Blog - Stepping Out: Sole Sisters
Stepping Out: Sole Sisters
It is 2016 and someone at the young age of 53 decided it was time to get up and get moving so the challenge was made to family and friends and Stepping out Sisters was established. Our goal was to move more so we challenged ourselves to complete a 5K, 10K, ½ marathon, or full marathon by the end of the year. We had an amazing group of women take the challenge including 4 of us for a half and 2 for the full. With 3 full marathons under my belt, I find the half marathon distance works best for my training, so I joined the Fifty States Half Marathon Club.
Fast forward to 2019, I was ready to check Ohio off my list and chose the Air Force Half Marathon for my race in large part because of my family that have served in the Air Force. My sister Carol joined me for her first half marathon.
“Fast forward to 2019, and I was ready to check Ohio off my list and chose the Air Force Half Marathon.”
Now, here is where the really cool part comes in. We have another sister, Carol’s identical twin Cheryl, that is a retired Lt. Colonel who served over 20 years in the Air Force. We were excited to learn that the 2020 honorary aircraft is the Pavehawk, an aircraft that Cheryl flew for almost 5 years. Carol and I decided we would return in 2020 and complete the race again in Cheryl’s honor, and we would ask her to join us.
“Carol and I decided we would return in 2020 and complete the race again in Cheryl’s honor, and we would ask her to join us.”
I am excited to report that she accepted the challenge. We now have Carol and Cheryl in Toledo, OH and myself in Chattanooga, TN registered and prepping for the September race. In addition to us, Cheryl’s husband Jim, another Air Force veteran, will take part in his first full marathon. They are dedicating their participation to the families of the helicopter friends they lost in Afghanistan.
I miss that I am not able to train in person with my sisters, yet I do feel closer to them as we prepare for this common goal.
“I do feel closer to them as we prepare for this common goal.”
Thank you for allowing me to share our story.
Written by: Karen Sarnosky
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