Cliff Gibson, age 45

This story is about my husband who I am extremely proud of.  His name is Cliff Gibson and has just completed his 4th 1/2 Marathon last Sunday Sept. 16, 2007.    In February of 2005 at the age of 45,  he had a total hip replacement and was worried that he would be crippled for the rest of his life.  He was very depressed about it.
Cliff went to work for Monsanto Corporation in October 2005 for the Security Department and was given the challenge to run in the St. Louis half Marathon in April of 2006 by his Company Director Gary Herr.  Cliff had never participated in any running events like this before and was not in the best physical condition at the time.  He worked very hard and trained continuously.  He had difficulties running due to his hip replacment but continued training and worked extremely hard completing his first marathon in little over 3 hours.  Afterwards he signed up for his second marathon at the Lewis & Clark run last Sept 06, and continued again training and successfully completed it.  He again signed up for the St. Louis Marathon in April of 07 and completed it successfully.  Cliff never told anyone at Monsanto that he had his hip replaced because he wanted them to see that he was in good shape and could compete with everyone.  This last race he ran the entire time and completed it by cutting down his finish time 10 minutes.  This has been one of his greatest acomplishments and I want him to know that his wife and children are very proud of him.
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Julie Bergfeld, age 40

I started running in high school because I didn't make the soccer team. All the cool girls played soccer, so I figured I needed to as well, just to fit in. Well, I had never played before and had absolutely no ball-handling skill whatsoever. The coach immediately recognized my failings, but noticed that I was fast and  suggested I try out for the track team. I did and here I am still running 20+ years later.

I am competitive by nature and intrinsically motivated to keep improving, which isn't easy as you get older! I still believe I have the talent to run a sub three-hour marathon and I continue to chase that goal. Running with other women who are faster and younger than I am, while it wears me out, always helps to keep my fires lit. My grandmother recently died at the age of 99. I figure I can live to at least 110 and running may help me get there. I truly believe that running keeps you physically and mentally young.

Julie is arguably one of the top female runners in the St. Louis area and excels in a wide range of distances. She usually prefers running the longer distances but can still hold her own in the shorter stuff. Julie curently lives here in St. Louis where she trains with the Big River Racing Team.
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Glenn Ezell, age 49

“It’s not about speed anymore” I said to myself as I decided to take a walk break during mile 24 of the Lewis & Clark marathon September 16. “It’s not a matter of how fast, it’s a matter of how many.” That’s my philosophy, now that I’m fast approaching fifty years of age and just completed my 25th marathon.  I was a four pack a day cigarette smoker 15 years ago. But here I am, and just signed up for number 26, the GO! St. Louis marathon next April. Now fitness is a lifestyle. Not that it’s not difficult, but a necessary part of my life that figures in the balance of things. I never take for granted the gift nature has given me. That is why I consciously make an effort to enjoy what and where I am running. If you see me in a race, chances are I will be talking with somebody, maybe even you, because sharing the experience is so much fun. Or I’ll be wearing a costume, or carrying Curious George because he is curious if I’m going to finish another race. The attached pictures are of the start and finish of the Berryman Trail marathon. Nothing like a little hamming it up for the start photo and kicking back with your feet in an ice cold stream afterwards. I try to make running as fun for others as it is for me. As the president of The Fleet Feet Runners Club, I never miss a chance to encourage and welcome a fellow runner.  Hope to see you at the start of my 26th marathon, GO! St Louis. That is of course, if I don’t decide to do number 26 or 27 between now and then.
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Pablo Ramirez, age 34

When I arrived with my family from Chile, almost 2 years ago, I had been running for 3 years but just for fun and only 10K. I was told about how hot and humid St Louis was but I didn't believe and I thought running here in summer was a piece of cake. My surprise came at my first run here in July 2006, when I barely was able to jog 1 mile. There you it is, I told my self, that's what they were talking about. And then it became worst and worst. Last year I suffered a lot because Chile's weather is very mild, compared to here. After that summer I started training harder, and discovered that I really love to run marathons. Since then I've run 4 marathons (including Lewis and Clark and last Chicago), 3 half marathons and several 10K and I have became very competitive with myself. All thanks to my friends of the St Louis Track Club who taught me how to run in hot and humidity, and Fleet Feet for their summer speedwork, was great. My family and me have had a great time here, and surely will miss when we have to go back to Chile but the memories and all what I learnt will remain. Thanks and see you next April and probably in several other races around the year.
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Deborah LePoire, age 56

