ORANGEVILLE - Amy Baker began running for the same reason many women might. She wanted a way to get away by herself; it was something the mother of three could do on her own.
But four years after her running journey began, after qualifying for and competing in the recent 26-mile Boston Marathon, 40-year-old Baker said running is no longer just her thing. The experience has become a family affair and a spiritually-based journey with an indefinite end. And after a tough battle with her health, a will to push through and a last-minute decision to simply go for it - a determined Baker has re-qualified and has big goals for her future in running.
How it began
Running wasn't always a part of Baker's life. The 1993 Orangeville High School graduate called basketball her sport of choice and after college, she was busy raising her three children and working full time as the Chief Financial Officer at Citizens State Bank in Lena. She is also in her second term as the vice president for the Orangeville Board of Education.
But after a nudge from her brother, Baker participated in the Shamrock Shuffle near Chicago in 2011 with her sister, Kelli Pieper, just for fun.
It was the beginning of a love affair with running that Baker has since not let go of. She got home and immediately began looking at other area 5K races.
"God blessed me with an ability I didn't realize I had," Baker said.
That gift would take her and her family to several 5K races. Soon, husband Ray was running with her and not long after, their three children: Emma, 14; Zach, 12; and Leah, 10, now all participate.
It was her sister-in-law, Bethie Wessels, a long-time runner, who brought the appeal of the Boston Marathon to Baker. Baker turned down Wessels' offer to join her, but after seeing her finish, Baker was inspired to try it for herself.
She followed a rigorous 18-week schedule to prepare, and at three different times during her training, she ran 20 miles.
Finding the time to train and the will to stick to it came somewhat easily for Baker, who said she is a "doer" type of person.
And her encouraging family was a big part of her sticking with it. Her husband, Ray, is one of her biggest supporters.
"He was always saying 'just go'," Baker said. "It was awesome."
During those long hours of training, Baker said, the time was no longer a getaway for her. It had shifted completely into a worship time.
"I need to keep my mind busy," Baker said. "It became a spiritual time for me."
Cold, dark winter mornings involved Baker bundling up, listening to contemporary Christian music with a piece of Big Red gum and putting her hope and faith into something bigger than herself.
"It wasn't running for me anymore," Baker said. "It was running for Him."
Challenges
A week before the Chicago Marathon in October 2013 where she planned to qualify for Boston, Baker was bed-ridden and sick. After the training she'd put in, it was devastating. Her pastor, Paul Alf from Grace Free Methodist Church, came and prayed with her.
"I decided if it's (God's) will, I'll get better," Baker said. The next day, she felt her prayers were answered and although she hadn't trained all week, she finished in 3 hours, 33 minutes - 12 minutes better than what she needed to qualify. The finish line brought tears of joy.
Registration for Boston was full so Baker had to wait until September 2014 to register for the 2015 race. Because of her time, she was able to register on day two - she was happy to get in, but knew that her entire training would have to be through an Illinois winter.
She continued with her 5 a.m. runs and in December, began training for the second time.
However, this time things didn't go so well.
The winter runs were hard and Baker avoids the treadmill at all costs if she can. She turned 40 - and chalked the struggle up to getting older. She never ran more than 12 miles during her entire training period.
Thirty-five days before the Boston Marathon, bigger problems came her way. She went in for a regular physical and found out that her hemoglobin and iron were at dangerously low levels. Although she felt tired, she never thought anything was seriously wrong, but doctors refused to release her for the race if her levels didn't come up. She changed up her diet and immediately began supplements, and doctors were shocked to learn that in two weeks, she was able to raise her levels to a safe number.
Ray was by her side, sleeping, when she got the news that sent her into hysterics.
"It was all part of God's master plan," Baker said. But at that moment, Baker didn't run. In fact, she decided to start walking.
She spent time with a transformation group through her church, hoping to slow down and focus - she wanted to catch up on things she'd been missing.
As the group walked, they prayed for God's healing to prepare Baker for her race.
Boston
The entire family, including Baker's mom, Rhonda, headed to Boston for the April 20 race. They were able to sightsee a little before heading to pick up her bib and jacket.
Baker said she felt almost out of place as a girl from Winslow, among such elite runners.
The night before the race, Baker realized she hadn't run in 35 days, and she went outside her hotel and did a slow-paced 1-mile jog. She knew that even if she had to jog or even walk the race, she simply wanted to finish. If she finished in 4 hours, she thought she would still be happy with herself.
