâ. Â I immediately embarked in a running program. Â As fate would have it, I was called to fill in on the relay team. Â I read running magazines to learn about breathing correctly and eating runner friendly snacks. Â I rose at dawn. Â I enrolled our dog âMagsâ in the training; she became my running mate. Â We both lost weight.
The cold and rainy weather hit, âmy running mateâ and I took to the treadmill in the garage. Â I did not want to let the TEAM and Jane my inspirational cheerleader down. Â My training went with me on all of my business trips. Â Running as caused me to discover art, birds, nature and architecture in many of our metro areas you can only spot before the traffic and populace occur. Â Complacency lurks, but the calmness and clarity, that running brings to my day is worth the daily commitment.
So, when you see me coming in at a 15 minute mile clip, remember, if an asthmatic gal like me can do it, anyone can. Â My ârunning mateâ Mags will be there in spirit only because dogs are not allowed to run in the California International Marathon.

