Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, March 13, 2020 ASKS | from page 17 Q: How did you get involved in marathon running? A: One year, during the 5K for Samaritans, I had overheard somebody talking about how they are part of their marathon team. And I really didn’t know much about the marathon at the time. Like I said, I’m not somebody who is so involved in it that. This is my first marathon. And I said to myself, what bigger platform than to raise awareness for Samaritans and to carry on my cousin’s memory than enter the Boston Marathon. I couldn’t think of a better thing to do, so I looked into it, and last year I missed the deadline to apply by, like, a landslide. And they said, “You know, Stephanie, sorry, we’ve already selected our runners for this year. Maybe try next year.” So, this is really for me two years in the making for me – of wanting to do it. Q: And why Boston? A: I mean, we live here. It’s the most prestigious marathon in the world. And having my cousin work for the Mass. Statehouse for that long – I can’t think of a better way to honor him or a better marathon. Q: How long did your cousin work at the Statehouse? A: Over two decades. He lived here. This is our city – where Teddy grew up – where I grew up, and it’s the most difficult marathon to get into, so I feel honored to even be selected. Q: When did you start running? AN AMATEUR BOXER: Once she runs in her first Boston Marathon, Stephanie Jandrys says, she would like to pick up her boxing gloves again and compete in “one more fight so I can end on a win.” (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) A: For both fight camps I 1. On March 13, 1781, what “ice giant” planet was discovered? (hint: 27 moons.) 2. If you kiss the Blarney Stone, what might you get? 3. Flora was the goddess of spring and flowers in what culture? 4. On March 14, 1900, Congress made gold the currency standard following gold strikes where? 5. Grape hyacinths are mostly what color? 6. What cowboy’s theme song was “Happy Trails”? 7. On March 15, 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first pro team in what sport? 8. In what year did Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade start: 1737, 1850 or 1912? 9. What does CQD stand for, which was the international distress telegraph signal before SOS? 10. On March 16, 1926, the first liquid fuel rocket took off in the town of Auburn in what state? 11. What is a bodhran? 12. On March 17, 1811, the first steamboat on western rivers, the New Orleans, was first launched; what Pennsylvania city was the site? 13. What is a greenback? 14. On March 18, 1837, what U.S. president was born? (Hint: last name is a city.) 15. What holy book starts “In the beginning”? 16. What 1991 movie’s title is also the name of a southern side dish? (Hint: green.) 17. On March 19, 1962, what performer released his first album, which was named after his pseudonym? 18. Supposedly, what did St. Patrick banish from Ireland? 19. What event on March 19, 2020, last occurred in 1896? 20. When was The Green Monster at Fenway Park painted green: 1912, 1934 or 1947? Answers below, please no cheating! FROM PAGE 19 did it. It’s called road work. And you get your cardio up to fight, to get into the ring. What’s funny, Mark, I always kind of fought my coaches on that one. They would say, “Hey, Steph, are you running?” And I would say, “Yeah” a little reluctantly. I always like to tell people that I’m in great boxing shape, great strength and conditioning shape. But running is a challenge for me, and I know and knew that going in. I also like to show people and women around me that you can do things that challenge you if you put the work in. Q: So, you have been running since your days as a young athlete? A: Oh yeah. But I always say it’s different. I was running for a purpose: to get to a soccer ball, to play defense, to get to a basketball. I like high intensity sports, so this form of running is a little bit different for me. I’ve never gone out really … gone out for a leisurely jog. That’s just not something I’ve ever done. Q: So, you have actually been running for how long now? A: Since 2017. And for about six months just to train for the marathon. Q: So, what do you get out of running? A: People often tell me they get a runner’s high. But, truthfully, this has been a grieving process for me as well. So I think a lot. When I run, it’s really helped me – not necessarily let Teddy go, because he’s always going to be there – but it’s really helped me come to terms with the loss that I’ve had, and really use this to move forward. I think about him. I laugh. Sometimes I cry. That’s what I think about. Q: Talk about the sense of accomplishment you get from this exhausting and physically challenging activity. Not everybody gets out and runs a Boston Marathon. A: It’s been wonderful. When I first started this process, I thought, can I even run it? I know I’ve done a half marathon. But can I run upwards of 15, 16, 17 miles? Is my body physically capable of doing that? And I guess the sense of accomplishment comes from knowing you absolutely can. You train and condition yourself for it. At one point, I never even thought that this would be in the cards for me. There are marathoners and there are people who run for charity. And I’m running for Teddy, so that sense of accomplishment is, like, “Wow. Look at all the work you have put in for six months.” And, yes, I can get there and get through it. Q: What do you think it’s going to be like at the start of the race? A: A lot of nerves and a lot of anxiety. I’m part of a wonderful program. And they kind of give you helpful hints along the way. One thing that the coach told us is not to weave – not to get so excited that you are weaving in and out of people – that it will eventually break up. But I’m sure I will be nervous, because, I always say, if you are not nervous something is wrong. Q: Do you have friends or running buddies you’ll be running with in this year’s marathon? A: You know, when I started this process, I was a little bit nervous because running is such an individualized thing. But I have become very close with two of the girls on my team, the Samaritans. And I really enjoy running with them, so I will be at the starting line with all of my teammates. I don’t necessarily expect to stay with them, but I know that I will have them there, because I have done the training runs with them. Q: How many miles do you do in an average year? A: I don’t know if I can break it down to an average year. Our program typically breaks it up into weeks. It started off as 14mile weeks. We’d be up to our highest at 42-mile weeks. Average that out and you got yourself a couple of hundred miles. Q: So, what do you think you’ve done now? How much? A: I’m up to about 40 miles a week. Q: Will you be doing other marathon races besides Boston? A: I thought Samaritans opened us up to be able to apply for the New York Marathon as well. But I don’t think that my body wants to do another marathon. I’m running through injury; and I’m running through things like that, so I would be more than happy to be granted this one and then call it quits. Q: So, this will be your first and last marathon? A: Yep. I got to start my life! Q: How will you prepare mentally and physically for this event? A: Nutrition is huge. Stressing is huge: getting enough sleep so that your muscles actually heal. Sometimes we work with physical therapists and things like that. Mental toughness. I think that came for me through boxing. I know, mentally, I am tough. It’s a question of will my body carry me for those 26 miles, and without injury. Q: Any special meal regimen that you will do before the race? Like carbo loading? A: Every Friday now before distance runs, I completely carb-load. I have my big pasta dish with protein. And I feel great, so probably, Sunday before the race, there will be lots of hydration and lots of pasta. Q: How many pairs of shoes do you go through during the course of a year? A: Something I didn’t know that was news to me: You typically put 400 miles on your shoes before they start to ASKS | SEE PAGE 19 1. 2. Uranus The gift of gab 3. Roman 4. 5. 8. The Klondike Blue 6. Roy Rogers 7. Baseball 1737 9. Come-Quick-Danger 10. Massachusetts 11. A handheld Irish drum 12. Pittsburgh 13. A dollar bill 14. Grover Cleveland 15. The Book of Genesis in the Bible 16. “Fried Green Tomatoes” 17. Bob Dylan 18. Snakes 19. The Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurring as early as the 19th instead of the 20th or 21st 20. 1947
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