Christie Clinic IL Marathon: Mom Runs To Teach Family a Lesson
Updated: February 20, 2012
In a group dubbed the Mahama Mamas, the smiles come easy.
On the surface they all seem the same.
They're all moms who enjoy running the streets of Mahomet.
But in the pack of women, there's one story that really stands out.
"I just started running about three years ago. I started by running around a block. That's how I started running," said Melissa Byrd.
Since then, Byrd has logged hundreds of miles training, lost 135 pounds, and started training for her first marathon. She'll run that this year in Champaign-Urbana.
They're all accomplishments some spend their whole life trying achieve.
But for Melissa, none of those are her biggest. Her most important achievement is showing her kids how to be healthy.
For her family it's a lesson that can't be avoided.
"Our daughter was born with a congenital heart defect. I feel like I'm her role model. She watches me every day and I want to stress to her to be heart healthy and take care of herself because that's really important for her and her future," said Byrd.
Her daughter is still recovering from open heart surgery she had in November.
It was her seventh, and she's only nine years old.
"She's doing really good now. We're hoping that it's maybe like 15 more years until her next open heart surgery," said Byrd.
Byrd says she'll keep running through it all.
It's her way of showing her daughter that being fit isn't just fun, it's critical to a healthy future.
On the surface they all seem the same.
They're all moms who enjoy running the streets of Mahomet.
But in the pack of women, there's one story that really stands out.
"I just started running about three years ago. I started by running around a block. That's how I started running," said Melissa Byrd.
Since then, Byrd has logged hundreds of miles training, lost 135 pounds, and started training for her first marathon. She'll run that this year in Champaign-Urbana.
They're all accomplishments some spend their whole life trying achieve.
But for Melissa, none of those are her biggest. Her most important achievement is showing her kids how to be healthy.
For her family it's a lesson that can't be avoided.
"Our daughter was born with a congenital heart defect. I feel like I'm her role model. She watches me every day and I want to stress to her to be heart healthy and take care of herself because that's really important for her and her future," said Byrd.
Her daughter is still recovering from open heart surgery she had in November.
It was her seventh, and she's only nine years old.
"She's doing really good now. We're hoping that it's maybe like 15 more years until her next open heart surgery," said Byrd.
Byrd says she'll keep running through it all.
It's her way of showing her daughter that being fit isn't just fun, it's critical to a healthy future.
