Nancy Klees isn’t exactly your typical grandmother.
While others may be busy knitting sweaters or baking cookies, this 68-year-old Addison resident was out running the Boston Marathon ? for the second time.
Klees finished the 26.2-mile event held April 21 in 5 hours 34 minutes 48 seconds. She finished 21,632nd out of 21,963 runners and was one of only 160 females age 60-69 to compete.
‘My time was terrible,? she said. ‘I was really bummed.?
Normally, Klees should be able to run the event in 4 hours 45 minutes or less ? that’s the qualifying time for a woman her age.
Unfortunately, this year’s severe winter weather prevented her from engaging in her usual training routine.
‘I was so out of condition,? Klees explained. ‘I’d had such a bad winter this year with all the snow and the ice. I couldn’t keep up my running like I normally do. Some days you couldn’t even get out it was so bad.?
Despite her unsatisfactory time, Klees was just happy to be out there enjoying two of things she loves ? running and spending time with her son, John Klees.
John, a 45-year-old attorney who lives in Grand Rapids, ran the marathon in 3 hours 33 minutes 59 seconds and finished 7,688th.
Although she’s been running for more than 40 years, it was her son who ‘inspired? Klees to start running marathons.
‘Had it not been for him, I probably would never have started running marathons,? she said. ‘If he wasn’t running, I might not do it.??
Looking for a way to keep fit, John started running in 2000 after talking to his mother about her passion for the sport.?
‘He really got into it,? she said. ‘Right away, he started training for marathons.?
In addition to Boston, John’s run marathons in Chicago, Arizona, Washington D.C. and New York. ‘He’s run quite a few of the big ones,? Klees said.
In 2004, at her son’s request, Klees ran her first marathon with him in Grand Rapids. Not only did she finish, but she took first place in her age group.
Since then, Klees has run in the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon in Detroit (2005), which qualified her to run in the 2006 Boston Marathon.
Klees enjoys the ‘sense of accomplish ment? she feels after running a marathon.
Running is a big part of Klees? daily routine.
She typically runs a daily average of eight miles Monday through Friday (not on weekends) along Barr and Drahner roads.
Being ‘out in the fresh air? and soaking up all the natural beauty of her rural surroundings, invigorates Klees? body and frees her mind. From the solitude of the run to the perceived remoteness of the area, every journey is like a mini-vacation that leaves her rejuvenated.
‘It’s like being up north,? said Klees, noting she and her husband of 51 years, Gerard, have lived in Addison for 21 years.
Admittedly, there are some days when Klees doesn’t feel like running, but she pushes herself to go anyway.
‘When I get back, I’m so glad I went,? she said. ‘You just feel so good. It’s kind of my perk-up.?
It’s the freedom and flexibility that makes running so appealing to Klees.
‘You can do it anytime you want,? she said. ‘I can do it in the morning. I can do it at night.?
Amazingly, Klees runs more now than she did when she was younger.
‘I’ve always felt that as you get older, if you don’t use it, you lose it,? she said.
Klees plans to run in next year’s Boston Marathon, but first she must achieve a qualifying time in this year’s Detroit Marathon, which will be held in October.
Good luck, Nancy.
We’ll see you at the finish line!