Faithful Soles - Story: More Than a Marathon, It's a Life-A-Thon

Preface by Robert Key, Founder of Faithful Soles: I met Judy Kassaye on Friday, February 16, 2007, when I traveled to Round Rock, Texas just outside of Austin to give a motivational speech to Round Rock Fit prior to the Austin Marathon and Half-Marathon that included about 100 members and their families. Before I spoke, Judy came up and gave an emotional and beautiful testimony about her weight-loss and half-marathon training and what the program had meant to her. While she was speaking, they had a slide show of her pictures before, during and after the program that were amazing. I asked her to please write a story about it for Faithful Soles and to share some of her pictures, which she has graciously done here. Judy is a true inspiration and defines to me what the heart of a runner is all about.

"More than a Marathon, It's a Life-A-Thon"

By: Judy Kassaye

I have to admit when I joined Round Rock Fit in August of 2006 my main goal was to lose weight. I never imagined it would be such a life-altering experience. I was so naïve that I didn’t realize training for the half-marathon or marathon actually meant you had to run it. The extent of my running career had ended many years ago in high school. To be honest, when I started the program, running 1 mile was a major accomplishment and 13.1 was completely out of the picture. Over time one mile turned itself into more and more distance. I ran four miles and I was sore from head to toe and out for the entire weekend. I ran nine miles and I thought I was literally going to die – I wanted to go home to be with Jesus!!! I hated every minute of it. If it wasn’t for my friend running with me I could have never done it in my own strength. It was my sixty-two year old friend Edna that held me accountable to showing up every Saturday and meeting me during the week so we can keep up with the schedule. In the middle of December something changed. It was 37 degrees outside, pouring down rain and I got up to meet the group at 6:00 a.m. to run 12 miles. It was the craziest thing I had ever done and I LOVED IT! That was the day I considered myself a runner and I knew I was committed no matter what.

Throughout the process of this 24 week training program my life has changed in many ways. Physically I lost a total of 35 pounds and dropped 2-3 dress sizes. Mentally I think clearer, sleep better and have an incredible amount of energy. I make better choices with the food I eat. By making my health a priority I finally have balance with my family, work, friends and church life. My health allows me to have more to give in all areas of my life. At age 34 I am healthier and more confident in the body God gave me than I ever have been in my life. I have come such a long way since the day I ran that first mile with Round Rock Fit but the journey is not over for me. I plan on losing more weight and getting more comfortable in running 15 miles before marathon training begins again in August of this year. In order to do this I know I need the support of my friends and family and this organization. I know now that this goal is achievable. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Training will part of my lifestyle all year.

I will never forget my half-marathon. I had heard about the “runners high” but I had never experienced it before that day. The weather and the scenery were perfect. I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face greeted by over 12,000 people from across the US and other countries doing the same thing...I finally got it!!! The sense of accomplishment I felt in that moment is hard for me to put into words but something I will cherish for the rest of my life.