Twins RUN in the Family

Cara and Hollie have been part of the RCs for a long time and I love hearing about how closely they work together to acheive their goals. For anyone looking for a little inspiration in the coming year, here's something to help keep you going. Thanks Hollie and Cara, Jessie

 Cara: I was not always a runner. In fact, I used to hate running. When I started law school about 5 years ago, I stopped teaching group exercise classes. I had to find something else to keep me fit, something I could squeeze into my crazy new schedule, and my life as a runner began. I didn’t know how to get started, so I printed off a schedule from the Hal Higdon website (Hal rocks!). I suppose I was thinking ‘go big or go home,’ because the schedule I decided to follow was the half-marathon training program. When I was a few days into my new training, my twin sister, Hollie, from whom I lived over 500 miles away, decided to join me on my running endeavor. Training partners from afar!

Hollie: I was not always a runner, either. I had established some fitness lifting weights (which I still love) and using the elliptical machine and stair mill for cardiovascular activity. In 2005 I was motivated to begin running by a runner friend (hi, Tori!) who was not very fast (she is now!), but had a wonderful love of running. It was contagious! I began to walk/run, and eventually worked up to running 10, 20, then 30 minutes at a time. I completed my first 5k in 2005 with my friend, and got the fever! My first road race was so much fun, and I couldn’t wait to do more. When Cara told me she was going to train for a half marathon I was very excited to participate using the training plan as well, especially when we committed to actually doing a race at the end!

Cara: After some discussion, we decided that we’d follow the training program to the letter and that we’d actually run a half marathon on the last day of our training. Hollie found out that the Omaha Half Marathon actually was on the EXACT day we were supposed to run 13.1 miles! I guess my random start-day was a good day to start. Our mom said we HAD to sign up for it, and we all thought it was meant to be. Hollie and I were thrilled to complete our first half marathon, and my first race ever, in September of 2006. We have since run the Omaha Half twice more—once in 2008, and most recently, this past September 2010. Training for my third half was not as much fun as training for the first two, because I got side-tracked a couple of times. First, I had such bad allergy symptoms I went to the doctor only to be diagnosed with “non-allergic rhinitis”, and next, I had my wisdom teeth removed two weeks before the race. I underestimated the pain involved and overestimated the speed at which I would recover—oops. So, on race-day, I hit the pavement with my non-allergies and my paresthesia, and did the best I could.

Hollie: I have had fun training for the three half’s Cara and I have run together! The most recent training was probably my best. Having completed it twice before, I knew what I was getting into, and knew a little bit more about what my body needed regarding mileage, fuel and rest. I think back to the beginning, when Cara and I started training for our first half, and remember how long four miles seemed (and how impossible 13.1 seemed!) Now I know that it is possible, with training. The ‘mantra’ I frequently think, and apply to goals such a long race, is ‘trust the process.’ I can’t set out to run 13.1 miles on a random given day. But after weeks of consistent training I can. I gain more confidence with each long run.

Cara: The race itself was so much fun! I have learned: 1) That I am generally stronger than I think I am, and 2) Never to underestimate the power of a good running playlist. I knew my training wasn’t as good as it should have been, so we started off conservatively. The mile markers passed by. I told Hollie that I’d start feeling more confident once we made it 9 miles. Mile 9 came and went, and we were doing well. We talked occasionally, ate sport beans, drank from our hand-held water bottles, and just kept running. Crossing that finish line felt great, and it was fun to see my bro-in-law and my oldest niece, Gianna, cheering us on. However, the second we stopped running, we seemed to lose the use of our legs. Our walk to Starbucks was just funny.

Hollie: I had such a good time during the race! At four miles I was surprised at how fast the miles were going by. I felt strong. I have had two baby girls since my first half marathon in 2006, which makes getting out there and running even more special to me. When I had my c-sections, I felt like I would never run again! But after recovering, starting slow, building back up and ‘trusting the process’ I have been able to keep going, and each half marathon has been better than the last. During the race I thought of all I love about running. Running keeps my body healthy, as well as my mind! It is my ‘me’ time. I love playlists, sport beans, running tights, timing chips, Smartwool socks, the post-run smoothie, seeing little improvements. I love running with Cara and creating memories, stories and, most importantly, lots of laughs when we run together. I hope to be an example to my girls (future Chicks!) to follow their passions, and that a person does not have to be the best at something to love it and call it their own. Close to the finish I saw my husband and three year old daughter who yelled “there’s my mommy!” when we ran by. Crossing the finish line after our third half marathon was an amazing feeling.

Cara: Although Hollie and I aren’t the fastest and don’t run the farthest, we are proof that anyone can become a runner and can experience the joys we’ve felt because we run. We love running. We love being RUNNERS. We love training runs with each other, pushing ourselves further than we thought possible, crunching along through fresh snow when no one else is outside braving the cold, and all of the funny and crazy memories we’ve created while on those long runs together. We appreciate waving or giving a nod to other runners who do the same as we pass, because we are all part of the same special community, and they get it, too. You don’t have to have a Garmin or expensive shoes to be a runner, and you don’t have to be fast or run far—all you have to do is get out there and run.