thursday, february 12, 2004
news
the university daily kansan
5A
'Lazy' student finds time to run marathons
After taking up running just last year, she's taking on the Boston Marathon
By Samia Khan skhan@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Editor's note: Every face in the crowd and every name in the phonebook has a story behind it. Every week, Kansan staff writer Samia Khan tells the story of a randomly selected KU student.
Erin Leary calls herself lazy and unmotivated, but give her a few minutes and she'll tell you about training for the Boston Marathon.
"Running a marathon is something I never thought I'd do before I got to college," Leary said. "It's sort of out of character for me."
The Lenexa junior ran the Chicago Marathon in October 2002. She qualified to run the Boston Marathon in April and began training for the 26 mile, 385 vard race a month ago.
She started running for fun with a friend during her freshman year. Vince Kane has been Leary's running partner for almost three years. She participated in the Chicago marathon with Kane at his urging.
"I don't know how he convinced me to do it, but I would have never been able to do all of this without him," she said.
Kane, Lenexa graduate student, said Leary never really took the idea of a marathon seriously when he started talking about it, but he continued to mention it to her. Eventually he told Leary that he signed both of them up to run in the Chicago Marathon. Leary didn't object, just as he thought.
"I knew she'd do it and wanted to do it. I just had to trick her into it." Kane said.
"I knew she'd do it and wanted to do it. I just had to trick her into it."
Lenexa graduate student
At first, Leary never ran by herself. She is training on her own now and also will participate in the Boston Marathon alone.
Kane, who continues to run with Leary occasionally, made a running schedule for Leary to keep her focused for the Boston Marathon.
Leary said running in Boston would be an accomplishment she could put a greater personal stake in. She was not the type to do things on her own unless someone forces her, she said. For several months after the Chicago marathon she stopped running until it came time to training for Boston.
to laughs her lazy disposition as an example that almost anyone can run a marathon.
"I'm not this awesome runner. I do it sporadically," she said. "You just have to want to do it."
Running and training for the marathon allows Leary to stay focused on other aspects of her life. Leary said she had trouble staying motivated in school last semester when she wasn't running. Her training schedule allows her to budget her time and feel good about staying active.
"It kicks me in the butt and helps me get going," she said. "I'm more likely to do other things instead of lying around all day and taking seven naps like I'd usually want to do."
- Edited by Louise Stauffer
Annie Bernethy/Kansan
Erin Leary, Lenexa junior, trained for the Boston Marathon, a 26 mile, 385 yard race, every day. Leary completed the Chicago Marathon October 2002 and looks forward to running in Boston this April.
Clark resigns candidacy
THE ASSOCIATION
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Wesley Clark, unable to command significant support as a first-time presidential candidate, dropped out of the race for the White House yesterday.
"They're good men, they're good Democrats and they're good patriots," said Clark, who decided to quit after finishing third behind Kerry and Edwards in Democratic primaries Tuesday in Virginia and Tennessee.
Clark, a 59-year-old career military man, burst onto the campaign last fall, supplanting his more experienced and better-known rivals at the top of the polls and demonstrating significant fund-raising ability.
But his political inexperience showed — he changed his position on the war with Iraq within days of announcing his candidacy, and was constantly refining his position on abortion.
Clark wrestled with the decision to end his campaign as election returns rolled in Tuesday night, with advisers urging him to quit and his family pushing him to continue.
Aides said Clark would remain active in the campaign by stumping for Democrats in the South and other swing states, and serving as an adviser on national security issues.
With his withdrawal went words of praise for his remaining rivals — the front-runner, Sen. John Kerry, as well as Sen. John Edwards and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
STUDENT SENATE REPLACEMENT SEATS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!!
- 4 GRADUATE STUDENTS
- 1 BUSINESS STUDENT
SENATORS NEEDED:
- 1 EDUCATION STUDENT
·1 FINE ARTS STUDENT
- 3 COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES STUDENTS (UNDER 60 HOURS)
- 4 COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES STUDENTS (60 HOURS)
APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STUDENT SENATE OFFICE 410 KANSAS UNION. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH BY 5:00PM. INTERVIEWS WILL BEGIN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH.
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