Karyn Saunders from Hacienda Pacifica, Panama to Run in Panama City International Marathon

Karyn Saunders, 39, Canadian, an IT Recruiter with clients in Canada and the US and a Life Coach, who is now living in Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Hacienda Pacifica, Panama is in training to run in the Panama City International Marathon to be held, Sunday, August 9. People from around the world arrive in Panama to attend this thirty three year old event, which is considered to be the 26th most popular marathon in the world and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The Panama City International Marathon was featured in the Sportfilm's movie, Marathons of the World. Karyn will be running the half marathon, which covers a little over 13 miles (22 kilometers) along Balboa Avenue from Punta Pacifica to Casco Viejo and back. The race starts at 6:30 am. She will be running in the women’s category for her age group.        

Six years ago, if someone told Karyn she would be running marathons, she would not have believed it. She was a smoker and regular training was not part of her routine. Things changed in 2003 when her mother and grandmother, both smokers, died of pancreatic cancer within seven weeks of each other.  A year later Karyn quit smoking, got involved in running, through the Running Room in Toronto and eventually started running marathons.  “Every fall I try to do a race of some significance. I run in their honor and because I am healthy and alive”. Says Karyn.

Close to tears, she confides, “Whenever I cross the finish line I say, ‘this is for you, ladies’.”

Karyn ran her first marathon in 2005. In 2006 she ran a 10 kilometer marathon in Bermuda. Later the same year she made it through a grueling 30 kilometers. In 2007 Karyn ran her first full marathon with the names of her Mother and Grandmother on the back of her running shirt. She crossed the finish line at four hours and forty-five minutes and considers that race “the single most rewarding accomplishment of my life”.

Karyn has been training for this race since she arrived in Panama, in December 2008. To prepare she trains three times a week running up and down the hills of Costa Esmerelda and on the beach. “The hardest part of training is getting out of my hammock and getting going. I hate the training.” She says. “But I love how I feel after I’ve trained and I love racing”.

Training for this marathon has been especially challenging for Karyn here in Panama. “I came from a fun running group in Toronto. Here I have me and the odd iguana”. Karyn is hoping to find more people interested in running in the Pacific Beach areas.

On the day of the race, Karyn will be running for ten minutes and walking for a minute. Her typical running speed is a six minute kilometer or 9 minute mile. “The strategy is pacing yourself.” She says it is better “to try to do the second half faster than the first.” This, Karyn states, “is called a negative split.”

For people coming out to encourage Karyn on race day, she says it is most motivating to see a friendly face at the in-between distance, which is where a runner begins to feel tired and needs the motivation to keep going. If you want to hand Karyn something, “a banana has a lot of energy”. Being handed a banana is also something that pulled her through a mental and physical wall when she ran a full marathon in 2007.

Karyn is accepting pledges for her run to raise money for the Panama Cancer Society and Finca la Maya. To make a pledge contact Karyn by email karyn70@gmail.com.

If you are in Panama City on August 9, do look in on the marathon along Avenida Balboa and cheer Karyn on, who is again dedicating her effort to the memory of her Mother, Arena, and her Grandmother, Omi.

Way to go, Karen!