Ortonville- Sheila Roque has shed more than 100 pounds in less than two years, with her primary motivation being her two daughters.
‘My journey has never been about weight loss, it’s been about taking care of my children,? said the village resident, 30. ‘When they started getting faster than me, I said, ‘I have to do something to keep up with them.? I always take them to the park, and when I couldn’t keep up with them, that was unacceptable.?
Now Roque’s children, Mary 8, and Emily, 6, have a hard time keeping up with their mom, who will run in ‘Bookin? It For Your Library? 5K Run & 5K Walk, planned for May 12 in the village. The kids may even choose to join her, running or walking the 5K (3.1 miles) distance, which begins at 9 a.m.,or participating in the Dewey Decimal Dash, a 1-mile event just for kids ages 12 and under, which starts at 8:30 a.m.
The race is a fundraiser for the Brandon Township Library, with all proceeds supporting library programs and materials. Robin Loughlin, a library employee who organized the race, hopes to get at least 200 people total participating in the event. She is excited to have plenty of walkers signing up as well as runners.
‘As long as you’re moving forward, it’s a good thing,? she said. ‘We’re trying to move the library forward, too.?
Loughlin herself started running about 19 years ago, and like Roque, her running was motivated by being a mother.
‘I started running because I could do it faster than walking and didn’t have much time with a baby,? recalled Loughlin. ‘It is really exciting for me when people participate in a 5K for the first time. I know I never would have done one if a friend had not encouraged me, because I didn’t even know what a 5K was… I got hooked and wanted to do more races. I enjoy cheering people on as much as I enjoy running and walking myself, so if we can encourage experienced runners, as well as first time 5K participants to come out for this run and walk, as well as the Dewey Decimal Dash, then this will be a huge success. It’s fun to see people set a goal and go for it!?
Roque began working out in June 2010 at Anytime Fitness, 250 N. Ortonville Road. She had endured a lifelong struggle with weight, but it didn’t become a major problem until she gained 60 pounds in her first pregnancy and then added an additional 30 pounds during her second pregnancy. At her heaviest, the 5?5? Roque weighed 264 pounds, which she maintained for about four years. She had no self-esteem and was very down on herself.
‘It’s hard to be that big, you always feel like someone’s watching you, everything you’re doing,? said Roque. ‘I had no self-confidence. I always watched what I ate, and walked and played with the kids, but it wasn’t enough to lose anything.?
Roque began taking medication for a thyroid issue around the time she began working out. She went to the gym three days a week and worked out seven days a week. During the first three weeks, she was suffering plenty of pain from the workouts and taking ibuprofen daily, but didn’t lose weight. At the six-week mark, however, she had lost 9 pounds.
‘After that, it just melted off,? said Roque, who has lost 103 pounds to date.
A year ago, Roque walked in the Martian Half-Marathon in Dearborn, with a time of 3 hours,12 minutes. She took up running soon after, and returned to the Martian a few weeks ago to run it in a time of 2:29:32.
After running ‘Bookin? It For Your Library,? Roque will have participated in about a dozen races.
‘I like getting the medals, and T-shirts and it’s fun,? she said. ‘If I keep doing the 5Ks, I can keep up with the kids.?
Packet pick-up and race day registration for ‘Bookin? It For Your Library? begins at 7 a.m., May 12. Cost is $15 with shirt if registered by May 9, or $12 with no shirt. Cost is $18 after May 9. Dewey Decimal Dash is $10 with T-shirt, $8 without, and $12 after May 9. Register at the library or www.goracego.com Details: Robin Loughlin at 248-892-2762.