Memorial Half Marathon Runner

Charlie Clemmer
In July of 2002, we had a very close family friend and two of her seven children killed in a car accident coming home from vacation. I started thinking about how life would be for her children without their mother. I took a long look at my life and, at 392 lbs., I realized that my children would be in for the same if I didn’t make every effort to do something about my weight. Then I started looking around and realized that there were no fat old people. My kids are 2 & 6 years old. I thought I might never see them graduate or marry, never see my grand kids.

I started dieting and walking. I could barely walk around the community center in San Juan one time. Then I got it to two, then three. Now I can run about 4 miles (drove it in the car to see) without stopping. I’m not fast, but I have never stopped or walked. So far I’ve lost 110 lbs. Give or take 1-2 lbs. depending on the day. I started reading about running. I read an article that said if you think about running in a 5K or 10K, the first step is to find one. This is the one I found. First one and I’m pretty excited! Just to finish this will be a thrill. I couldn’t even run a mile when I was in high school.

Charlie update: Charlie was running late the morning of the event and jumped in the half marathon start. He ended up running almost 7 miles!! Good job Charlie! Keep up the good work!

Robyn Cleland
My story starts out like many others. I’m 42 years old, mom to 6, married to a wonderful guy. But what I really want to share with you is the past 2-1/2 years. In December 2000, I was in a car accident. Our car rolled 4 times. I suffered a severe concussion, fractured skull, brain damage, fractured neck (c-6 and c-7), and a broken collarbone just to start off with! I was told I should have died.

Then when they did my neck surgery, they told me my spinal cord was nicked and looked like a “Z.” I should have been a quadriplegic. I had to learn to do so many things over again, including walking. I was hospitalized for about 2 months and sent home with help. I could barely walk much less care for my family. It took several months to begin to learn how to cope with this new way of life. I couldn’t lift anything heavier than 5 pounds. My neck would not turn to the sides. I couldn’t look up. I was in constant pain. I have permanent double vision. It took a long time to be able to tolerate crowds of any size because of the brain injury. I felt so overwhelmed.

About a year ago, I decided I had been depressed about these new hurdles for long enough. I decided I had to do something about this. I have never been one to accept defeat. I figured out a way to get whatever the latest need is. My family calls it “The Robyn Brain.” So, I took stock of all my “walls”: I was extremely obese; I have double vision; my neck hurts constantly. I wanted some semblance of a normal life back. I knew there were things I could not change, so I decided to work on the things I could. I decided to loose weight. About 6 months ago, I decided walking would help my weight loss efforts.

I learned that, with my neck pain, I can’t stroll along at a leisurely pace. It takes too much effort. But I can walk fast! It’s like if I hurry and get to the end, I can let my neck relax! So I started walking. To date I have lost 70 pounds. My goal is to loose another 100. I figure it took 42 years to gain. If I want to loose it healthfully and keep it off, I need to so it slowly. I’m hoping 3 years will do it!

I still have pain. I still avoid large crowds. I still have weight to lose. But I’m much better than I was and know it will improve with time. I’ve proven to myself that I don’t have to be a victim. When I heard about the Saddleback Memorial race, there was never a doubt in my mind that I had to do it. You see, after the accident, I lived for 6 weeks in the Saddleback Memorial Rehab Center. If it had not been for them, I would not have accomplished all I have.

Thank you Dr. Lynn and all of the rehabilitation center nursing staff and therapy staff. You are all awesome. Look for me in the 5K. I’m bib number 639! Next year maybe I’ll try the half-marathon!

Robert Kohler
I carried two 3′x5′ house flags in today’s event (1/2 marathon).

Since the 9/11 tragedy, I usually carry just one on my runs. Today was my 12th event in which I try to remember or memorialize some event. Since today was Memorial Day I was doing that for all veterans who died. I’m a veteran of the Korean Conflict. I carried it on Veterans day in 2001 in the LA Marathon and again on the Run for the Cure in Newport Beach last year. I carry in all my LA and LB runs.

I carry the flag every 11th of the month on my daily run to remember the events of 9/11. I have a license plate that is personalized with the numbers “911 01″ on it.

Julia Cross
This is my 5th year of participation in this event. The first 3 yrs, I participated in the 5k, and last year I completed the half marathon. I will also participate in this year’s half marathon and anticipate a finishing time of 1 hr 35 min.

At nearly 40 years old, I have been running for 20 years. Eight years ago, thanks to Dr. Clyde Wesp (Southern Orange County Pediatrics), I met Dr. Norris-Walsh (Orange Coast Women’s Medical Group). With her help, I gave birth to 3 beautiful babies (2 of whom were born at Saddleback). Three years ago, at 5 weeks post-partum, I completed the Flo-Jo 5k event pushing my youngest in the stroller.

All three of my children are my training partners. We run 6 miles 5 days a week together in the Back Bay of Newport Beach. I began with one baby in a jogging stroller, then had 2 babies in a double stroller, and now I’m back to only one in a single jogging stroller. The 2 older girls (7 and 5) now ride their bicycles while I run with little brother in the stroller cheering them on. Their favorite ride is on Saturday mornings when we run the Back Bay loop covering 12 miles in about an hour and a half. We photograph birds, pet horses, count lizards and resolve life issues. For us, running is a true family event.

In addition to a couple of full marathons throughout the year, the event we look forward to the most is the annual Flo-Jo run, now called the Saddleback Memorial Half Marathon. We look forward to finding our favorite doctors and staff from OCWMG and SOCPA at this event. Thanks for keeping this event alive!

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