What Friends are For: Running Together Across the Finish Line

One of life’s greatest rewards is the joy found in accomplishing a life goal. Perhaps it’s a personal dream such as becoming a homeowner, or a professional ambition to earn a sought-after promotion.

For Vicki Maxwell-Bustillos, one of her life goals is to run across the finish line. She’s completed several Peachtree Road Race events as a walker. She walks the 10K but as the finish line approaches she breaks into a run to complete the race. She’s successfully completed several races as a registered walker but her goal – her dream- is to run an entire race from the start all the way through to the finish.

“Each year after the Peachtree I tell myself, next year, next year,” explains Vicki. “I know in my heart that I have it in me to run an entire race.”

Here’s how Vicki reached her goal and also influenced others to cross the finish line alongside of her.

A few years ago Vicki had gained more weight than she was happy about and also recognized that she was feeling increasingly out of shape. For example, a walk up the stairs was an effort which often left her short of breath. She knew enough was enough and was determined to make a change. Last year she took a new position as a senior auditor with InComm, an Atlanta-based technology company. One of the perks of joining InComm was access to a state-of-the-art employee fitness center, including classes and trainers. Vicki started to work out with a trainer on a regular basis and was getting back into shape and feeling good. The next goal was to lose weight. Having struggled with her weight over the years, Vicki knew friends who had lost weight because they started running. She set her goal: start running to lose the weight.

InComm participates in the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk & Fitness Program (KPCRW), a work-place based program that recruits co-workers to join an 8-week fitness program with a culminating 5K run or walk through downtown Atlanta. Companies sign up as a team and participate alongside their colleagues training and supporting each other all the way to the finish line. The 5K ends with “Atlanta’s largest office party” across from Turner Field. As part of her new “get fit” regimen Vicki signed up for the KPCRW and recruited a former co-worker and friend Stacy Gensler. Together they completed the 5K and although they walked (with a run across the finish line) this was the catalyst and the beginning of Vicki’s passion for running.

Since last year’s KPCRW, Vicki and Stacy have completed their first Peachtree Road Race as runners with support from the Galloway “Getting Started” program. Two weeks after the Peachtree, they ran in the Decatur- DeKalb 4 Miler. They are signed up again for this year’s KPCRW but this time proudly as runners. Together they are setting life goals - one running race at a time.

But it doesn’t quite stop there. Stacy’s twin sister Stephanie, who is a two-time breast cancer survivor, decided to “get off the couch” after watching her sister’s success at training and running alongside Vicki. Now the three friends – Vicki, Stacy and Stephanie – have joined the Galloway Training Program with the goal of running the inaugural Jeff Galloway 13.1 Half Marathon in December in Atlanta.

In life there are many chances to cross the finish line; it just might take a little help from your friends.