Celeste Breen (Mom)

1.) I'm the one who started this! After we moved here from Buffalo Grove, I couldn't fit the park district aerobics classes into my schedule. So, I started by doing a little jogging and after I could make it more than a mile or so without stopping I tried a 5K race, just to see if I could do it.  When I saw Matt's program being offered in Prairie Crossing, I thought it might be interesting to actually

train and maybe get a little faster. Then I talked John into doing it for his health, then Jennifer, and finally our couch potato PJ.

2.) My biggest success to date has been completing my first half marathon. 13.1 miles was a big mental obstacle to overcome. Who in their right mind would do such a thing, and especially someone 50 years old who is not really an athlete? A person who would do such a thing ... is me!

3.) One benefit is having someone to challenge you and/or give you encouragement.  Also to have a built-in partner for weight training sessions that could be boring alone.  A challenge is that you have someone who can be on your case when you would rather just be left alone.  It's also hard to watch a loved one feel bad when they haven't done well and you kind of pushed them into it.

4.) That would be PJ, at least this session, since he has made so much progress and I don't want to lose to him! But, the whole family has kept me going, since they've encouraged my races and are always there for me, cheering and taking photographs.

5.) I hope to be able to get them to do at least one 10K race, but mostly hope they keep up with it for the health aspects.  For myself, I hope to do 3 half marathons this year and do the Music series of half marathons next year. Maybe next year I'll try to learn to swim, but don't count on it!