I never intended to start a new chapter in my life.  I am 56 years old, and you just don't start turning into an athlete at that age.  I have always been active trying to keep my weight off, but it just was not enough.  In June of 2006 I decided to lose 10 pounds.  My media of choice was to just burn calories until I was ten pounds lighter.  I began running every morning for 45 minutes to an hour (it took me that long to go five miles) and then did another hour of cardio in the afternoon.  I started losing a pound a week.  I achieved my goal, but kept up the plan until I eventually lost 25 pounds.  I dropped four sizes and now weigh what I weighed when I got out of high school.  But the weight loss is only part of the story.  I became hooked on running.  I did my first 10K in October of that year, and finished second in my age group.  I was clueless as to where I would even finish--I didn't even know what a good time would be.  A friend encouraged me to do a half marathon.  I signed up before I got the chance to think it through; how long is that anyway?  I trained all winter, running in darkness sometimes because it had become my exercise of choice. I always felt so good, and low and behold I was getting home even faster sometimes.  I completed my half and finished tenth out of 176 women.  I had three goals--to finish, to run the whole way, and to break two hours.  I completed two of them missing the third by 50 seconds.  In September of 2007 I did my second half, and finished in 1:54:06.  I finished fourth.  My message is: keep writing new chapters.  I am in the best shape of my adult life thanks to running.  This chapter has been a wonderful one to write, and I hope it continues to be a very long chapter indeed.
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Angie Crawford, age 29

St. Louis was the birthplace of my running long distances in 2001, when I joined Team in Training. Since then, my husband and I have joined two other Team in Training Chapters in other states and have raised over $30,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since 2001,  I have since done 4 marathons, 5 if you count the one at the end of the Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon this past September! (plus many other shorter distance triathlons).  My husband I and were lucky enough to have over 25 family members and friends in Wisconsin to cheer us on during the Ironman!  After we finished, they were all talking about how inspired they were, so I wanted to put their words into action!  I sent out an email to family and friends in Missouri, Wisconsin, Florida, California (all places we have done our endurance events in) and forwarded the information on GO St. Louis!  Now, we have those people forwarding it on to other friends in other states and recruiting others.  We are planning an endurance weekend and our goal is to get everyone to sign up for at least the half marathon.  One of the most exciting things so far is that both my Mom, and my husband's Mom have even signed up and we are so excited for them to get started training!  They have even been recruiting their friends to sign up with them!  We live in Jacksonville, Florida now (my husband is in the Navy) and all of our family is in the midwest.  We miss them a lot and this will be the last time we get to plan an endurance event for awhile, because my husband will be heading out on a ship in May, so we are so excited that THIS time, our family and friends will be crossing the finish line WITH us!   I can't wait to share an endurance event with them, to share St. Louis with those who have never been, and to thank St. Louis for turning me into an endurance machine!
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Aron Smith, age 37

I should be dead. Not that I want to start my story on a low note, but the truth is the truth. For the first thirty-three years of my life, I was the very definition of an unhealthy person. I was the chubby little boy everyone picked last for kickball, the uncoordinated kid who could never tumble and do somersaults like my friends, and the high schooler who faked fainting in PE one day to get out of swimming. As an adult, I was the King of the Couch Potatoes and NOBODY had better challenge me for that last salty corn chip or the Ding Dongs and Ho Hos that were as good as gone the moment they stepped foot in our house. I thought I was fine and as healthy as an ox, never mind the fact that I was growing to resemble one more and more. However, I gradually started falling apart. I developed carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists, suffered from painful heel spurs, had asthma pop up out of the blue, and began having terrible bouts of gout. To top it all off, I couldn’t stay awake during the day and nearly wrecked my truck on the way to work several times after nodding off behind the wheel. Finally, a coworker convinced me to see my doctor, and that eventual appointment changed my life forever.

