FLORIDA MOM MAGAZINE - July '08 - Stephanie Orum - Neptune Beach Marathoner
 So you enjoy running?
I started running marathons as a challenge to myself after I had my first daughter. Marathon running seemed a lot less time consuming than starting graduate school. Since then, I love the thrill of traveling to different cities to race and have met so many amazing people throughout what we call the “journey” of training for a marathon.
What's your typical workout routine?
I vary my routine according to my family’s schedule. I try to be consistent in running at least three times a week. I also try to lift weights or do a pump class at the gym two – three times a week, and love to vary it up with swimming, cycling, or even a Hip Hop dance, Oh Yeah! Even I can get exercise with a dance-sort-of-in between cracking up at myself with my girls! I find that by varying the type of workout, arranging them with my dear friends, and getting done before the rest of the family wakes up, really gives me positive energy for the remainder of the day.
What are your favorite things about training?
I love the hard physical aspect and challenge of a workout, the feeling of positive energy and stress relief during and after most workouts, and I love to eat. That college freshman 15 or was it 30 (!?) felt what seemed like forever to lose and looked heavy on my body type. The
t-shirt that says: “I run for food” pretty much sums up one of the reasons why I try to stay active! By setting up workouts with friends, I am more accountable to get up and join them. It allows me some social
“girl time,” you know to solve life’s problems, just talk or laugh without interruptions or even sing to make those occasional 5 hour marathon workouts seem to go quicker. We’ve even tried to combine book club with exercise. There’s not a better way to spend the wee hours of the morning than with my friends.
What are some of your goals?
This year I am hoping to get in the lottery to run my first New York marathon in November and eventually to set a personal time record.Another big goal is to continue sharing my gifts and love for sports and physical activity with my daughters, and anyone new to exercise or who is getting back into exercise. The positive aspects of living a healthy balanced lifestyle such as higher self esteem, meaningful interpersonal relationships, goal setting, and team work are so great!
Who inspires you?
I have so many people who constantly inspire me, from my husband and family who support me even though at times they think I’m crazy, to my “sole sisters”, to the people who “come off the couch “to succeed in a type of walk/ run program that works for them, to the people who battle disease or cancer and put up a strong fight.
After all of the workouts and training, do you have a special diet?
Like the rest of my life, I try to keep as balanced as possible, not depriving myself of “treats” when I want them.
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