Running through obstacles

Name: MJ (Mary Jane) Thomson
Home: St. Marys
Age: 56

Life before running
When diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41 and undergoing chemo and radiation treatments, my physical activity was compromised and motivation was difficult. I have always been active and participated in sports most of my life but found things went by the wayside for a couple of years.

After getting involved in the Run for the Cure, I began to run in 1999, encouraged by fellow run directors. Running was not a passion for me as a younger person but the seed was planted and began to grow.

The running actually started because of a small dog named Roxy who came to me during treatment and she was such a bundle of energy and always wanted to run (and I'm the one with the long legs) so I started trying to keep up with her. I really like the body rush when finishing the workout that it became a habit. This was especially exciting for Roxy and even 15 years later, she starts wagging her tail when the running gear comes out of the drawer.

Turning Point
The turning point for me was my first running event on March 17, 2000 and after receiving a medal at the finish line and some incredible words of encouragement from John Stanton, the owner of the Running Room, a wonderful habit was born.

I continued to train with Roxy and together we accomplished a regular running program and level of fitness that was very rewarding. Becoming part of a running group of like-minded women really helped with sustaining the motivation and nobody in the group ever wanted to be the one to say they didn't want to complete our training runs, especially the hills.

The Plan
After completing a 10k running clinic in the summer of 2001 a desire was created to do more distance in the future so I chose the Disney Marathon for the following year. Before registering for the event, a second diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent chemo changed my plans.

When healing was complete I again set my sights on the Disney Half Marathon in 2005 and after some diligent training completed the event, receiving an amazing medal for my efforts. My daughter and her husband were with me for that first half marathon and it was incredible to have their support at the finish line.

More breast cancer was in my future in 2006 but only six weeks after surgery, I again started training, with my sights on the Disney Marathon in 2008. A couple of weeks after registering for the race in February 2007, I broke my leg (running) and required surgery. While recovering, I decided to prepare for the event (already paid the fee) and managed to train in only ten months for the event in January 2010. It was friends and family that helped me train to achieve the completion of my first marathon.

The Biggest Reward

Some of the amazing things that have come out of running pursuits are better fitness levels, setting and achieving goals on a regular basis, seeing new places in a different way and friendships developed along the way.

I moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia to work for a year and running was the means to developing friends quickly in that community. All I had to do was drop by the Running Room and a new "family" was created. We still keep in touch on a regular basis, even though I have recently moved back to Ontario.
Running remains the glue for friends in Halifax, Toronto, London and my new home in St. Marys.

Running is also the means to see every city I visit feel like my home away from home with a view very different from that of a tourist.

My tips for success
1. Stay true to your plan - Set goals and stick with them no matter how difficult schedules and obstacles can be.

2. Cultivate like-minded friends to help keep you on course. We all need encouragement to stay on track.

3. Most of all, have fun. Keeping goals depends on how realistic we are and how much we enjoy the activity. If you don't actually like running, focus on the benefits and the rewards you get when you're finished.