After a full battery of blood work, my doctor called me back into his office, looked me square in the eyes, and informed me that if I didn’t change my lifestyle I would be dead within a year. It turns out that all my problems were related to the three hundred pounds I had ballooned to, and I was given a diagnosis of Type II Diabetes. My blood sugar was through the roof and I was destined for a diabetic coma or a heart attack. Now, many folks freak out when they hear the "D" word and see it as the beginning of the end, but not me. Diabetes slapped me in the face and became my reality check. Suddenly, life seemed very precious and I realized I had so much to live for: a beautiful wife, a new baby boy, a career I loved (I’m a teacher), and so much more. On that day, November 4, 2003, I put my old life behind me and finally started living.

I immediately implemented a drastic change in my diet and began a strict exercise regimen. That fall, I began walking the neighborhood after dark so that no one could see me huffing and puffing. For Christmas, I graduated up to a stationary bike and started pedaling like a madman. In April, I jogged home on a whim from an evening church service and ran the first voluntary steps in my, a moment that marked the start of my love affair with running. The following fall, I heard about the Spirit of St. Louis Half Marathon and knew it had to be my next step. When I finally ran that inhuman (or so the former me would have thought) distance of 13.1 miles on April 10, 2005, I had lost 150 pounds, recognized myself as a recovering food addict and compulsive overeater, and shed all of my former health problems. Now, I have kids running with me at school for the Read, Right, & Run, I’m working toward my third half marathon, and I’m still going stronger than ever. Most importantly, I’m trying to set an example for my son so that he doesn’t grow up to become the man I used to be.

Yes, I should be dead-- but I’m not! Every day, every breath, every rhythmical footfall is a blessing, and I count myself among the most fortunate of men. I have many goals yet to meet, and I plan to be around to reach every one of them. It’s not often you get a second chance, but when you do, you’ve got to RUN with it!
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Leigh Hamer

In March 2006, after 23 years of battling seemingly random health problems, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Celiac disease, which is an intolerance of gluten (wheat, rye, barley & malt), is one of the most highly under diagnosed diseases - according to national stats 1 in 133 people has the disease, yet only 1 in 50,000 knows it. There is no cure so those diagnosed must just avoid foods containing gluten.
This was not an easy transition for me - a pasta, carb-loving runner. Yet the benefits far outweighed the struggle I had. Two weeks after starting my gluten free diet I had more energy. Since my body was no longer struggling to process the gluten that was damaging my small intestines, and for the first time in my life I was able to retain all nutrients I put in my body - I felt like a superhero.
With the encouragement of my husband I signed up for the 2007 St. Louis half marathon and finished in under 2 hours. Quite an accomplishment for a girl who was so wiped after just two miles in years prior. I've now made the St. Louis half marathon a tradition - my way of remembering that my body can do amazing things when given the right diet and support of close friends & family.
photo above: pictured left with the green headband is Hamer, on her right is her best friend, Christa Cappel. Hamer says: "Having her to train with and run the race with really helped motivate me."
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Cadence Kuklinski

I currently work with the lung transplant team at St. Louis Children's Hospital.  This is the most active pediatric lung transplant program in the world, and we have many patients in various stages of the transplant process.  Working with these children helps me to appreciate how lucky I am to even be able to run, when most of them have difficulty walking down the hall before their transplants.  When I ran my first marathon, I chose not to run for a charity and instead focus on finishing the race.  I found, however, that during my training runs I was often thinking about a particular patient's feeding regimen, or simply about how another patient was doing.  I wished that there was a charity set up to raise money to lend a hand to these kids and their parents.  And then I realized that just because one didn't exist yet, didn't mean that it could not exist at all!
 And so "I *Lung* Running" was born.  I set up a website (http://www.active.com/donate/ilungrunning) with the help of the folks at Active.com, and a friend helped me to come up with the name.  Everyone has seen those "I *heart* NY" shirts... "Why not put a set of lungs in there instead?" she asked.  We created a logo and are even working on having t-shirts made!  Lung transplants are expensive operations; and it’s not just the initial procedure that costs so much.  Follow up visits, daily life-long medications, and travel expenses are just some of the things that add to the price.  Insurance rarely covers the entire bill, and a non-profit hospital can only help out so much.  The SLCH Foundation has a fund specific to the lung transplant program, and every dollar raised on the site or with the sale of our t-shirts goes directly to this fund.  It is an ideal way for me to help those children who I see every day, and who have forever touched my heart.  Each mile I run in training and in the GO! St. Louis Marathon is dedicated to SLCH's Lung Transplant patients.  I've set a steep goal of $2620 ($260 per mile of the race), but I know I'll get there.  If running has taught me nothing else, it’s taught me that perseverance definitely pays off!!
photo above: Kuklinski at the Marine Corp Marathon this year.
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Leta Dippel

