ABOUT ME

Well, since I don't really like to talk about me, I'll make it brief. My name is Christa and I live just outside of Buffalo, New York with my husband, Michael and our two children, Brendan, 12 and Ava, 8. I started running in 1999 a few months after I quit my (almost) pack a day, 14-year smoking habit. I enjoyed running so much, I only wished that I quit smoking and discovered it sooner, since I was always an athletic girl and participated in many other sports. I found out about running a marathon because I was introduced to a gentleman who was running his for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. After only running for about five months or so, I thought, "Why NOT?" and trained and ran my first marathon in June of 2000, the Rock 'n Roll Marathon in San Diego, for Team in Training. After that, I was hooked! I then did the New York City Marathon, the Disney Marathon, and then I went and did the New York City Marathon (which is my favorite) again. Believe me, if I can do it as a former smoker, wife and mother of two who also works, you can too!

As I mentioned, I started this site back in 1999 because I really didn't find any specific sites for first time marathoners. The web site has grown by word of mouth, and I have heard it has been mentioned on the news in Boston. I am just an average woman with average running ability, but I really wanted to start a site where people can find information and inspiration. Whether you are fast as lightning or slow as molasses, it really doesn't matter. Just finishing a marathon (or half-marathon) is a huge accomplishment and something that no one can ever take away from you!

Thousands of people have stopped by over the last six years. I always enjoy getting e-mail from around the world with suggestions for marathons, pictures, quotes and I especially love getting mail when people tell me why they run. So feel free to e-mail me at anytime at ckaret@hotmail.com.