Kerry Bowling ran her first Army 10-Miler four years ago as a way to get back into running and lose some baby weight after the birth of her second son.
In less than two months, she will attempt the “holy grail” of running: the marathon.
Specifically, she plans to race in the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 26 with 30,000 other runners.
Bowling was racing in the 10-Miler with a friend last year when inspiration seized them.
“In the first mile or two, we were like, ‘You know what, we need to do a marathon,’ ” she said.
Now she is running 20 to 25 miles a week while raising two sons, ages 9 and 4, and beginning to pursue a graduate degree in secondary English education at George Mason University. Her first class was Wednesday.
She and her friend and training partner, Amy Shouse, do not have a set running schedule, because their responsibilities force them to run when they can. They do their long runs early Saturday mornings, and Bowling tries to do 6- or 7-mile runs during the week. She also does weights and works on the elliptical trainer in her house while her children play nearby.
“We’re really weekend warriors with the running,” she said. “We really have to juggle when we can do it.”
The Bowling family is used to juggling its schedule.
Bowling’s husband, Jeremy, is an Army captain who has served in Iraq twice. He last returned from Iraq on Sept. 11, 2006, after being there for a year.
He competed in the Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) last month, a race that requires an enormous amount of time and training commitment. He also has run the Army 10-Miler with Kerry.
But he will sit out the Marine Corps Marathon and instead help his sons cheer on their mom.
“We spent all year supporting him. So when I signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon, I said, ‘I supported you for Lake Placid. When I sign up for the Marine Corps, I want you to support me,’ ” Kerry Bowling said.
Her goal for the 26.2-mile race is to finish. Secondarily, she wants to finish in under five hours.
“We’re definitely the slow-and-steady-wins-the-race runners,” she said.
After the marathon, she says, she wants to continue to run and compete in half-marathons because it’s easier to train for them.
“Running is my time. I can think about what I want to do. When I run with my girlfriend, we talk and catch up and have mommy time,” she said.
Jeremy would like her to tackle the Ironman, but she says she just wants to stay active: “We like to exercise so much to show our kids that exercise should be part of your everyday life. That’s really important to us.”
Editor’s Note: The Examiner is going to check in with Bowling several times before the marathon to see how her training is going as well as afterward to find out how she did.
Time out with Kerry Bowling
How does your family handle your working out?
They handle it pretty well. I try to go really early in the morning. If you’re out for three hours, you’re home by 9:30 … the kids are still in their pajamas watching Saturday morning cartoons.
How does training interfere with the rest of your life?
When you do the long runs, it interferes because it kinds of leaves me not wanting to do much the rest of the day. The kids and husband want to get to the park, and …. your body is exhausted. It’s tough for [the kids] to understand it.
How does training help?
It’s something that I enjoy, something’s that good for me. When you’re exercising and you come off a good run, it boosts your self-esteem … also it helps me be a better parent and better partner. I have my own accomplishments. You have a period when your kids are really young when your goals are pushed to the sidelines, so it’s nice to be able to pick some of that back up.
Favorite way to get motivated before a race?
We have a really good group of friends that we run with. The night before, we get together and do the famous pasta carb-loading meal.
The Army 10-Miler is really inspiring in itself because you see so many wounded warriors out there, and you know you’re supporting the families that are left behind.
For the Marine Corps, having a good friend to run it with, there’s nothing better than that. It’s personal motivation. I’m doing it for myself. I want to try to do a marathon.
Favorite prerace meal (the night before):
Baked ziti. That’s always good when you’re with friends … I also make a really good chicken parmesan. You need the protein with the carbs.
Prerace meal (the morning of):
A bowl of cereal. If I don’t eat, I do get upset to my stomach. I’m definitely a Honey Nut Cheerios girl.
Tips for new athletes?
Get yourself a really good pair of shoes. Don’t even try to start with a $50 pair of shoes from Kohl’s. If you start and your feet are killing you, you’re going to stop. And get some really good socks.
