Client Profile - Jayne Lancaster

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be calling myself a runner, but thanks to Judy Heller, I am! I’m 46 years old and had spent most of my adult life working sedentary jobs. I had never been athletic (really disliked PE) and the thought of nearly any kind of exercise did not appeal to me. Needless to say, I was a very unfit person.

At the age of 35 I developed psoriatic arthritis (much like rheumatoid arthritis) that changed my life dramatically. It soon became very difficult to move without sharp stabbing pains in many of my joints and I began to fear a life of immobility and pain. My disease progressed rapidly, to the point that I needed aids to raise myself from a seated position, could barely get up from the floor, and sometimes needed help getting up stairs. Opening doors and stepping up onto a curb were painful and cumbersome tasks. The "knife-like" pain stabbing my shoulders, hips and knees was excrutiating!

Upon seeking help from a rheumatologist, I was eventually diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I knew a little about this disease, since I had been a medical transcriptionist for several years, mostly for rheumatologists, but nothing prepared me for the excruciating pain involved and the altered lifestyle I had to live as a result of the disease.
But thanks to modern medicine, after several trials and failures over a few years, my rheumatologist found a medicine that gave me my life back. I was again pain free almost all of the time, with only occasional reminders of arthritis lurking in the background.

I decided to put my good fortune and improved health to work and turn my unfit body around. I felt like I’d been given a second chance and this time I wasn’t going to let go of it. So in October 2000 I began walking for fitness and have never looked back.

By the time I met Judy Heller in June 2001 I’d become a walk-a-holic, walking 8-13 miles every day. I was enjoying newfound fitness, a level I had never enjoyed before in my entire life. Judy began working with me, taming the “walk-a-holic” and molding me into the athlete I’ve since become. She has always been patient with me, even though I know I’ve frustrated her many times by trying to do too much, too soon. I learned lessons the hard way, lessons I could have learned much more easily if I’d only listened to Judy. (It turns out she’s always right and I’ve since learned to listen.)

By August 2001 my shoes developed wings and I began to fly…….uh, I mean, run! I couldn’t believe it – me, a runner! Ask anybody who knew me before – I’d be the last person they’d ever think would become a runner. But there I was, and there also was Judy cautiously guiding me safely along in my new endeavor, making sure I listened to my body and especially my arthritic joints.

I had been training for the 2001 Dublin Marathon (originally planned to walk it) and was to use 20 miles of the 2001 Portland as a training walk/run. Once I got started though, I just had to finish, so ran (70%) and walked (30%) of the Portland Marathon with a finish time of 5:07. I knew this went against Judy’s advice and this time I had been very lucky not to have injured myself, for which we were both grateful. Judy should have “fired” me on the spot, but didn’t. She continued to work with me and one month later I ran the entire Dublin Marathon with a finish time of 4:36.

I continued running and in November completed the Silver Strand Half Marathon with a goal of finishing in less than 2 hours. It was a good day – my finish time was 1:57! That’s when I got to thinking…….hmmmmm, is it possible I could work hard, continue to improve, and qualify for the Boston Marathon?

Running continued to improve and in the Spring of 2002 I again began working with Judy toward my goal of qualifying for Boston. We both knew it was an aggressive goal, but I was determined and she provided me with a sound training program that kept me healthy and improved my fitness. After months of training, I stood at the starting line of the 2002 Portland Marathon, confident and ready. I needed to qualify in less than 4 hours. The run went well and Judy was at the finish line, waiting for me, trying not to be nervous as the clock ticked ever closer to that 4:00 mark. As I started up the last hill before the turn to the finish, I began to smile from ear to ear – I just couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. When I turned the corner toward the finish line, Judy was there. I looked at the clock – it said 3:48 – then I looked at her – I was going to Boston!!! I was so excited! It was so good to see her bright smiling face. She was as excited as I was!!

She designed a program for me with the tough Boston course in mind, including a lot of hill work. She weighed the balance of the necessary training vs. what my joints could take and came up with a plan that got me to the Boston Marathon starting line healthy and prepared. She even accompanied me to the marathon, was at the 17-mile mark (even ran a few blocks with me there), and at the finish line. Now that’s a dedicated coach!!

The Boston experience was awesome and I owe my being there to Judy Heller. Without her expertise and guidance, I likely would have had injuries, burnout, or any number of other problems along the way. Judy is very knowledgeable and is always willing to listen to your ideas or concerns. She never hesitates to give you well-researched advice and tips. She's demanding (in the nicest sort of way) but patient. She never asks you to do more than you can do, but helps you do the best you can. They just don’t come any finer than Judy Heller!

Jayne Lancaster

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