Colleen Carson, 34

Mom (was a social worker and will be again someday)

I've been running for 25ish years.

I started running because my dad did it.

If I could no longer run, I would...cry!  After crying, I probably come up with another sport (like rowing) that depends on individual fitness/strength, but also could provide some camaraderie.

I love running early summer mornings when the sun is up, but just barely and when you get home; the morning is bright and fresh.

I like to run with pretty much anybody - especially my husband when we have a babysitter.

When I'm not running I like to well, I'd love to do lots of things, but 4 kids keep me busy! I love to travel, visit my family in Kansas City and listen to live Irish music.

All the other running moms I know inspire me.  Whether you work outside the home or stay home with the kids, making time for a run, long or short, is a juggling act --- but so worth it! Running helps me clear my head and work through everyday issues.

An obstacle or challenge I've overcome with my running is…this is probably a good time to talk about the Chicago marathon! 

Since it was my first marathon, I had high hopes for the day, my run, my time, etc.  Needless to say, the day was…HOT.  I remember feeling like I was suffocating as we ran under a bridge, early in the race, and there was no breeze. The Chicago marathon on any day is wall-to-wall people, both crowds and runners.  At some points, the crowds are 5 to 10 people deep.  I remember thinking, “How am I going to find my family and friends?  We didn't decide if they were going to be on the left or right!” 

I think I did a good job hydrating but _ mile after each water/Gatorade stop I was so thirsty.  It was amazing to me how I could drink and quench my thirst, but it was so temporary.

While I was running, I knew it was hot and I knew how I felt, but it was hard to comprehend how these conditions were affecting everyone.  It was amazing to see how many people were walking.  I can't imagine being further back in the pack and finding out that there was no more water!!  I talked to one person after the race that had to walk in the last 6 miles without ANY hydration.

The last miles were not as difficult as I thought they might be.  In my last

3 miles I kept hearing announcements that said, “The race has been canceled.  This is a fun run people.  The race directors do not want any fatalities.  Please walk the rest of the race.”  Honestly, I didn't think they could be serious.  I definitely did not comprehend the scope of the cancellation or the wide spread effects of the heat until later in the day.  Getting home and reading about the race conditions on the web clarified what had happened in terms of the way some runners were rerouted, etc.

I was talking about doing Chicago again before we got in the car to come home! 

To push myself in the marathon, I played many mind games with myself.  One of my thoughts was that I had to finish because my kids would be very disappointed if I didn't get the medal at the end.

The local runner I most admire is Jocelyn Espensen.  We ran together for most of the marathon and many training runs this summer.  She is very disciplined and determined.  She's also a lot of fun!

My greatest running accomplishment is...ok, so it's finishing the marathon in the sweltering heat and humidity.  I really wish I could have just doubled my time from the Crystal Lake 1/2 Marathon though!

My next goal is to run a stronger, faster and cooler marathon.

One day I hope to have more medals than Brian Miller

My advice to other runners find some great people to run with, it makes the miles melt away!

I plan to run until.... I can't.