They say every journey begins with a single step.
For Karen Andrew, each step became faster and faster, and this weekend she will be running in the 10K race at the Dinosaur Half.
In fact, it has become a family affair. Her daughter Chelsea Andrew Latvala will be running with her and, if her husband Mark is not harvesting he’ll be running alongside too.
“It kind of gets in your blood,” said Karen.
Karen’s journey began in about 2003 when she took up running. Earlier, she had been diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis to the point she couldn’t get out of bed. Her daughter completed the Dublin Marathon for Joints in Motion, in support of her mother and an uncle with arthritis.
“My husband and I went as part of the cheer team… it was an amazing thing to see,” said Karen.
Mark began running right away. When Karen began to effectively manage her arthritis with medication, she too began to run.
With running you start slowly, and that is what Karen did. She kept at it. Along the way, she shed 90 pounds. Her running and lifestyle change has also helped with her arthritis.
“When I see the rheumatologist, he says just keep on moving, which is easy to do when you are feeling well. It is not so easy when you can’t put your own clothes on,” she said.
She began to compete in runs upwards of 10K, and then last year she completed her longest race yet, the Dinosaur Half.
“That was my very proudest moment, I have to say that,” said Karen.
She was cheered along by family, who didn’t just watch her pass, but drove out in the fields and by the airport to support her on her journey. Her husband Mark did not run in the half last year because of an injury that required a pin being placed in his leg. He has since worked his way back into running shape.
She truly feels running has changed her family’s life.
“I feel like a whole different person, and if we hadn’t had gone to Dublin with our daughter and had that whole beautiful experience, neither one of us would be running,” she said. “I thought when we went there all of these people would be really fit, but there were fat people, old people, skinny people, poor people, rich people, and you don’t expect to see that. I think then you realize that you can do it.”
Her journey continues this Sunday at the Dinosaur Half.
“I really think running has changed our lives because you get it in your blood and you just can’t let it go.”
