Page 57 - HCPVitalityChronicles

Completing the New York Marathon Leaves Julie Castongia Eager

for Next Fitness Goals

Julie Castongia, Director, IDX Sys- Gatorade and salt. But she com-
tems at HCP Pacific Gateway, can’t pleted the marathon by walking the
remember a time when exercise last 10 miles. “A lot of it is mental. I
wasn’t important to her. She ran told myself, ‘Just keep moving.’ I re-
her first marathon in Frederick- ally wanted to finish.”
town, Canada, in 2008. Since then
she has run marathons in Burling- Now that her neck is healed, Cas-
ton, Vermont; Disney World Florida; tongia, a Vitality member at HCP
and, most recently, the New York since the program was offered,
Marathon in early November. The plans to get back into CrossFit train-
New York Marathon wasn’t without ing. She would also love to try yoga.
a hitch, but she completed it and is An avid hiker, she would like to do
ready for the next challenge. Julie Castongia, left, at the starting line of the New the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike
York Marathon on Staten Island, November 3, 2013.
She is pictured with her boyfriend’s sister, Lynn in May and the Rock ‘n’ Roll
Part of her training prior to the Schnapp, who ran with her. Marathon in San Diego next June.
event was boot camp/Cross Fit. However, an unexpected
neck injury in May took her out of commission for training Castongia first came to marathon running at the age of 43,
for six to eight weeks. “Because of this, my training time for thinking it was a good life goal to have. She and her good
the marathon was very short,” Castongia recalled. She built friend in Maine started running marathons together. “We
up time on the treadmill, even though she prefers to work trained on our respective coasts, and we ran the first three
out outside. Because of the time change, it was already dark together,” she said.
after work, so it was hard to find time to train outdoors.
Although finding the time to be consistent with exercise is a
But Castongia persisted. “I did a 10K a month before the challenge, Castongia feels there are few things as important
marathon,” she said, adding that at this point she was wavering as taking care of your health. “Being active helps your per-
about taking part in the marathon. “It felt so good, and I felt re- spective on things,” she said. “It feels good to have a goal
ally confident. Being in that atmosphere motivated me for the and to take proactive steps. I definitely feel connected and
last month before the event.” But she still wasn’t sure she could clarity when I am working out.”
do it; her longest practice run outdoors had been eight miles.
Although she would love to improve her time in her next
When race day came, she was ready to go. At mile 19, marathon, she is just proud of her accomplishment. “My
though, her calves started feeling funny, and she felt cold. goal was to finish healthy. I did that.”
She had to go to the medical tent to stretch, as well as have

All information in the Vitality program is HIPAA protected. Members have chosen to share their personal health accomplishments.
For more information about Vitality, visit www.powerofvitality.com. Contact Janet Galli for further program information.