|
Check This Out!
Jennifer Bard from our Welding Department is a participant in a group that challenges their group members to push themselves. You recall from a previous newsletter that Jennifer competed in and completed the Chicago Marathon. Read on for Jennifer's full story from the TODAY Show.
We talked to five Start TODAY members about how they overcame obstacles to reach their goals.
In November, Start TODAY — a community of almost 150,000 people committed to improving their health and fitness —challenged members to walk or run 3 miles in 6 weeks. Many members used the challenge as a springboard to join Turkey Trots or other Thanksgiving-themed 5K races. Here’s how five members did just that.
Jennifer Bard added running to her walking routine — and fell in love with it
In August 2021, Jennifer Bard, 42, started walking 30 minutes a day. “Within a couple of days, I decided I wanted to throw in some running to the mix,” she said. She ran her first 5K in October 2021 and fell in love with running live races. “Running has helped me lose 70 pounds and given me confidence. I have now completed many 5Ks, a few half marathons, and one marathon. I have gone from running at 14 minutes per mile to 10,” she says.
However, she had never run a 10K until Thanksgiving Day — when she competed in a Turkey Trot in Highland Park, Illinois, near her home in Gurnee. “I struggled a little towards the end, with the warmer weather and being overdressed, but I pushed through it,” she says. “The crowds and the excitement are what I live for. The other runners are also great motivators.”
That Saturday, she ran a 5K Turkey Trot in Schaumburg, Illinois. “This race will be a great memory for me as I got my best mile time at 9:36 and finished with a personal record of 34:11. The hills were tough on this one, but I took advantage of the downhills and made up some time,” she says. “My goals are to keep improving my time and to run for as long as I can.”
Bard said she turns to the Start TODAY Facebook group to keep herself motivated — and to motivate others. “I’ve had several people in my life reach out and ask questions and tell me that I have motivated them, which makes me want to work harder,” she says.
If you're feeling inspired to walk or run a 5K, we have a plan to get you there in six weeks. And whether or not racing is for you, the Start TODAY Facebook group is a community of inspiring people who are waiting to welcome you and help you work towards your own health goals. You can also join us for our Start TODAY December Walking Challenge!
WAY TO GO JENNIFER!!! KEEP IT UP!
| 
