A true 'marathon mom"

(Arizona - WABC, July 26, 2007) (WABC) -- In a week and a half, runners from around the area will be taking part in the New York City Half-Marathon. And there's no excuse for anyone to not get inspired to get running -- especially after this story, a single mother of three, full -time career woman and world class runner.

Eyewitness News reporter Michelle Charlesworth traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for an inspiring story.

Susan Loken is a world class runner, a single mom and a 44-year-old full-time professional. Spend five minutes in Susan's house and all signs literally tell you this woman is full of determination.

If you watch her run for five seconds, you'll be certain of it.

But she wasn't always this way. She started running at 36, after she had her third son.

"I didn't work out ... in high school ... never did anything ... no running injuries, nothing," Susan said.

Her first marathon came that first year.

"It was just shy of four hours ...you would have thought I won gold in the Olympics ... after that I felt I could do anything," she said.

Now her best is a 2:41 marathon. And in between shakes and chicken fingers, she gets up at 3:50 in the morning to beat the Phoenix heat and run a 6:20 mile -- uphill.

She's sponsored and gets a new pair of shoes every month.

"So I try to change 'em every 300 miles," she said.

And her trophies are in the garage. Her running successes, she says, she truly stores inside of her with great hope that her sons are paying attention.

"I think it's great ... they see my dedication ... getting up every morning and running," Susan said.

And at work they see her helping kids whose schools no longer offer phys-ed.

"I feel like the successes and failures I have had taught me ... and taken me to this point ... so I can help other people now," she said.

And susan's tackling it all and enjoying it one step at a time.

You can watch coverage of the Half-Marathon right here on Channel 7 on Sunday August 5th beginning at 7 a.m.

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•