Last year, 2007, was my first marathon.  At 46 years I was pretty nervous.  I signed up for a pace setter.  The day finally came after what seemed like a very long training period of 4 months.  I found the pace setter for the 10 minute mile.  Her name was Beth.  The race started and I was off not knowing if I would fininsh or not.  Beth was great!  The pace seemed easy and manageable.  We reached the 13.1 mile mark, the half-marathon length, and I felt terrific.  I was starting to believe I was prepared for this long journey.  At about 19 miles, one of our groups runners fell ill and had to be attended to by a medical team.  Our pace leader, Beth, decided to stay behind but she congratulated everyone as they went by for completing the marathon.  At that point, I had felt very few mental or physical challenges.  Then, about the 20 mile mark, I felt extreme muscle fatigue in my inner thighs and started to slow down to almost a walk.  Then miraclously, a runner came behind me and started to encourage me to finish.  At that very moment, it was a turning point, keep going or stop.  This runner, Nikki from Houston, Texas who had run in 35 other marathons and was a professor of psychology at the University of Houston, motivated and encouraged me to keep moving forward towards that finish line.  She will never know just how close I was to stopping at the 20 mile mark.  That day, I really felt an angel, Nikki, helped me to achieve a life long goal!  Thank you!
photo above: Dippel on the left (#324), Nikki on the right
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Tony Reed, CPA

I’m the Co-Founder & Executive Director of the National Black Marathoners’ Association. Although I live in Dallas, I was born and raised in St. Louis. Last year, I became the first Black in the world to run marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Subsequently, Runner’s World featured me in their February, 2008 issue (pp. 18 & 25). I really enjoy your course because it takes me many of my old neighborhoods and previous employers. (This was mentioned in the article.) Also, based on my previous STL Marathons, it’s very well run event. Several of the NBMA members will also be participating in the events.

I recently completed my third book (available for purchase in February) entitled “Running Shoes Are Cheaper Than Insulin: Marathon Adventures On All Seven Continents.” When I’m not running or professionally speaking, I try to encourage students to stay in school and achieve higher goals.
Click here to read the article in the February issue of Runner's World.
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Alan Katzen, age 47

Here is my St. Louis to Texas to St. Louis story:  I have lived most of my life in Texas, but I was born in St. Louis.  So was my cousin, Linda Sarnoff.  I will be running this year’s race in memory of Linda because she died of leukemia.   Also, a very dear friend, who was like a grandmother to my children, was diagnosed with myeloma.  She went through a bone marrow transplant and went into remission, but sadly it did not last long.  She died last summer.
It will be a thrill to return to St. Louis and run in our hometown.  The course includes several significant places for me.  I am looking forward to running in the shadow of the Arch, seeing the trees in Forest Park, waving to the crowd as I pass Barnes-JewishHospital (where Linda and I were born) and reminiscing as I go past Busch Stadium.  The course even passes right by my aunt's home (Linda's mother) in Clayton, so I can't imagine a more perfect setting for my first marathon.
My initial motivation for running at age 44 was to start building my physical fitness.  For the first time, I began to enjoy exercising and slowly moved beyond my 3-mile limit.  I received encouragement and great training advice for running from both Runner’s World Magazine and other runners in the Runner’s World on-line forum.  It took me two years, but I reached my goal of running three days a week, EVERY week.  I gradually started dreaming of being able to call myself a marathoner.
Last year it all came together in my mind:  I made a commitment to register with the Gateway Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society because I want to help raise money for blood cancer research and to help current patients.  It is extremely rewarding to be a part of helping other families whose lives are affected by cancer.  Joining Team in Training has made my running more meaningful.  I have worked hard and I think I have a realistic chance at completing a sub-4:00 marathon.  However, the impact of that is small compared to honoring the memory of Linda and Carolyn, highlighting our Honored Teammates, (Jewell, Michael and Josie) and making a financial contribution to the fight against cancer.  The GO! St. Louis marathon in 2008 is very important to me because this year is the 20th anniversary of both Linda's death and the start of Team in Training.
photo left, Alan; photo right, his cousin Linda
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Rob Gilmore

