Musing on another Marathon Diva…Christine Bonham. Pushing Out of Her Comfort Zone. Running in Memory of a Friend.

Musing on another Marathon Diva…Christine Bonham. Pushing Out of Her Comfort Zone. Running in Memory of a Friend.

This is another friend..Christine Fankhauser Bonham.

Now Christine went by Chris in high school. Can’t imagine someone changing their name like that — going by one name as a girl, another as an adult — but she’s so darn cute who cares?

Having reconnected on Facebook like most of the world population, it’s been fun to get to know those old friends who like me have discovered a passion for running in mid-life.

When I heard that Christine was headed to Disney for the 2011 marathon, I had to see what fueled her passion to train for and run the distance.

Where do you live now Chris…I mean Christine? And tell about your family.

We live in really, really rural Appalachia — East Tennessee  — about 12 miles away from the North Carolina state line, almost in the Cherokee National Forest. My husband is Jon and we have three kids. Sam who is in college in Lousiana. Jack who turns 16 next week — driver’s license! And Julia who is 14.

I homeschool the two youngest. Christine, I have to confess that I remember where we where standing in the Dubsdread Country Club almost five years ago at a WPHS reunion when you told me you home-schooled. I think of everyone who homeschools as super-saint and super-enforcer all rolled into one. I really can’t wrap my mind around it.

Why do you run? How much to you run in a week?

I started running because when we moved to rural Tennessee I faced culture shock, sort of like Green Acres. To keep depression at bay, I had to do something physical. Now, it’s my sanity. Homeschooling and the isolation of the country would drive me otherwise. I run about 20 – 25 miles per week.

Why the marathon? When did you decide to make running 26.2 your goal?

BACKSTORY…a very dear friend of mine, Lynn, died of breast cancer about four years ago. It was her second recurrence and when it was discovered this time, she only lived another three weeks. The year before she died, she finally lost the 86 pounds she’d wanted to lose forever. She rode a bike to lose it, with the goal being to complete a triathlon.

A group of us decided to honor that goal and we did the Danskin triathlon at Disney the next spring. After they discovered the cancer the first time, my friend decided to really live — to do the things she had put off. She wanted to challenge herself to live her best life. Hence, the weight loss.

Lynn’s death, but more importantly, the way she chose to do those daunting things really impacted me. Before her passing, putting myself through the brutality of training and running a marathon seemed pointless and stupid. Afterward, I wanted to do what she did — challenge myself to live well. Now, I have a goal to do difficult things for the rest of my life. Things out of my comfort zone, because who knows how long life really is?

You’ve run other marathons. How was your Disney experience different?

Last year, I did the 26.2 with Donna also known as the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer. Many of Lynn’s friends ran the half. Her son ran the full. I knew I could run the 13.1 but 26.2 was the challenge.

That race was so emotional for me because everyone had those “I run for…” or “I run in memory of…” tags on their backs. It was a wonderful first marathon, because the City of Jacksonville Beach came all out to support the runners. So many of the runners were like me — running for someone.

Around the halfway point there was an elderly woman sitting in a chair on her lawn. Next to her was a sign that said, “Thank you for running for my daughter.” It was hard to see that but I felt like there was a purpose for me running that one.

This one was just for fun.

…if it can be said that about a marathon. (Weird thought, but I feel the same way.) Before I did the first, I’d always thought if I ran one it would be the Disney or the Marine Corp in D.C. This year I opted for Disney, which also meant that I wouldn’t have to keep training through another grueling winter month. This one I just tried to enjoy the experience.

Advice for those thinking of attempting 26.2?

Go for it and remember it’s called training for a reason. Most people, myself included, think before they ever register for that first one, 26.2 is an unattainable goal. But you start small and work your way up to it.

Then when you’ve done it, you have enormous confidence that you can do something most people consider impossible. If for no reason than to learn to trust and believe in yourself, I would encourage someone to take that first step.

Is this an awesome picture? Yeah...you did it.

Thanks so much Christine. I loved learning about Lynn. Pushing through walls we erect for ourselves.

Learning to truly live.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at one of my running partners’, Kim Sitzmann’s, first Disney Half Marathon experience. Kim works part time as a mammographer, is a household budget-dista, mother to three boys — explemplary wife (at least compared to moi)…on and on. She rises at 5 a.m. most mornings to fit her running in her packed, wonderful life.

So until tomorrow….how about finding those running shoes?