Jeanne Guerin, Age 43
For how many years have you been running?
I've been running my whole life...according to what my mother used to say, and I've got the scars to prove it... but running race events since college -so far about 21-22 years... I did a short stint of track workouts probably around age 33...
Brief summary of your running history...
Summary- I started running as an efficient way to get and stay in good condition. I had played year round sports in high school, and loved that. In college, I just did intramurals sports, and also gained weight. To improve my conditioning, I started using the beautiful college track, to run more consistently while at school, and also ran at home during summers.
I then teamed up with my cousin Diane for a few runs per week, and she was the catalyst for doing many running events together. We focused mainly on 10ks, since we often did 8 mile loops in our workouts, and that 10k distance seemed "enough for a decent workout". We also did some half marathons, starting with the March New Bedford half, to get us out of the winter doldrums. My husband also runs and when we were dating, we did many events together, along with my cousin and her friends. We all encouraged each other, and also enjoyed other activities such as biking, windsurfing, tennis and (for me, swimming during the pregnancies).
As for marathons, I had always watched Boston, hoping someday I'd do it, and would know when the time was right. I decided at age 34, after Diane had done her first marathon, as well as some folks at work, that it was time for me to focus on that, and the 100th Boston seemed like a good goal.
As for this past year, the creation of the running group locally, and the call from a friend to see if I could join them, was timed ideally for me. I had been sort of floundering, doing some running, but no real goals in mind, and letting other activities from family and work trump my running time. The group and the goal for the Chicago marathon, gave me some of that back, the focus, the goal setting, the camaraderie. It reminded me how much joy there can be in running, having a goal, and getting back to, perhaps beyond, my prior, stronger physical condition. As this friend stated, it was "moving out of the comfort zone" to reach for and meet a challenge. As the year progressed, participating in more race events these 12 months than I had done in the past 4 years combined, I remembered how much that feeling of strength and well being can mean, outside of my other roles. It makes me better at whatever else I do.
Your personal best races...
I've done a 1:30 half marathon (age graded at 72%) and a 42 minute 10K-a p.r.(age graded at 71%) in my early 30s. Most recently - last year, at 43, I ran a personal best time for a marathon at the Chicago Marathon - a time of 3:31 age graded 69.21% or a 3:20.29 equivalent open time.... This year, in 2005, I also ran one of my best races ever – the Martha's Vineyard 20 mile, at 2:31 or 7:36 pace, one of my best ever considering my age (43), the distance, etc.
What helped you get your personal best times?
My mantra for Chicago was focus and consistency... what also helped were 1)coached track workouts, 2) coach, family and running group support 3) the concept of p.e. (perceived exertion) for increasing effort in track workouts and in midweek 10-12 mile run and 4) I also tried to not overeat - even when I was doing more mileage I was trying to eat what I needed and not overdo it with carbs as I think I had done before.....
The greatest challenges (injuries, family issues, scheduling, etc.) you faced in training...
Scheduling was probably my greatest challenge...just fitting in ...along with family and work.....putting a squeeze on both initially, but the training became more routine as weeks went by.
Words of wisdom for others...
You can do it, be patient; try to enjoy each workout and the feelings of strength and well-being from each.
Your next event?
A triathlon perhaps, and I plan for Marine Corp Marathon, with probably some training races beforehand.