At 2 a.m., Nikki Jomha descends beneath the Victoria police station and fires up a treadmill in the gym. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when the 43-year-old mother of three and grandmother of one, with another grandchild on the way, leaves her post as a 911 operator for an hour break.
B次元官网网址淔or me, partway through a 12-hour shift, thatB次元官网网址檚 my lunch time,B次元官网网址� Jomha says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance to run, or do weight work, whatever I can fit in to keep going, and it gives me the oomph to make it to 6 a.m.B次元官网网址�
Finding the time to train is a challenge, but the balance doesnB次元官网网址檛 take anything away from her family, she said.
Jomha and thousands of others are in the final three weeks leading up to the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon on Oct. 7.
One of those thousands of runners is Greg Robbins. Like Jomha, this marathon is RobbinsB次元官网网址� first.
As a delivery truck driver, he also works 12-hour days in a stressful atmosphere, the kind that drain you before the dayB次元官网网址檚 over.
B次元官网网址淚 think about those people in a 9-to 5-desk job,B次元官网网址� Robbins said. B次元官网网址淚 somewhat envy them, as they can go running after work, starting fresh, whereas, at the end of the day, IB次元官网网址檝e unloaded 20,000 pounds.B次元官网网址�
RobbinsB次元官网网址� reasons for running are powerful. He recently celebrated two three-year anniversaries. One of sobriety, the other for smoking.
B次元官网网址淭en beers and two packs of smokes everyday. I was a solid alcoholic,B次元官网网址� Robbins said.
The 35-year-old found faith in God about eight years ago, but the drinking didnB次元官网网址檛 end.
B次元官网网址淛ust like any kid I grew up playing organized sports. But I started smoking and that basically ruined everything,B次元官网网址� Robbins explained.
B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e young and you party, some people stop and some carry on. I had a job and was single, and basically devoted my entire time to drinking.B次元官网网址�
Robbins quit three years ago with the support of his church and family, which includes his wife and kids, seven and five years old.
HeB次元官网网址檚 since become a youth leader at the Colwood Pentecostal Church, and was leading a group outing up-Island last weekend.
B次元官网网址淎ddictions can make you extremely selfish, you find ways to satisfy your addictions. My faith has given me the motivation, determination and strength.B次元官网网址�
Robbins has run four half-marathons, including the GoodLife half-marathon twice, and the treacherous hill climbs of the Bear Mountain 10-kilometre race.
It took the marathon-running words of RobbinsB次元官网网址� pastor David Funk to convince him to make the jump to the full distance this year.
B次元官网网址�(Funk) will probably beat me, but I will finish that race. IB次元官网网址檓 not in any running groups. I do this all on my own. One of my goals, besides accomplishing it, is not to look like I need to be carted off in a wheelbarrow.B次元官网网址�
When Robbins crosses the finish line heB次元官网网址檇 at least like to appear ready to run another 10K.
In some ways, itB次元官网网址檚 a goal not far off of JomhaB次元官网网址檚.
B次元官网网址淢y ultimate goal is to complete Ironman Canada in 2014,B次元官网网址� Jomha said.
B次元官网网址淥bviously IB次元官网网址檓 going to need to do a marathon at some point, so my training partner said, B次元官网网址楲etB次元官网网址檚 do the GoodLife this year.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
However, Jomha has since found out her triathlon training partner, who is also a 911 operator, has to work Oct. 7.
B次元官网网址淓ven amid all those thousands of runners, IB次元官网网址檓 going to feel all by myself without her,B次元官网网址� Jomha said.
For Jomha, the decision to take on triathlons started in 2009, but long before that she suffered such a health scare that, although belated, it provides motivation today.
B次元官网网址淚 woke up one morning in 2003, and I couldnB次元官网网址檛 move, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 get out of bed. I was tested for this, and that, and eventually took some medication that cured it after three months.B次元官网网址�
She was never diagnosed, but took medication thatB次元官网网址檚 given to sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis.
B次元官网网址淚 was immobilized. It was only three months, but it was a dark, dark time. Now a part of me runs for people who canB次元官网网址檛 run.B次元官网网址�
Jomha was a B次元官网网址渃omplete couch potatoB次元官网网址� when she started running in 2009.
B次元官网网址淧eople tell me, B次元官网网址業 donB次元官网网址檛 know who you are anymore,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Jomha said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e lost a lot of weight and IB次元官网网址檓 very active. I want to be an inspiration to my kids, a model for my co-workers.B次元官网网址�
Jomha did the TC 10K, and needed goals to keep her training up, so she entered in every local race going. SheB次元官网网址檚 done the Bear Mountain 10K, Oak Bay half-Marathon, and runs the Island Race Series in the winter.
SheB次元官网网址檚 also improved her swimming so much that biking is her weakest of the triathlon disciplines.
B次元官网网址淏iking is another one I have to fit in. I get up at 4:30 a.m. to bike 28 km to work,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚ronman is a completion to that journey, whatever it is.B次元官网网址�
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