I am a high school special education teacher and retired football coach out here in Glendale, Arizona.  On Sunday, April 6th, I will be in St. Louis running the Go! St. Louis Marathon. The St. Louis Marathon will represent my 10th marathon U.S. state and my 11th overall.  My goal is to run all 50 states in honor of my hometown hero, Pat Tillman.
FYI:  I am flying into St. Louis on Thursday, April 3.  Driving to Abeline, Kansas on Friday morning.  Running the Eisenhower Marathon in Abeline on Saturday, April 5.  Then driving straight to St. Louis to get my hotel room, a cold beer, some pizza and sleep before getting up Sunday to run again!
Tillman and my family grew up less than five miles away from each other in San Jose, California.  My Mother is a retired special education teacher from Leland High School, where Pat attended.  My Wife, Renee, is a Leland graduate.  In fact, my Mom and Pat's Mom (also a special ed. teacher, middle school) transitioned students from Bret Harte MS to Leland HS.   We're all from the Almaden Valley, which is a very quaint, quiet place to live.
I grew up refereeing Pat's soccer games.  He was a few years younger than me and I will always remember what a tremendous competitor he was even at age 10! Later in life, I actually coached high school football against Pat.  His play and approach to the game raised the bar for high school players all over the bay area.  His attitude and respect towards adults was applaudable.
Again, later in life, I moved to Arizona to continue coaching and teaching and Pat also moved to Arizona to play football at Arizona State University.  I had the chance to watch Pat mature not only as a football player, but as a student athlete (3.81 G.P.A.).  He graduated in 3.5 years.  I was amazed at how he balanced his life!
I am a father of two children and I have a great marriage.  I was, however, enveloped in my work and even more with my coaching.  In 2004, when Pat lost his life, I was 335 lbs.  My kids, in 2004 at Christmas, called me Santa!  It crushed me.  Caused me to take an honest look at my life.  I approached the Tillman Family and offered support to the foundation they were establishing in Pat's name:  http://pattillmanfoundation.org  
My assistance was directed to a run in honor of Pat and to serve as a foundation fundraiser.  One directive I was given was that in order to help with this run, I also had to run it!  Run?  Not at 335!  On a whim, I quit coaching, joined a gym and began to slim down.  My first run (1/8/05) I planned to go three miles.  Got NINE HOUSES down the street!  Power-walked the rest of the way and made the commitment to never be this heavy again.  The race in 2005 attracted nearly 4,000 runners.  This past year (April, 2007) we had nearly 15,000 runners!  I am proud to still be volunteering  as a race leader with this event!  The power of Pat and what he did in his life has  had an amazing impact on the people here in Arizona!
Pat's Run is a 4.2 mile race around Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ.  4.2 because Pat wore #42 at ASU.  Here is a link to the website:  http://www.patsrun.com
Six months later after running Pat's Run 2005, I was down 100 lbs. (235) and ran my first marathon (Long Beach Marathon, 10/05).  Got hooked!  I've dedicated my fitness to becoming a better father and husband and example to my special ed. students. My inspiration comes from Pat Tillman and the passion he had for life.
My goal is to run marathon state #50 on the weekend of my 50th birthday in about nine years from now.  My purpose in running these marathons is to spread awareness of the Pat Tillman Foundation and to share what a special person Pat was.  The foundation assists with a powerful program (Leadership Through Action) on the ASU campus.  Additionally, they are involved with a high school club that they hope to expand to a national level soon.
Pat Tillman's passion for life inspired me to self-reflect.  Everything this man did from his ASU to NFL football days, to the classroom and in the community, Pat Tillman was an fantastic example for all of us.  Financing these trips across America and training 18 weeks straight before each marathon is the least I can do to help spread the word about his life and the foundation the family has established.  Additionally, I contribute financially, to the foundation after each marathon.  Hopefully his actions can joy for life can be inspiring to others, just like me!
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Sharon Bloch

