Marathons, Ironmans and More Keep This North Reading Mom Running

You may have seen North Reading resident Lori Mitchener running through town with an American Flag after the marathon bombings. Maybe your kids go to school with her three children. Many people know her, but some do not know that she is pushing boundaries everyday while raising three kids and working as a professor teaching environmental science and renewable energy.

Mitchener was present at the Boston Marathon this year, and finished minutes before the bombs went off. The next day, she ran through town with her marathon bib and American Flag. Her latest accomplishments? An Ironman triathlon at Mont-Tremblant and 50k trail race in Weston.

She ran the 50k trail race in the Jericho Woods in Weston shortly after the Boston Marathon.

"The 50k was all about finishing," she said. "It was a great day and when I finally finished after 6:49, my kids were with me, and it was a hugely emotional first finish line after Boston." 

Just this month, she completed the Ironman triathlon in under 14 hours. Even with those accomplishments, she is training for three additional marathons later this year: Smuttynose in Hampton, N.H. on Oct. 6, NYC Marathon on Nov. 3 and the Roxbury Marathon on Dec. 14, in Litchfield, CT.

"The Ironman was great. I met my goal, I hoped for 14 hours and squeaked in at 13:58. I am hooked, I will be doing the inaugural Ironman Chattanooga next year, but first I have three more marathons this year," she said.

Mitchener will also swim across Boston Harbor as part of Sharkfest on Sept. 22. Last but not least, is "the army ten miler" that she will run with her daughter in Washington DC in late October.

Never mind running, I'm tired just writing this about her! Hats off to you, Lori!