Instead of a crazy night downtown, bride-to-be Kristen Landry has picked an even better spot for her bachelorette party.
"This year I will be running in Sole Sisters with a bunch of my closest friends and family. It will be my party and my celebration."
Last year Landry ran in the all-women, 5K race, too.
It was her first run in any event.
"What a wonderful first running experience. It was not intimidating at all. It was so welcoming."
But Landry was not always part of a running community.
Growing up she faced many challenges.
The biggest hurdle to her athletic life was living with a bone disorder that often resulted in pain and breaks.
"I would try different sports and would have fractures. Everything would come to a halt and it would take me time to get back into it."
Over the years her bones grew stronger and so did her determination.
She began to spend a lot of time in the woods hiking.
"And when I signed up last year for Sole Sisters I couldn't even run without stopping. But by last summer I had lost 40 pounds and I feel
great."
Landry was feeling great because she also was in love.
Landry met her fiance Jamie in 2011 and they began to run together.
"It was a way for us to get in shape. And then it became more than that. Running gave me more confidence."
Landry's career is working with adults with disabilities.
She has passed on her love for staying active to her clients and also coaches swimming to Special Olympians.
"It has all been important in encouraging me to go on. I also had a mentor who was a true 'soul' sister."
Her professor at St. Francis Xavier University was Ottilia Chareka, who was murdered in March 2011.
"She knew I had physical challenges and a learning disability. She told me I would succeed not in spite of my struggles but because of them. She was an amazing presence and supported what all women could be."
At Sole Sisters this year Landry will be including her bridesmaids and Mom along for the 5K journey.
The Weekly News is a proud sponsor of Sole Sisters 2013.
Race is sold out
Sole Sisters June 8, 2013 at 6 p.m.
The 2013 Sole Sisters 5K race sold out five months before race-day! Organizers cannot expand the size of the race this year, and do not have the resources to maintain a cancellation list. For logistics and safety reasons, in order to run or walk in the race, women need proof of registration by wearing a Sole Sisters race bib - anyone not wearing a bib isn't permitted to participate this year. By capping the size of the race, they are able to ensure a quality experience. But you can still be involved! They still need at least 100 volunteers and encourage women to sign-up to support the 2,500 Sole Sisters in the race.
Here's the link to volunteer sign-up: https://www.events.runningroom.com/applications/volunteerregistration.php?raceId=8203&vrindex=3
If you cannot commit time in the days leading up to or during race-day, then come and cheer along the sidelines, make signs, bring noisemakers and celebrate these amazing women! Males are encouraged to volunteer at the race in lots of fun capacities, or cheer along the route and join the runners at the post-race party.
