Mary at the Myrtle Beach Marathon:
Mary has coached and inspired former coach potatoes to runner status for years. She is the John Bingham ("The Penguin") of the Sarasota area running community. She has earned the status of Marathon Maniac. Her theories on marathon running are based on Penguin like facts. No need for speed. Enjoy the experience. Have fun. Meet people. Advance your health. Make life long friends and change lives. Do what you never thought you could do and don't use your body up. Don't forget to rest and you will run for a long time. These are all characteristics that would describe Mary's outlook on running. All good thoughts.
A common look for Mary during a marathon always running with somebody:
I felt bad about dropping out of Pittsburgh and said so to Mary as we engaged in our first conversation. She was the first runner I remember using the terms and saying that DNF ("Did Not Finish") beats DNS ("Did Not Start"). My focus in that first conversation changed to the successful seven marathons I had done in the previous twelve months prior to meeting her. Our discussion centered on the Galloway theory of running. I felt we became instantaneous friends. In all honesty, maybe we have met twelve times in person and then through Facebook and emails over the years. I absolutely consider Mary a friend and continuing running inspiration.
On three different occasions while in Sarasota visiting my parents, I would connect with Mary's Saturday morning running group including running two different times in a group with her husband Bob who had me in stitches the entire training run. A very funny guy indeed.
Mary and Bob (Bobby):
I unexpectedly ran into Mary at the beginning of my first New York City Marathon experience and then a few years later on the course at a Marine Corps Marathon. I pushed myself at both events only to watch Mary pass me by later in the race with her measured, "What Wall?" theory of marathon running. She is always smiling. Always.
The Boss met Mary at a couple of Sarasota races and instantaneously liked her. Noticing a pattern here about Ms. Lenari's positive impact on people?
I was standing at the starting line of the Boston Marathon in 2010 and got into a conversation with a fellow runner who said he was from Sarasota. I asked, "Do you know Mary Lenari?" He responded, "Everybody knows Mary." A year later while having dinner at the Quarterdeck in Falmouth, Massachusetts prior to the Falmouth Road Race, I felt a tap on my shoulder. The man says, "Hey, I was next to you at the start of Boston last year. You're Mary Lenari's friend aren't you?" I smiled and responded, "Who isn't?" We both started laughing. He had a couple of friends with him and they chimed in and asked, "So you know Mary?"
When my dad was living in Sarasota and he had his first stroke and mom had some health issues. I remember asking Mary in a phone call that if anything ever came up would she mind if I called her to check in on them? While I never needed her help, her immediate reaction was, "Sure," and you knew she meant it.
There's nothing wrong with running in a measured fashion. The heck with DNF and DNS. LPF, ("Last Place Finish") blows the other two away. Mary would approve, with enthusiasm and a huge smile.
As I have been training for Columbus, on some of the longer runs, sometimes I am disappointed that I'm not the runner I used to be. Then I think about what I have learned from Mary and celebrate the runner I am. Yep, everything you need to know about good judgement when it comes to running you can learn from Mary. I rested today to prepare for the long runs of the next two days. "Thanks Mary! You are one very smart Penguin." Glad we met.
(Note: Pictures from Mary's Facebook photo page. Hope you don't mind my friend. They're great!)
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