COURTESY PHOTO
Robert Homan, left, and Kristen Homan-Jordan will run the Boston Marathon in April.
By STEVE KRAUSE
SALEM — Kristen Homan-Jordan began running for the same reasons many people do.
“I didn’t start until I was almost 30,” she said. “My brother (Michael) started running around the same time we lost our dad to lung disease, so we just wanted to make sure we stayed healthy.”
That was 10 years ago.
Today, brother and sister — both Lynn English graduates — have progressed to the point where they’ll be among the 20,000 or so runners who will line up in Hopkinton next month to run in the Boston Marathon.
“It’s kind of a fluke that I’m running,” she said.
Michael Homan had planned on running but the charity that he’s involved with — Steve’s Team — gave him an extra number. He asked his sister if she’d be interested and, well, here she is.
The Steve of Steve’s Team was Stephen O’Grady, who was the president of the Salem Boys and Girls Club. O’Grady was killed by a drunk driver, and his sister, Beth, created a charity to honor him. Money raised by the charity goes to various endeavors around the North Shore, and this year the funds will go to the Salem Boys and Girls Club.
Although there are various levels of fundraising, Homan-Jordan and her brother hope to raise $5,000 by race day. So far they’ve collected about $3,500.
“We’re doing fairly well,” Homan-Jordan said. “We started the first of the year. It’s a challenge because a lot of people run, and it’s hard for people to donate to everyone they know.”
For that matter, doing anything on connection with the marathon, especially running it, is a challenge.
“Training in the winter has been very difficult,” said Homan-Jordan, a social worker and nutrition counselor. “Luckily, this winter has been mild, and we’ve been able to do most of our running outside.
“We’ve had our share of cold, windy days, and this month has been the worst part of the winter.”
For a neophyte marathoner, Homan-Jordan has had to learn a few things on the fly.
‘We’ve combined a couple of training plans,” she said. “We’ve built our mileage up gradually. It’s tough sometimes to fit everything in.”
And that is one of the most important lessons she’s learned.
“You make a lot of sacrifices,” she said. “You don’t have time for much of a social life. You’re tired. You get up and run 20 miles. You’re sore. You’re hungry. In the end, it takes up a big part of your life, and you have to be committed to it.”
On the other hand, having a long-range goal makes it easier to get motivated to train.
“It’s nice to have a goal to work toward,” she said. “It keeps you motivated. On the other hand, if you don’t have a goal, it’s a lot easier to stay in bed in the morning and not get out to go for a run.”
Each Saturday, the two have set out to run longer routes. Today, for example, they were going to do 21 miles.
“That’ll be our longest run until the marathon,” she said.
‘It feels so daunting when you start,” said Homan-Jordan. “You feel there’s no way you can possibly do it. But you do.”
Her knowledge of nutrition has definitely helped her.
“For this kind of running,” she said, “food is fuel. You have to make sure you’re eating enough. If you don’t, you get tired, injured, and can’t recover correctly. It’s important to have the knowledge of nutrition so you can eat properly.
“For this kind of running, carbs of all kind are most important,” she said. “You need the energy to get to the muscles quickly.”
Learning all these things can see overwhelming, she said.
“But if you’re willing to do that it can be hugely rewarding,” she said. “It’s great for us to have the opportunity.”
Those wishing to donate can send a check to the the Boys and Girls Club of Salem, 29 Highland Ave., Salem, MA, ℅ Boston Marathon.