Boston Marathon 2015 Runner Profile: Robin Stairman, 12-Year Participant

Name: Robin Stairman

Age: 45

Profession: Stay-at–home-mom, homemaker

Marathon experience: This will be my 12th year running the Boston Marathon.

Reason for Running: As a stay-at-home mom and a wife, I spent a lot of time with my girls and spouse. I became a runner in order to achieve a healthy balance while caring for my family and myself. Running has made me a happier, calmer person, and has helped me deal with stress and the ups and downs of daily life. I also run to maintain my weight and to become a healthier person both physically and mentally.

Charity: I am running for the American Liver Foundation to bring awareness to liver disease and the effects it causes on the body. I also have a close friend who is a survivor of liver disease. She had a liver transplant and is doing very well today.

Training tip: The most important tip is to have fun and you’ll want to continue. I run three times a week. Most of my runs throughout the year consisted of two hard workouts (4-6 miles) and one long run between 10 and 18 miles. I also weight train by participating in the Les Mills Body Pump Program. BODY PUMP is a fitness class that uses a barbell to shape, tone, and strengthen your entire body. Since I am more prone to injuries, the key for me is to focus on quality miles and not quantity. The weight training allows me to build a solid foundation of fitness, stamina, and strength. Both running and weight training were my tools to prepare my body to go the distance of 26.2 miles.

Bib number: 26599