Chris Overton, 36
Social Worker

I've been running for...

12 years consistently, although I ran track (not well) in high school.

I started running...

When I was living alone in an apartment and spending far too much time eating and watching TV. I joined the Y in DeKalb and started walking on a treadmill. I could not stand just walking on and on for 30 minutes. Within a few weeks I started running, because I was too impatient to walk. Since that time, I have always run for fitness and weight control. A few years ago I met Jeff Wilmarth at the Y. I was only running 2 miles at a time 3 times a week. I told him I could not go any further than that. He said I just didn't want to. The next day I ran farther. I started running with a group of people and then competing in races. Now, I still run to manage my weight but more so to manage my stress. I may be in an awful mood, but once I meet up with my friends and start to run that is all behind me. I return to work, calm, rested. In fact my boss prefers me to go run so that I will be more calm.

If I could no longer run...

I would eat myself to death or at least to a plus size in clothing. I also think that I would be extremely stressed out and irritable. I really don't like to bike or lift weights so I guess I could roller blade. I have thought about cross country skiing too. Running does wonders for stress management. When I was pregnant two years ago with my son my doctor told me I could not run anymore because of my heart rate. I cried. That was a long 9 months. I walked 17 miles a week instead.

My favorite run is...

A long weekend run at Rock Cut, preferably not too close behind Brian F. or Jeff Miller after a chili party the night before. I like the trails because I feel like a wild animal out there, just weaving in between trees. I also tend to enjoy hills...I know this makes me seem strange!

My favorite thing to do after a hard workout is...

Sshop or run home to see my son. Sometimes on Saturdays we stay awhile to talk. This also helps give my life some balance, time with friends and fun!

I like to run with...

Carol Bingley mostly. She drives me to be a better runner and a better, nicer person. Carol and I compete in races almost always finishing next to each other. When she sprints ahead of me I have to chase her and vice versa. I really don't think I would train as hard without someone to chase. On a personal level I see Carol with other people and she is always kind, attentive to their needs and what is going on with them. While I spend alot of time being sarcastic and keeping people laughing, she earns others attention through being considerate and kind. On the surface this is the opposite of me. Underneath, it is how I feel and just can't express it on the outside. I try each day to be a little more like her.

An obstacle or challenge I’ve overcome with my running is...

My definition of myself. I got stuck into thinking I was an 8 minute miler and when I would plan splits for races I could not see myself getting past that. Finally, when I started running longer races like the 1/2 marathon and Hobo, I had to move beyond that. There is a mental thing that happens (I think it is exhaustion or insanity) and you finally just shut your brain off. Since then I have been able to shut it off in short races too. I just stop thinking and run. I run hard even when I am tired because I know I can keep going.

Running makes me...

More patient but I see only limited effect on that. It does make me persevere. I remind myself when something tough is happening, it will end eventually, just like every tough race.

When I'm not running I like to...

Spend time with my almost two year old son. We play and I get alot of hugs and kisses. He is my whole world. I also like tennis and racketball. I have two dogs and two cats and really love any animal out there. I often stop to talk to peoples pets on the bikepath. I like to sew, including cross stitch and clothing (I know most people would not think that). I own an early 1900's home and enjoy refinishing and renovating it as well.

I am inspired by...

Older people who still run. Alot of people who are retired focus on their limitations, aches and pains. I love when I see someone my grandma's age running. I think this takes a strong willed individual. I hope I am able to continue running into my 70's!

The local runner I most admire is...

Jeff Wilmarth. I know it is trite to list your coach, but Jeff is my coach and my friend. He runs even when he is in pain. He trained Carol and I back to "peak conditioning" after we had babies two years ago and didn't even complain when we were painfully slow. Now that we are "speedy" he watches like a proud father.

To push myself on a run I...

Remember that Carol is either just ahead of me or just behind me and can always out-sprint me in the end so I better keep pushing!

My greatest running accomplishment is...

This whole year really. I reached every goal I set for myself including running under a 50 minute 10K, and a 22:53 in a 5K. I also ran farther than I ever have in my life, the 25K Hobo Run at Rock Cut. In High school my fastest mile was 7:07....this year at the State Street Mile I ran a 6:17.5!

In some ways I think I wasted a lot of time when I was younger by not pushing myself hard enough, not giving running, among other things, enough effort. I also see that as I get older I have focused my energies on being a better, stronger, tougher person. Endurance is not just for running, it is for getting through difficult life situations. I think lately with some of my running friends being injured, ill, pregnant and not being able to run at all, I have also learned that you have to be smart about how and when to push yourself. Sometimes it is OK to give yourself a break, and to stop criticizing your imperfections.