For Waltham Woman, Marathon is Part of Healthy Journey

A decade ago, Beth Adams ran two marathons, but her fitness declined in the years after.

Adams, a Waltham resident, gained weight and stopped running marathons. Adams, however, is trying to turn her lifestyle around, partly by running in this year’s Boston Marathon scheduled for April 16.

Adams is running as a member of the American Liver Foundation’s team, which requires her to raise at least $4,000. So far, Adams told Waltham Patch in a recent interview, she has raised more than $5,000.

“It’s always been … that pipe dream,” she said. “I figured this year I have no excuse not to run it.”

For Adams, running the marathon is the latest chapter in her journey to improve her health habits. Adams, who works for a private defense contractor, recently lost 100 pounds the old fashioned way, by eating healthier foods and getting more exercise.

To continue her mission, Adams, through the foundation is partnering with a 4-year-old boy from Nebraska as inspiration to finish the marathon. The boy, Joseph, suffers from biliary artesia, a condition that damages the liver, according to Adams. While Joseph does not plan to attend the marathon, Adams said she has been in e-mail contact with his family as she prepares for the race. Adams said she draws inspiration from hearing Joseph’s story.

“It really puts it into perspective,” Adams said.

As many runners have, Adams has been pounding the pavement each Saturday, running with her team to prepare for the grueling race. Last Saturday, she ran 19 miles.

“I fell apart mentally,” she said.

Seeing her fellow runner and friend, however, boosted her energy helping her to complete the run, Adams said.

“As soon as my head got back in it, l I was fine,” Adams said.

If the future is any indication, Adams will certainly maintain her healthy lifestyle. She said she plans to run in future marathons and half-marathons. She has already registered for two half-marathons this year.  For now, however, she is focusing on April 16.

“Doing this again is kind of proof to me that as I can always be making progress [in living a healthy lifestyle.],” Adams said.