The Cayman Marathon is helping some runners achieve great milestones, in and outside of the race.
On Sunday, 4 December the finish line of the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon will be the scene of much excitement as marathon, half marathon and relay runners alike celebrate significant milestones achieved and personal challenges overcome. From triumphs over life-threatening illnesses to the memorialising of a special birthday or wedding anniversary to running in remembrance of a loved one to just proving to oneself that it can indeed be done, there will be no shortage of inspiration at this event.
Scott Ruby and Kara Donnelly are two local runners who will join that elite two percent of the world’s population who have ever run a full marathon (26.2 miles) and motivate others to join the club too as a result of their journeys.
Scott will be running his first marathon ever after losing almost 100 pounds in 2010, proving that couch potatoes can be rehabilitated while Kara is an example of what can be achieved physically when a person decides to test his/her boundaries and self-imposed limitations.
At 270 pounds in January 2010, Ruby decided it was time to make a lifestyle change. He had a very poor diet, smoked at least a pack of cigarettes daily and did no exercise whatsoever. The first thing he did was change his eating habits by eliminating all the foods he knew he should not be eating such as cookies, chips and soda. Then he started working on achieving a balanced diet and portion control.
“Then I began walking daily,” Ruby says. “In March 2010 I stopped watching TV and started doing push up, sit ups, leg lifts and crunches; in July 2010 I started P90 Boot Camp. September 2010 was the month that I smoked my last cigarette and started P90X Extreme Home Work-Out. By October I ran one mile and by November I was ready to complete the Pirates Week 5K.”
Ruby has not slowed down since. He now tips the scales at 173 pounds, having lost a whopping 97 pounds in 11 months.
Kara Donnelly was definitely more active than Ruby back in 2010; she managed to complete her first triathlon and half marathon last year. However, she did not think she could compete in a full marathon. She had never run anywhere near that distance before but she decided to challenge herself. Since setting that goal, Donnelly has not looked back and the results have been remarkable.
“I am quite nervous about running my first marathon but I am also amazed at how far I can actually push myself to go,” said Donnelly. “I never thought it would be possible for me to run a full marathon before but the more I train and the further I go, the more I think that I might be able to do it! It takes a lot of determination and perseverance to be able to run for that long but I’m up for the challenge.”
Ruby echoes her sentiments ahead of the Cayman Marathon.
“A marathon just seems like the next logical test for me. I have been pushing myself past my own self-imposed limits for almost two years now; I feel this will be a wonderful test and an affirmation of a lot of hard work and dedication to a lifestyle change.”
Both runners agree that the training has been demanding but rewarding. Their regimen includes cycling, swimming, yoga and home workouts. They also admit that running can become addictive.
“If you start, you won’t be able to stop,” cautions Donnelly. “It is extremely addictive and before you know it you will want to run that extra mile or be aiming to hit a new personal record. You will even have a good time doing it! I love the sense of achievement I feel when I’ve run a long distance, especially if I have never run that far before. I also love the euphoria that comes after a run. I don’t get that same feeling with any other sport.”
On Sunday, 4 December both Ruby and Donnelly will finish their first long run amid a crowd of spectators, supporters and other runners. Their goals for the race are simple and achievable.
“My main goal is to finish the race with a smile on my face but if I could finish it in under 4.5 hours that would be a definite bonus,” says Donnelly.
As for the reformed couch potato, “My main goal is to finish well in my age group (40-49); anything beyond that will work itself out. The fact that I am ready to run a marathon here in my beloved, chosen home of Cayman and with friends and family cheering me on, makes me a winner before I even start the race.”
The public is invited to come out and support Scott, Kara and the other 900+ expected runners on 4 December. The race starts at 5am. Registration for the 2011 Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon, Half Marathon, Team Relay and Kids Fun Run is open online at CaymanIslandsMarathon.com. Walk-in registration can also be done at the Kelly Holding office.
The Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon is also sponsored by Department of Tourism, Flowers Bottled Water, Gatorade, Digicel, Kirk Freeport, Breezes by the Bay Restaurant, Cayman First, Cayman National, CayCompass.com, Conyers Dill and Pearman, Cayman Airways, NCI Services, 106.1 KISS FM, Marriott Grand Cayman Resort, Dolphin Discovery, Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture, Kelly Holding Ltd, FastSigns, Tropicana Tours, RVC Rehab Services/BioFreeze, Milo, KPMG, Quaker, CUC, RE/MAX Cayman Islands, Scotiabank, Ernst and Young, Caybrew Light, Smoothie King, Harneys, Coca-Cola, KRyS Global and The Final Touch.
For more information email [email protected] or call Bev Sinclair on 345.946.8822.
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