FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ventura Resident to Run Her 90th Marathon at the Pasadena Marathon
presented by Kaiser Permanente This Weekend
Becoming a marathoner has completely changed Tawni Gomes life and she has
become an inspiration to others
Pasadena, Calif. (March 21, 2009) — In 1996, Tawni Gomes had hit a low
point in her life. At age 32, she was out of shape, weighed over 300
pounds and was very unhappy. Now 45, Gomes is about to run her 90th
marathon this weekend – The Inaugural Pasadena Marathon presented by Kaiser
Permanente. She works out six days a week, is happy, healthy and weighs
140 pounds. Gomes explains, "I never had surgery. I lost my weight through
lots of blood, sweat and tears. It was a slow, deliberate process. A few
pounds a month."
What caused Gomes to change her life? "I was watching Oprah and she
inspired me to join the Arthritis Foundation "Joints in Motion" Training
Program," said Gomes. As a result she walked her first marathon, the
Honolulu Marathon, in 1997. In that first year alone, she lost
approximately 100 pounds. The next year, she did the Portland Marathon. In
1998, she did the Dallas White Rock Marathon and in 2000 she did about six
marathons. That was the start of her amazing journey and passion for
running.
Tawni is not an elite marathoner but the typical "back of the pack" runner.
Tawni mused, "I'm about a 6-hour marathoner. It's not about competing, but
keeping healthy. It brings me joy – it's my social network. I've completely
changed my lifestyle."
This weekend, the Pasadena Marathon presented by Kaiser Permanente will be
number 90 for Gomes. That represents 2,358 miles total, not counting the
additional thousands of miles completed during the training process. "I've
come full circle. I started training in the Arthritis Foundation Joints in
Motion program and now work as a development manager for Joint Juice -
Glucosamine Fitness Water." As a result of Tawni's passion, Joint Juice
will be donating about 10,000 bottles of water for finishers in Pasadena.
Tawni is an avid health proponent and loves to share her success to
motivate others. You can find more information about Tawni at her own
website www.NoMoreExcuses.net
Over 8,000 runners, walkers and cyclists will converge on Sunday morning to
compete in the Marathon, Half Marathon, Bike Tour, 5K and Fun Run/Walk.
The Full and Half Marathon will start at 6:30 AM. Elite runners should
complete the full marathon in approximately two hours, with elite
half-marathoners completing the race in just over an hour. The bulk of the
marathon finishers should have completed the race by noon. The Start/Finish
Line is located directly in front of Pasadena City College on Colorado
Boulevard in Pasadena. The Finish Line Festival is from 6 AM – 2 PM on the
college campus, and is free to the public. Thousands of spectators will
gather at the Start/Finish Line and along the course.
All athletes are expected to pick up their race packets at the Health &
Fitness Expo located at the Pasadena Convention Center which will be open
on Friday, March 20, from noon - 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 21, from 9
a.m. - 6 p.m. Participants' friends and family are also encouraged to
attend the Expo which features a variety of health and fitness related
vendors.
Event sponsors for 2009 include: Kaiser Permanente, Think Marketing, The
Westin Pasadena, Tiffany & Co., Pasadena Star-News, Crown City News, 100.3
The Sound, Gel Communications, Pasadena City College, Pasadena Convention &
Visitors Bureau, Ridelinks, Tieman's Fusion Coffees, Nesquik, FRS,
PowerBar, Ultima, Whole Foods, Vons, California School of Culinary Arts,
Joint Juice, PMX, Coyle Reproductions, Inc., Smartbox, and Ware Disposal
Co., Inc. For more information, visit www.pasadenamarathon.org.
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