Schuyler Nunn, mother of two teens, from Philadelphia.
Bethany Meyer, Mother of 4, Philadelphia, PA
1. When and why did you start running? I started running in 2004 when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. He hated his radiation treatments. I felt powerless to help him, so in a show of solidarity I decided to do something I hated too…run. Every day he went to radiation I ran. Six weeks later, Dad was cancer-free…and I was hooked.
2. What has been your favorite Ragnar training run and why? I’ve been training on hills because my first leg begins with a steep 2-mile uphill climb. I ran 3 x 1-mile hill repeats last week with high temperatures and redonkulous humidity. When I reached the top of the third hill and looked down at my watch, I discovered I’d run negative splits. Three months of training coming together as the race approaches feels good!
3. What leg of yours are you most looking forward to running and why? I’m excited for my second leg…4.5 flat miles in the dark. Running that second leg will mean the 2-mile uphill climb of my first leg is already under my belt. Or under my tutu, in this case.
4. One word that describes you as a runner: Committed
You can find Bethany on Twitter; Facebook; and on her blog.
Jill P., mom of two, from Suttons Bay, MI
2. What has been your favorite Ragnar training run and why? Besides that little 50-mile trail ultra last month, it’s Ragnar–Hill Repeats (20-30 hill repeats once a week!). It breaks me in the beginning, then makes me by the last one. My rock’n music my kids can’t hear pumps me through to the other side, and at the end I am on a guaranteed high.
3. What leg of yours are you most looking forward to running and why? I am most excited about Leg 3—my first one—where the course run is described as something like “You got to be kidding me!” Sounds HILLarious!
4. One word that describes you as a runner: Relentless
You can find Jill P. on her blog.
Me looking ridiculously exuberant at about Mile 15 of the 2012 Boston Marathon
1. When and why did you start running? Oh, come on: Didn’t I cover this in Run Like a Mother?
2. What has been your favorite Ragnar training run and why? Weekly hill repeats with my BRF, Molly. Not nearly as long as the ones my teammates have been running, but I got a lot of practice laughing while running. That counts for something, right?!
3. What leg of yours are you most looking forward to running and why? Um, you’re assuming I’ve studied the course map. I’ll be pleasantly surprised by what gets thrown my way.
4. One word that describes you as a runner: Upbeat
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Nicole Hart, Mother of 3, South Central, PA
Terri Lukens-Gable, Mother of 1, State College, PA
1. When and why did you start running? January 3, 2010. I injured my back in November 2009 and the pain was so great I almost couldn’t stand at my son’s wedding. I was an avid biker but it was a snowy winter, and I realized I could build back fitness by running in the snow if not biking. It was a New Year’s Resolution that stuck.
Renee J. Ross, Mother of 1, Atlanta, GA
Nancy Barlow, Mother of 2, Ridgefield, CT
4. One word that describes you as a runner: JOYFUL!
You can find Nancy on Twitter; and on her blog.
Michelle Emme, Mother of 3, Hermantown, MN
1. When and why did you start running? In early 2010, I used a structured 10-week Couch-to-5K podcast (I had to repeat weeks 6-8 multiple times) and eventually got to a solid 30 minutes of running. In the past, I had fits and starts at running, but was never successful for many reasons, one of the main being my weight, which fluctuated pretty wildly starting just after high school and up until I decided enough was enough in July 2009. To this day, I love being challenged, setting goals, and meeting them with determination and hard work. Yes, I wanted to lose weight — and I did — 135 pounds to be exact, but running has given me so much more in return.
2. What has been your favorite Ragnar training run and why? My favorite training runs so far have been my split long runs. It provides the solitary running I do so much of, but I can also do a shorter distance “leg” with a friend. Just this past weekend, I ran with my friend Anna (also my trainer), who has been with me since the beginning, and is a much faster runner than I am. It was almost surreal running with her, as when I was so much bigger and out of shape, I couldn’t even fathom the idea.
3. What leg of yours are you most looking forward to running and why? I’m looking forward to Leg 3, since I will have conquered Leg 2 which is 6.7 miles in the dark through rural farmland. Leg 3 is 2.2 miles on a trail, and I look forward to going all out as much as possible on pure adrenaline.
4. One word that describes you as a runner: Determined
You can find Michelle on Twitter; on Instagram; and on her blog.
Mom of two Rebecca Weld from Potsdam, NY
Iliana Zuniga, a mom of two boys, who calls Silvermine, CT, home
1. When and why did you start running?
I started running four and a half years ago. After having my second child, I was overweight and depressed. I started running to get in shape and lose the weight that had accumulated after my pregnancies. First it was a block, then two, then a mile. Now I have completed a full marathon and five half-marathons, along with other races.
3. What leg of yours are you most looking forward to running and why? 23. I have never run trails and I am going to be running this leg in a mountain at dawn. I cannot wait to see the sun raise while I run through nature and I conquer my second 10-miler of the event on a mountain.
4. One word that describes you as a runner: Correosa (Spanish for “resistant, that endures everything, long lasting”)
Lorraine Robertson, Mother of 2, Atlanta, GA
1. When and why did you start running? I started working out in my early 30s after my daughter was born because I wanted to be healthy and have the energy to play with my children–and I wanted to look good doing it. I was a smoker before kids, was possibly the laziest person ever, and hated running. In 2005, I ran my first half-marathon because I wanted a new challenge. I conquered that challenge and since then have taken on 13 more half-marathons, three full marathons, and countless 10K, 5K, and fun run races.
2. What has been your favorite Ragnar training run and why? It was actually the Area 13.1 half-marathon I ran in August. It was a night race and the perfect opportunity to rock my cute headlamp and flashing lights!
3. What leg of yours are you most looking forward to running and why? Definitely the last leg–#36. I’m the anchor for Team Sarah and get to run across the Woodrow Wilson bridge and end the race at the National Harbor. I’m looking forward to my teammates joining me and crossing the finish line together.
4. One word that describes you as a runner: Passionate
Find Lorraine on her blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
Meet Team Dimity tomorrow!
im running ragnar dc also… im the team captain, AND its my first time running ragnar. see ya on the course!
I couldn’t help but tear up a little this am while reading this post. I can see a little bit of myself in reading each one of the mom’s post. I can’t wait to meet you all. I have days this race / contest is so real for me and days…I still feel like it’s a dream. Can’t wait! Thank you so much! Loved each & everyone of your post team Sarah.
What amazing stories!
Rebecca you go girl!
Yay!!!! I can’t believe it is really real! So excited. And this was really nice to see and read about everyone on the team in one place- with pictures! Thank you to Sarah and Dimity and all our sponsors for this amazing opportunity!