A New Year's Resolution That Finally Stuck

By Cheryl McGinnis

"Mile by mile, it's a trial, but inch by inch, it's a cinch." - Dick Burchett

There are not many blanks in Margaret Westlake's running journal.  The former self-proclaimed couch potato remembers logging her first entry almost two years ago this month - seven minutes on the treadmill.  This was her first effort toward a New Year's resolution to start running.

She lived in Ohio at the time and was walking with her son, Michael, who is autistic.  His medication had caused a severe weight gain and she realized the importance of exercise.  However, she decided that in terms of her own fitness, walking was taking up too much time and she needed something more.

"I have friends that like aerobics or step, but that wasn't for me.  I did run on the junior high school track team and I was good at it.  I remembered how much I had enjoyed it," recalled Westlake .

"I read in Bob Glover's book that anyone can run a marathon in four months.  So I decided to shoot for a fall marathon and just double the numbers."

She was off and running.well, sort of.  Her first attempt was on a treadmill at Anthem, on her second day of a new position that brought her to Louisville . She ran one minute and walked two, for a total of seven minutes.

"I was in tears, thinking, 'I can't do this,' but was determined not to give up," she said.

The next day she was back on the treadmill, logging another seven minutes, but this time it wasn't quite as difficult. Gradually she increased her running time.

Reviewing her journal and calendar, she estimated that the New York Marathon fell into the right time frame for her goal.  By now, she was walking five minutes, running ten, still on the treadmill, with a goal of 20 minutes.

"I had never stuck with any New Year's resolutions before, but this time I kept at it," said Westlake . "I told friends so I'd have to stay with it, though many advised that I wait and not attempt a marathon in my first year."

In May, she entered her first race. She entered the Wally Bright one-mile companion race with all the kids.  An 8-year old boy beat her, but she was the first woman and won a gift certificate to Swag's Sport Shoes.

"It was raining at the start, but I didn't mind it at all," said Westlake .  "Once I got out on the road, I realized what I'd been missing and loved it.  I am one of the lucky ones who experiences the runner's high."

Next was a 2.7-mile trail run at General Butler State Park , where she became hooked on trail running.  After a series of 5K summer races across the country, Westlake was logging 10-milers by August and training with a partner who ran a similar pace.

Tuesday evening speed workouts with Swag's group gave her additional encouragement.  She was appreciative of the friendliness, after some unfortunate negative experiences with other groups.  One runner had even commented before a 300-meter sprint, that at least this time they would not lap her.

Westgate was not deterred.

During September she was doing half marathons almost every weekend, including Chicago , Long Beach and Louisville .  She won her first finisher's medal in the Charleston Distance Classic 15-Miler, finishing in three hours and twenty-five minutes. The ambulance was behind her the whole time.  She may have finished last, but she did it.

She also had a first-time experience at the Chicago half-marathon, when she realized that you could make mistakes if you aren't careful.  She failed to eat anything that morning and almost passed out.  Luckily, her sister was there for support and walked with her the last two miles, pulling her to finish. 

"Some days just aren't going to be good days, but that same sister did a triathlon with me this year.  So it all works out."

During the beginning of October Westlake decided to do the Detroit Marathon as a trial run, running the first thirteen miles and walking the last half.  First-time marathoners wear green bibs so that the crowd can cheer them on.

"A husband and wife from India had signed up as a two-person relay and I found myself beside the wife, who was struggling to finish the last thirteen miles," recalled Westlake .  "The wife told me they didn't run in India but that she and her husband wanted to be Americans.  So, we stayed together to the finish."

Finally, the day she had trained for: The New York City Marathon.  She was ready.well, sort of.  There were a few small problems; it was one of the hottest days on record and her luggage didn't arrive with her.  It was delivered sometime while she was running through the streets of New York .

Luckily, she was wise for a new runner and had carried her shoes with her on the plane.  Again, not to be discouraged, she treated herself to a bright new running outfit, but she didn't have her hair coils.

"I had very long hair at the time and realized when the gun went off that I didn't have the coils to tie my hair back, so I grabbed a rubber band that I spotted on the street."

Standing on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge amidst 35,000 runners, the girl beside Westlake noted how much she loved the New York Marathon.  She went on to say that her second favorite race is the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon.  Talk about a small world.

The cannon sounded and she was off. Once again, Westlake embraced the experience.

"As I was coming into Central Park , yellow leaves were showering down.  I grabbed a leaf in mid-air and the crowd went crazy," she reflected.  "They were saying, 'Wow, look at her smile.'"

Westlake went out of her way to give kids a high-five, to encourage other runners who were struggling, and even helped a girl who was suffering an asthma attack.

That enthusiasm has seeped into other areas of her life, as she returned to college to pursue a master's degree in statistical data mining.  She and husband, Mike, a writer and martial arts instructor, recently hiked the Grand Canyon and plan to tackle the "Rim to Rim," a 25-mile hike from one rim to another, next summer.

Asked about his wife's new passion, Mike recalled the words of his former marital arts instructor: "At some point, you cease to do it, and you become it."

Westlake remembers the first time her husband described her as a runner. "I did a mental double-take and then realized that it is a defining piece of who I am," she said.  "I am much more comfortable with who I am now and much more confident in my own skin.

Westlake has lost 30 pounds and gone from a size 16 to size 8. But the changes are more than skin-deep.

"Ten years ago I went to my 20th class reunion and did the whole make up and big hair thing" she remembered.  "That girl isn't me anymore."

People always ask how she finds the time and energy. "I found more time after I started running because you pay more attention to what you value," she claimed.  "And you don't go find energy, you go get it."

This energetic mother, recently named the Iroquois Hill runner of the month, has also made her son, Michael, proud and has inspired him through her example.  He has lost 82 pounds and participated in "The Penguin 5K" in Columbus , Ohio with his friends, one who is also autistic and another who is mentally retarded.

Westlake , concerned that her son and his friends might get off course, contacted Runner's World Magazine columnist John "The Penguin," who applauds slow running/walking.  He assured her that the race director would make sure they were safe. 

Despite his assurances, she rushed to finish the half-marathon, which is run in conjunction with the 5K, in her fastest time (2:41) to check on the boys.  Though they finished last, they each received a finish medal, which one still wears to this day.

What is her New Year's resolution for 2005? 

She first wants to expand her fitness by adding biking, hiking and canoeing.   All the while, she'll train for The Great Midwest Relay in June, where a team of twelve runners will cover 500 miles.   In August she'll do the "Howl At The Moon" Ultra, running as far as she can in eight hours.

And this is the same woman who struggled just two years ago to log seven minutes on the treadmill.
   

Cheryl McGinnis has a B.A. in English from Centre College, where she served as communications associate, cross-country coach and sports information director.  Cheryl was Kentucky 's NCAA Woman of the Year (1993) and National Inspirational Athlete of the year (1994).  She is a member of Team USA , competing most recently in both the 2004 World Triathlon and World Duathlon. She was named All-American in triathlon and duathlon in 2003. Cheryl is also a certified personal fitness specialist and spinning instructor. To contact Cheryl, call 693-7443 or email offrunnin@yahoo.com.