Miranda Cooper
Team Running Free Alumni
Age: 0
Member Since: 2012
Occupation: Real Estate Broker
Home: Orillia
About Me: In Spring 2009 started with the walk/run 5k group and completed my first 5k race in June of that year. Then summer came the family got busy and I fell off the wagon. It is difficult to be in only one in the family wanting to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. Once we saw pictures from that Christmas, it wasn’t hard to convince my husband that we needed to do something. We decided to wait and start in Jan 2010, not as a New Years resolution but knew it was unrealistic to start with a new lifestyle until after the holidays. I convinced my husband to start the walk/run program on the treadmill and I wanted to join that 10k group in April with confidence and we were committed to running. He went from a walker to a 5k runner in 3 months. Then together we joined the local running group. I joined the 10k group and he joined the 5k Intermediate, and we haven’t stopped since. During this journey my husband lost 70lbs and we've gained sustainable fitness and lifestyle.
Sports: Road Running, Triathlons
Athletic Goals: Do a 2nd race in the spring 2014 to ensure my spot at the Boston Marathon, Train for my first 1/2 Ironman Sept 2014
My most catastrophic racing experience was: Nov 2012 I wanted to qualify for Boston so I trained and ran the Hamilton Road2Hope. I had been suffering with stomach issues, and some life stress prior to this race and my running certainly wasn't at par. I felt I had a good base. However, morning of the race I was off to a terrible start. I knew before I toed the line it was not going to be a good day. I won't get into gory details but anyone with GI distress knows what I'm talking about. I couldn't take on any fuel my body as would not allow it. I was running with my husband, we had a good pace going and we were on track to not only PB but also for me to qualify for Boston. I held on for as long as I could feeling worse as the kms ticked by. I held on until 26k when my body just quit and my spirit was broken, it was make or break time. Turn right to the finish or left knowing I had 16k to go. I knew it wouldn't be pretty, and decided I needed to walk off the course. This was an extremely tough decision for me, I am not a quitter. This was the first race my parents had come to see and my daughter had made the trip from school as well, I wanted to make them proud. But I had nothing left to give. I walked back 2k to the finish line and was frozen to the core. By the time I found my family I was devastated and completely broke down, my skin was grey in colour and they wanted to take me to the hospital which I refused wanted to see my husband finish. My parents had a really hard time seeing me like that and haven't been to another race since. The only good thing about that day was even with my husbands stops with me he managed to finish in 3:50 only 5 mins past our goal time. I was so proud of him! It has taken me almost a year to recover from this race both physically and mentally. I hope I never have to experience that again.
My most memorable racing experience was: Actually isn't my race. I did run a half marathon relay in the Island Girl Toronto Half Marathon and 5k with another friend. My most memorable moment be my girlfriend doing her first 5k (no walk breaks was the last thing I said : ). I was in tears when she left the start line, and again when she finished the race. I was so proud of her for sticking with the program, and doing it on her own and not quitting while going through some personal trying times. The other race would be running the Warrior Dash with my daughter last year it was fun having quality time together and sharing precious memories.
Favourite Racing Gear: Love Mizuno shoes. Currently running in Mizuno Creation and Sayonara , still looking for the perfect race shoe, Favorite Short Zoot PerformanceTri short, Bra Lululemon Ta Ta Tamer, CW-X Insulator Pro tights
Favourite Race: Toronto Younge St 10k
Favourite Race Food: Hammer Heed- Melon, Hammer Perpetum, Hammer Recoverite, Power Bar Gels
To start off I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Running Free for their sponsorship this past