Baker headed out alone to catch the train into unfavorable weather the morning of the marathon. It was 40 degrees, raining and the wind was blowing around 20 miles per hour. So many other runners were surrounded with family or friends, that Baker felt she, too, needed someone. It seemed at that same moment, a woman from Canada named Susannah appeared. They learned they were on the same wave, and spent the next three hours together talking through their experiences and tears. They decided they'd run together as long as they could.
"I knew I was meant to meet her," Baker said. "I needed that encouragement."
Susannah was prepared. Like so many others, she had a pace watch, electrolytes and other things with her to keep her hydrated and comfortable throughout the race. Baker had her shoes, her stick of Big Red and, like always, and just planned to listen to her body.
When they got to the start line, a local church had posted a verse that Baker lives by and carries with her: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
When she read it, it was all she needed.
Baker said at that moment she felt better than she had in nine months. She was focused on Susannah. She kept with her until mile 22, where she was on track to be under an 8-minute mile. She stopped to get a drink and her left thigh cramped up. She waved her friend to go on, and jogged the last four miles of the race. Seeing the finish line - in Baker's words - was like seeing heaven.
"It was amazing," Baker said. "It was a crazy journey."
She wouldn't find out until talking to Ray later that she re-qualified by three minutes and a time of 3:42. She needed a 3:45 to qualify.
Her family waited for her at the finish line, but after stopping, Baker realized just how wet and cold she was and needed to get warm.
Baker said it was the outpouring of love, comments, e-mails, texts and calls on the way home that made her so humbled by the entire experience. So many in Baker's life had taken the time to track her all day - and the outpouring of love from community members, family and friends was overwhelming.
Registration for the next Boston Marathon will be in September and although it won't be easy to register with her new time, Baker is hopeful she'll get in and do it all over. Her next goal is to run the New York City Marathon and, eventually, maybe even complete "The Big Six" marathons, which will include venues in Tokyo, London and Berlin.
"I want people to be encouraged. I want them to know if there's something you want, you can do it," Baker said.
And that message might just be passed on sooner than she thinks.
On the plane ride home, Emma said to her Mom: "I want to run in the Boston Marathon."
And Baker explained it was more than just saying you want to do it. But most likely, Emma knew.
But four years after her running journey began, after qualifying for and competing in the recent 26-mile Boston Marathon, 40-year-old Baker said running is no longer just her thing. The experience has become a family affair and a spiritually-based journey with an indefinite end. And after a tough battle with her health, a will to push through and a last-minute decision to simply go for it - a determined Baker has re-qualified and has big goals for her future in running.
How it began
Running wasn't always a part of Baker's life. The 1993 Orangeville High School graduate called basketball her sport of choice and after college, she was busy raising her three children and working full time as the Chief Financial Officer at Citizens State Bank in Lena. She is also in her second term as the vice president for the Orangeville Board of Education.
But after a nudge from her brother, Baker participated in the Shamrock Shuffle near Chicago in 2011 with her sister, Kelli Pieper, just for fun.
It was the beginning of a love affair with running that Baker has since not let go of. She got home and immediately began looking at other area 5K races.
"God blessed me with an ability I didn't realize I had," Baker said.
That gift would take her and her family to several 5K races. Soon, husband Ray was running with her and not long after, their three children: Emma, 14; Zach, 12; and Leah, 10, now all participate.
It was her sister-in-law, Bethie Wessels, a long-time runner, who brought the appeal of the Boston Marathon to Baker. Baker turned down Wessels' offer to join her, but after seeing her finish, Baker was inspired to try it for herself.
She followed a rigorous 18-week schedule to prepare, and at three different times during her training, she ran 20 miles.
Finding the time to train and the will to stick to it came somewhat easily for Baker, who said she is a "doer" type of person.
And her encouraging family was a big part of her sticking with it. Her husband, Ray, is one of her biggest supporters.
"He was always saying 'just go'," Baker said. "It was awesome."
During those long hours of training, Baker said, the time was no longer a getaway for her. It had shifted completely into a worship time.
"I need to keep my mind busy," Baker said. "It became a spiritual time for me."
Cold, dark winter mornings involved Baker bundling up, listening to contemporary Christian music with a piece of Big Red gum and putting her hope and faith into something bigger than herself.
"It wasn't running for me anymore," Baker said. "It was running for Him."
