 |
| Pre-race with Coach & Jess |
Having a great attitude will get you much further in life
than talent, skills or potential.Talking about a great attitude, allow me to introduce you
to Vicky Hopper. If you have been reading our newsletters, checking out our
website, or reading our Facebook page, you will probably recognize Vicky. She
has been training with us for over 3 years and we love featuring her smiling
face. I first met Vicky in 2011 through a mutual friend who had recommended our
half-marathon training program to her. The first things I noticed about Vicky
were her sunny disposition and her outgoing personality. I quickly learned that
Vicky has an awesome attitude and enjoys competing, no matter how fast or slow
she finishes! Vicky is one of the most inspiring athletes I have had the
pleasure to train with! Here is her story…..
Vicky was born and raised in the United Kingdom. In
secondary school (high school), she was very athletic and loved sports. She
played as many sports as she could. She was on the rounders (an English sport
similar to softball) team throughout high school and enjoyed swimming! After
leaving school and starting work, her participation in sports fizzled out. This
is not unusual and many of you reading this are probably nodding your heads and
thinking, “Yes, same here”. The stresses of work, the responsibilities of being
an adult, and her new ‘non-student’ lifestyle meant she left behind those
childhood activities that she had so enjoyed. Life went on. Vicky’s work life
progressed. She became a Mum (Mom), and gradually the memories of the sports
activities she once loved started to fade. A few years later, she met and fell
in love with the man who was to become her husband (and he still is). After
getting married, Vicky and her daughter, Emma, moved to the United States with
her new hubby, Dave. After moving across the Atlantic and leaving behind all
her friends and family, Vicky was kept busy raising Emma (who was still very
young) and building a new life in this strange land. She settled into her new
life well. She made friends, found a job, and the years passed.
It wasn’t until almost 20 years after leaving secondary
school, when her daughter was in high school, that Vicky decided to trade her
sedentary lifestyle for a more active one. She tried a few different classes
and activities like Jazzercise, Insanity and PX90. Some were too easy; some
were too hard; some were too boring and none of them inspired her. She woke up
one morning and decided to try running. She laced up her shoes and off she
went. She never looked back. Vicky had found what she was looking for. She was
in love with running!
 |
| 1st Marathon Medal-Go Vicky! |
Unfortunately, not long after starting to run, Vicky
injured her knee. The injury made running too painful so she started to walk
instead. This turned out to be a rather serendipitous injury as she discovered
that she enjoyed athletic walking even more than running! It was around this
time that Vicky was introduced to the WalkAthlete half marathon training group
and began her journey to becoming a WalkAthlete. She joined the Saturday
morning training group. She enjoyed the camaraderie of group training, the
educational sessions, and the ongoing support of the coaching team. Most
importantly, she became a huge fan of post-training breakfasts!
Vicky continued training for races. She finished 2
triathlons, numerous 5k races and a few half-marathons before deciding to train
for a full (26.2 miles) marathon. In January 2013 Vicky accomplished that goal
by completing her very first full marathon: The Clearwater marathon! Vicky was
a superstar at that race. She walked the entire distance, she finished last,
and she kept smiling until the bitter end!
Not long after this incredible achievement, Vicky started
to experience problems with ankle pain. Her doctor discovered a couple of bone
spurs on her ankle and recommended surgery. She had the surgery in the fall of
2013. For a few weeks prior to her foot surgery, Vicky had to wear a ‘boot’. Remember
that great attitude I mentioned earlier? On the day before her surgery, she
participated in the “Run for the Fallen” 5k while wearing the boot! She might
not have been fast but she was awesome!
 |
| Second Marathon Medal! |
It took Vicky a while to fully recover from the surgery
and, unfortunately, she lost some of her fitness and gained some weight. Not to
be beaten, she worked hard to bounce back, regain her fitness and lose weight.
She started walking, swimming, and doing PiYo (a combination of Pilates and
Yoga) to strengthen her ankle, increase her cardiovascular fitness, and get her
muscles working again! After a few months of consistent workouts and completing
a few 5K, 10K, and half marathon races, Vicky started training for her second marathon.
She earned her second marathon medal in January 2015! She
wasn’t done yet though. She went on to complete two more half marathons and a
triathlon in the following few months. She is currently training for another triathlon
and is registered for a few races in the fall.
I asked Vicky quite a lot of questions as input to this
article. Most of her answers I wove into the body of the story. Some of her
answers are better shared just as she wrote them. Here they are:
Q. Did any event, person or situation
motivate or inspire you on your journey?
A. When I started I was my own motivator and my internal motivation got me a long way. Coach Leenie has become an important external motivator for me. She is an inspiration; she is out there everyday training others and putting in the miles herself. She has actually done all the things she tells you to do so you know that she knows what she is talking about.
A. When I started I was my own motivator and my internal motivation got me a long way. Coach Leenie has become an important external motivator for me. She is an inspiration; she is out there everyday training others and putting in the miles herself. She has actually done all the things she tells you to do so you know that she knows what she is talking about.
Q. What is your proudest achievement so far?
A. Finishing a marathon was an incredible achievement. Once you have become a marathoner, no one can take that away from you. It is something I will always be proud of!
A. Finishing a marathon was an incredible achievement. Once you have become a marathoner, no one can take that away from you. It is something I will always be proud of!
Q. What do your friends and family think
about your achievements? How supportive are they?
A. My family and friends think I am a little nuts but then I always have been so they probably don’t expect anything different from me (haha). My family and friends are very supportive of my goals, often ask questions about how my training is going, and are a great cheer team at my events.
A. My family and friends think I am a little nuts but then I always have been so they probably don’t expect anything different from me (haha). My family and friends are very supportive of my goals, often ask questions about how my training is going, and are a great cheer team at my events.
Q. What advice would you give to someone
contemplating starting a new fitness or healthy lifestyle program?
A. Just DO IT! If you are already thinking about it then you are half way there. All you need to do is start. After that first day the rest will be much easier. The hardest part is making a commitment and getting out there on day one. Then you just have to keep going. A coach will help you train smarter and a training group will make your workouts more fun!
A. Just DO IT! If you are already thinking about it then you are half way there. All you need to do is start. After that first day the rest will be much easier. The hardest part is making a commitment and getting out there on day one. Then you just have to keep going. A coach will help you train smarter and a training group will make your workouts more fun!
 |
| With Dave, Emma & friends Holiday Halfathon RFTF 5k in a boot! |
Vicky has most definitely mastered the art of 'Being
Awesome'! She has not achieved it by being the fastest runner, walker or swimmer.
She has achieved it with hard work, a positive can-do attitude, a sunny
disposition, and her willingness to get out there and give it her best shot—even
when she thinks she might come last. Vicky finishes what she started, no matter
how tough the journey or how long it takes her to get there! We love you
Vicky!!
