Kaiser Santa Rosa Employees Thrive in Honolulu Marathon
From left to right: Cindy Cincera, director, Clerical Services; Judy Coffey, senior vice president/Area manager, Marin-Sonoma Administration; Vicky Locey, assistant administrator, Patient Care Services; and Yo Braga, project consultant, Human Resources.
Has your New Year's resolve to exercise and get in shape begun to falter? Could you use some motivation to move from the couch to some healthful recreation? The read about a handful of Kaiser Santa Rosa employees who have "miles" of tried and true inspiration to share.
In 2006, Vicky Locey, Judy Coffey, Yo Braga, Cindy Cincera, and Fatemah Bani-Taba revved up their fitness routines and self-confidence by participating in Team in Training run/walk events, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For Vicky, Judy, Yo, and Cindy, six months of intensive training culminated in December at the finish line of the Honolulu Marathon.
Vicky Achieved a Life-Long Goal
"It's been my life-long goal to run a marathon," said Vicky, assistant administrator of Patient Care Services. "There's been no greater physical challenge for me than completing those 26.2 miles, but as a result, I realized my full mental strength and am a stronger runner than ever before. I'm not sure I really believed I could do it, but now I feel like I can conquer anything!"
Along with personal fitness goals, raising funds to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was a key motivation.
Judy's Blisters Were Worth Every Step!
"Working with so many people toward a common goal is extremely moving," said Judy, senior vice president and Marin/Sonoma Area manager. Judy participated in honor of her father, who died of leukemia, and her brother, who's battling lymphoma. "I've always worked out at the gym, but training for this marathon put me on a different level of mental and physical endurance," she said. "I crossed the finish line with 20,000 people in front of me, 10,000 behind me, painful blisters on both heels—and it was worth every step."
Vicky Locey, Patient Care Services, and Yo Braga, Human Resources, share "we did it!" moment after the race.
Yo To Become a Team in Training Mentor
For Yo, the commitment began in October 2005. "I decided that my personal goal for 2006 was to run a full marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of my beautiful sister, Debbie, who passed away from leukemia in May 1992," said the Human Resources project consultant. "Training for the event required a huge commitment of time and energy, but it proved to be the most amazing and gratifying experience I've ever felt. "We raised more money for the cause than we ever dreamed," said Yo, who plans to become a Team in Training mentor this year. "My greatest thrill was finishing the marathon in 6 hours, 9 minutes and having my sister Renie waiting at the finish line with open arms."
Cindy Likes Running for the 'Alone Time'
Learning how to run was the greatest challenge and reward for Cindy. "Because I'm a slow but steady runner, I had lots of alone time to think about what I've done and what I'd like to do in life," said Kaiser Santa Rosa's Clerical Services director. "I would compare my aches and pains to what cancer victims must endure during treatment, and it reminded me how thankful I am for my very precious health."
Fatemah Completed Back-to-Back Half Marathons
Fatemah experienced dual personal victories by completing two half marathons (the June 2006 Rock-n-Roll Marathon in San Diego and the October 2006 Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco).
"Connecting to a cause bigger than yourself truly makes you forget the pain of pushing a healthy body to become fit," said the HealthCare ombudsman/ mediator, who pushed past severe shin splints to complete back-to-back half marathons. "The motivation that drives so many to participate is best described in this T-shirt saying: 'If you think training for an endurance event is hard, try chemotherapy.'"