On January 27, 2006 my husband David was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.  Despite aggressive treatment, he passed away on May 15, 2007, one month before our 14th wedding anniversary and 6 weeks before his 56th birthday.  I felt like my life was over.
After David passed away, I suddenly found myself with time I didn’t know how to fill.  I ate too much (not good for my health) and did some retail therapy (not good for my bank balance).  Finally I decided that I needed to find something to do with my time that wasn’t expensive or fattening.  When I was younger I ran regularly and had thought of running a marathon, but I was afraid that I didn’t have what it took.  I decided that if I could survive 17 months of being sole breadwinner and primary caregiver to a cancer patient, I could survive anything.  I dug out my old running shoes and headed out.  I made it two miles and thought I was going to die. 
It didn’t take long for me to see progress in my work outs.  Within a few weeks I could do 5 miles at a respectable 12 min/mile and if I really pushed it I could do a 10 minute mile (but only one).  Less than two months after heading out the first time I ran the half-marathon in 2:52:44 – achieving my goal of finishing in under 3 hours.  I know David would have been proud.
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Leslie Riordan, age 14

My name is Leslie Riordan and I am 14 years old. I have Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy. It is a very painful condition and I have a very aggressive form of it. Something just as simple a washing my hands is painful and so is exercise. There is no cure but intense exercise is the treatment that will put it into remission. Through my training for this half-marathon, I admittedly had days were I just wanted to give up and just get a walker or a wheelchair until I could get treated. I never did though because of this half-marathon. It gave me a goal and a reason to keep working hard and learn how to work through the pain. April 6th showed me and others living with this that it can be done and we don't have to let our condition stop us from our goals. Leslie ended up 5th in her age group!
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Mike Brown, Age 30

I started running my Sophmore Yr. in high school because I didn't feel like staying at home after school.  All the guys that ran Cross-Country and Track made me RUN and figured I needed to act like FORREST GUMP, or just to fit in. Well, I had ran 5k races before and though I did well, I thought I had absolutely no running skills whatsoever. The coach immediately recognized my great running condition, noticed that I was fast and suggested I try out for the track team. I did and here I am still running 10+ years later.
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Lesley Tubbs, Age 45

I started working out in October 2005. My husband was then 300+ lbs and I was over 170 which is a lot for my 5' 2" frame.  My mom had just passed away from heart failure at 76 which I thought was young.  We decided to change our family if we could.  So we went to our local Y Kirkwood -Webster which is awesome place to work out.  My husband started with water classes and I went straight for the cardio machines. I would not take classes as I didn't want anyone to see me; I didn't want to see me.  Eventually I replaced cardio machines with classes.  Last year I did the Lewis and Clark marthon. I walked the full in 7 hours and 8 min.  I said if I can walk that far then I can run.  My dad thought it was great that I was being so active.  I did the Master the Met in 8:57.  I'm 45 so not too bad. My dad loved hearing what I was getting ready for next.  He said at this rate you will live to be 115, do you really want to live that long? I said sure do, as long as I'm active. So I started running just a little and decided to do this marathon.  Mean while my dad was in the VA home and so proud of me and I almost didn't do the run because he passed on the Friday before the run. I decided to still run. My goal was to just do it and/or to maybe just finish in 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  The more I ran the more I wanted under 3 hours.  As I ran though it I looked up and said this is for you dad.  He would be so proud. I know he was looking down and saying you did it Sis.  He is the only one that ever called me that, as I was named after his sister.  I'll be back and he will be up there cheering me every time.  He was so proud of me but couldn't see me run.!!
I have to also thank my husband Jerry. He is alway at the runs cheering me on even though he can't run. He is my biggest supporter besides my father!
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Gina Thomilson, Age 30

At the age of 28, after the birth of my two children, I realized I needed to workout and get myself into shape. To do that, my co-workers and I joined aerobic classes at work.  Then, a friend of mine, Jamie, who is a runner talked me into doing a 5K in August 2007.  I thought she was crazy.  I could barely run 1.5 miles.  Together, we prepared for the 5K and I completed it in around 30 minutes.  Jamie really motivated me and got me addicted to running.  Then, she mentions the STL half-marathon (which she completed in 2 hours 6 minutes in 2007!).  I REALLY thought she was crazy!!  I had also moved into a new house and my neighbor Sarah was a runner and past marathoner. Between Jamie and Sarah, I decided to sign up for the STL GO! Half-Marathon.  Although I had just began running in August 2007, I knew I could complete the half marathon if I put my mind to it.  I trained with four wonderful ladies, all friends of Sarah's preparing for the full marathon.  These ladies have between 3 and 6 kids each. If they had a way to fit training into their busy schedules, I had to find a way too.  Without their help and motivation, I would not have met my goal.  Way to go girls! 
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