GUTS to GLORY
Why Do I Walk? …Begin With the End in Mind

By Celia Perkins

It was on September 21, 1999 that I decided it was time for a change of lifestyle and start taking better care of my health. I quit smoking, a habit for 25 years. I was already walking 21/2 miles a day; I decided I could start adding mileage, so I began to walk my daily route twice.

A year later the company that I worked for decided to sign up for the Portland to Coast Walk Relay. We met as a team once a month and started training on Saturday morning. I continued training on my own during the week and weekends.

On August 24, 2001 the first half of the 12-person team was at the start of the event. Keep in mind, that you are traveling a distance of 126 miles in a mini van. You are eating, sleeping, and learning more about your team members than what you ever wanted to know within those 26 plus hours together. You do get caught up in the team camaraderie. All in all at the finish, there is the thrill of team accomplishment.

One of the members from our team told me about the Portland Marathon Mayors 10k Walk. I knew that I could walk a 10k, so I decided to sign up. When I finished, I stood at the finish line of the marathon for four hours watching the marathoners cross the line. It was such an inspiration watching the variety of finishers, I thought to myself…”If they can do it, so can I.” I made the marathon a goal to work towards for the next year. I continued to check out local events. I started doing some competitive races and Volkswalks.

In January 2002 I was ready to walk my first half marathon. I found an event and I was ready for the challenge to walk 13.1 miles. I felt good when I finished. I continued with 5k and 10k events. Three months later I heard about another half marathon. There I was… out there walking 13.1 miles again! I was hooked…I was participating every weekend in every local event that I could find.

Our Portland to Coast team met again for the second year. This time I took over as team captain. I wanted to see how much I had improved since the previous year, so I chose to take on the same route legs. Since I became a little more competitive, I was ready to take on anyone. I did find someone who was very competitive and I was determined not to let him pass, but close to the finish he got his second wind…so he did pass me. At our exchange, I gave this total stranger a BIG hug for making me push myself to see what I was capable of achieving.

It was getting close to the Portland Marathon and I knew that I needed to start training for a longer distance. So I joined up with Women Walk the Marathon and we walked a route that took us 16 miles. I thought another 10 miles…no problem I'm ready!

On October 6, 2002, there I stood that crisp morning among the thousands of marathoners. The horn blew and we were off. I had made up a pace chart and it gave me a goal to shoot for each mile. I am one who always has to have my headphones on, so I was tuned into a station that had some upbeat music. We started out in a tight pack but by mile 2 we started to spread out. I found a comfortable pace and was reaching each mile marker on schedule. After I passed mile 16, I thought …”You've done sixteen miles” and it was like I shifted into a faster gear. I felt good since I knew that I was able to go that distance two weeks earlier. By mile 20 I started to develop a blister on my heel. I was determined not to stop, I continued on past the first aid stations. I started to lose momentum as I could feel the blister getting bigger, by mile 25 my heel was so sore…I was ready to stop! I blocked out the pain and headed to the finish line. I was never so happy to see a finish banner. It was great hearing my name announced over the load speaker, I finished my first marathon! Finish time 5:40:08. My goal was 5:30.00. I often think about that quote by John “The Penguin” Bingham, “The miracle isn't that I finished…The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”

I always wanted to be a PE teacher or a fitness trainer, but become a mother instead. My son shares my new-found addiction and is a participant in some of the races. I had joined the Oregon Road Runners Club and became the walk director. This year I took on being the head walking coach for Vancouver Fit. I'm having fun being involved with the races, events, and encouraging others of the benefits of walking.

I have completed 20 half marathons and 8 full marathons. I enjoy the challenge and I'm still working towards that PR. I recently completed another marathon with a new PR of 5:30. I want to be able to continue doing events well into my 90s, if not longer.

What I most enjoy about walking is that you can do it alone, with a friend, or a group of people. After a day at work, I get home, put on my walking shoes and head out for one hour or longer. It helps keep my stress level down and gives me time by myself to think. It is inexpensive. People think I'm crazy to pay for walking events, but I tell them that I used to pay that much for a carton of cigarettes. With the pace that I walk, (12:20 m/m) folks are amazed that I used to smoke a pack a day. I know that I am fortunate to have such healthy lungs. It has been four years now since I have had a cigarette and I feel GREAT!

See you out on the course.