We are talking with Erica Finedell, a self-pronounced running-nut. Erica and her family lives in Galesburg, MI and she and her “Four Chicks and a Guy” Team participated in the Marathon Relay as part of the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon.
I’ve been a nurse at Ascension Borgess Hospital since 2002. I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in track or cross county growing-up as my father was ill and passed away right before I graduated high school. I was taking care of him for a couple years. So, when I was older and on my own, working at the Borgess Heart Center, I started running with my girlfriends. We decided to enter the 5K at the Borgess Run for the Health of It! It was about this same time; I met my future husband, and he was 100 pounds heavier at the time.
Richard also worked in the ER. In 2006 he had a terrible snowmobile accident. The result was broken ribs, a lacerated kidney and liver. After he healed up he was committed to get the extra 100 pounds off, so he started running and since we both worked in ER, I started to see his transformation.
We actually ran our first Half Marathon together in 2009 at the Kentucky Derby Festival. We then started to run the Borgess Half Marathon every year despite me having three babies. We would push strollers with sleeping babies and maneuver our way through the pack. It was probably because of Rick pushing a double baby stroller that they soon outlawed strollers!
This past Spring, I heard that the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon was adding a Marathon Relay, so I thought “how fun that would be!” We had a blast and finished with a time of 4:24:34.
What would you tell others who are thinking about starting an exercise program?
I would recommend that they set attainable goals and continue to reevaluate those goals after reaching the goal. Just do something to keep moving and try to be as active as possible.
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