Challenges
A week before the Chicago Marathon in October 2013 where she planned to qualify for Boston, Baker was bed-ridden and sick. After the training she'd put in, it was devastating. Her pastor, Paul Alf from Grace Free Methodist Church, came and prayed with her.
"I decided if it's (God's) will, I'll get better," Baker said. The next day, she felt her prayers were answered and although she hadn't trained all week, she finished in 3 hours, 33 minutes - 12 minutes better than what she needed to qualify. The finish line brought tears of joy.
Registration for Boston was full so Baker had to wait until September 2014 to register for the 2015 race. Because of her time, she was able to register on day two - she was happy to get in, but knew that her entire training would have to be through an Illinois winter.
She continued with her 5 a.m. runs and in December, began training for the second time.
However, this time things didn't go so well.
The winter runs were hard and Baker avoids the treadmill at all costs if she can. She turned 40 - and chalked the struggle up to getting older. She never ran more than 12 miles during her entire training period.
Thirty-five days before the Boston Marathon, bigger problems came her way. She went in for a regular physical and found out that her hemoglobin and iron were at dangerously low levels. Although she felt tired, she never thought anything was seriously wrong, but doctors refused to release her for the race if her levels didn't come up. She changed up her diet and immediately began supplements, and doctors were shocked to learn that in two weeks, she was able to raise her levels to a safe number.
Ray was by her side, sleeping, when she got the news that sent her into hysterics.
"It was all part of God's master plan," Baker said. But at that moment, Baker didn't run. In fact, she decided to start walking.
She spent time with a transformation group through her church, hoping to slow down and focus - she wanted to catch up on things she'd been missing.
As the group walked, they prayed for God's healing to prepare Baker for her race.
Boston
The entire family, including Baker's mom, Rhonda, headed to Boston for the April 20 race. They were able to sightsee a little before heading to pick up her bib and jacket.
Baker said she felt almost out of place as a girl from Winslow, among such elite runners.
The night before the race, Baker realized she hadn't run in 35 days, and she went outside her hotel and did a slow-paced 1-mile jog. She knew that even if she had to jog or even walk the race, she simply wanted to finish. If she finished in 4 hours, she thought she would still be happy with herself.
Baker headed out alone to catch the train into unfavorable weather the morning of the marathon. It was 40 degrees, raining and the wind was blowing around 20 miles per hour. So many other runners were surrounded with family or friends, that Baker felt she, too, needed someone. It seemed at that same moment, a woman from Canada named Susannah appeared. They learned they were on the same wave, and spent the next three hours together talking through their experiences and tears. They decided they'd run together as long as they could.
"I knew I was meant to meet her," Baker said. "I needed that encouragement."
Susannah was prepared. Like so many others, she had a pace watch, electrolytes and other things with her to keep her hydrated and comfortable throughout the race. Baker had her shoes, her stick of Big Red and, like always, and just planned to listen to her body.
When they got to the start line, a local church had posted a verse that Baker lives by and carries with her: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
When she read it, it was all she needed.
Baker said at that moment she felt better than she had in nine months. She was focused on Susannah. She kept with her until mile 22, where she was on track to be under an 8-minute mile. She stopped to get a drink and her left thigh cramped up. She waved her friend to go on, and jogged the last four miles of the race. Seeing the finish line - in Baker's words - was like seeing heaven.
"It was amazing," Baker said. "It was a crazy journey."
She wouldn't find out until talking to Ray later that she re-qualified by three minutes and a time of 3:42. She needed a 3:45 to qualify.
Her family waited for her at the finish line, but after stopping, Baker realized just how wet and cold she was and needed to get warm.
Baker said it was the outpouring of love, comments, e-mails, texts and calls on the way home that made her so humbled by the entire experience. So many in Baker's life had taken the time to track her all day - and the outpouring of love from community members, family and friends was overwhelming.
Registration for the next Boston Marathon will be in September and although it won't be easy to register with her new time, Baker is hopeful she'll get in and do it all over. Her next goal is to run the New York City Marathon and, eventually, maybe even complete "The Big Six" marathons, which will include venues in Tokyo, London and Berlin.
"I want people to be encouraged. I want them to know if there's something you want, you can do it," Baker said.
And that message might just be passed on sooner than she thinks.
On the plane ride home, Emma said to her Mom: "I want to run in the Boston Marathon."
And Baker explained it was more than just saying you want to do it. But most likely, Emma knew.
