'Challenging yourself and meeting that challenge'

SANDPOINT — When Sandpoint’s Kathaleen Parks crosses the finish line on Sunday during the nine-mile portion of the Big Sur Marathon in California, a handful of titanium rods and screws will as well.

Despite four lumbar surgeries and two shoulder surgeries, and a warning that if she wasn’t careful she might end up in a wheelchair, Parks decided to take up running for the first time in her life five years ago.

For Parks, a 55 year-old medical assistant at Pend Oreille Health, the inspiration came after she watched her daughter, Jennifer Slover, finish the Portland Marathon five years ago.

“The excitement on her face was something I wanted to feel. The joy and pride, just hearing her and how she challenged herself, I wanted to feel that,” remembers Parks, who has since run in four Bloomsdays and two Scenic Half Marathons and experienced a similar high. “The pride I saw in her face I now feel myself. It’s (running) helped me realize that I can lead a normal life even though I’ve got a screwed up body.”

Parks was a baker for many years, and the work took a toll on her back, which now holds a couple of titanium rods. Between her back and shoulder, she had six surgeries in the past 13 years. Which makes the fact that she now hopes to break one hour and 30 minutes in the nine-mile race on Sunday all the more amazing.

“I was told a few years ago that I might never walk again,” says Parks. “Now I’m held together with titanium rods.”

Parks has a special relationship with her daughter, as the two went to college together in Spokane and graduated in 2006. Slover surprised her mom by showing up to run a recent Bloomsday together, and now Parks will be on hand to support her daughter, who is running the 26.2 miles on Sunday. The Big Sur Marathon filled up within hours on the first day of registration, and features some ocean views that are breathtaking.

Parks clocked a 2:26.00 at the last Scenic Half Marathon, and continues to run lower times at Bloomsday each year. As long as her body holds up, she hopes to keep running into her 60’s, driven by the surge of pride and resulting confidence that crossing the finish line brings.

She calls the Scenice Half her baby, raving about the spectacular views and how well organized the race is. Parks is living proof that it’s never too late to tackle a new challenge, or start a hobby like running.

“It’s not something I thought I’d get into,” describes Parks. “Challenging yourself and meeting that challenge. It keeps my mind off the real pain that I’m in.”