Exeter woman running for a cause

BK McDonough does not call herself a runner, but she admits she’s been running a lot lately.

The government affairs specialist for Caron Treatment Centers, South Heidelberg Township, started with a Couch to 5K plan last year and has worked her way up to races as long as 50 miles.

When the 46-year-old Exeter Township resident talks about running, she doesn’t emphasize the time it takes to run. Instead, she focuses on the benefits that come from all those miles.

In running and life, she said, it’s important to emphasize the positive.

“It doesn’t have to be pretty,” she said. “You just have to start. If you walk more than you run, you’re still moving.”

This week, McDonough is taking on her longest race yet. She’s in China for the Gobi March.

The 155-mile race started Sunday. The weeklong event, organizers say, takes runners through pastures and yurt villages, river beds, sand dunes, rough Gobi terrain and the sandy Black Gobi Desert.

Through the race, McDonough is hoping to raise $20,000 for Caron to help people get access to substance use disorder treatment while ending the stigma surrounding addiction.

“Addiction is not a moral failing,” she said. “It’s a chronic illness, and it needs to be treated as a chronic illness.”

When McDonough ran a 10K at Gring’s Mill in Spring Township last August, she felt it was quite the accomplishment.

This race, she acknowledges, will be her biggest test.

Getting started

McDonough started running after a friend died from cancer last year. She said the sudden news really shook her.

“I just felt like a horrible friend,” McDonough said. “I would think I need to call her. I need to call her. All of a sudden that was no longer an option.”

The death forced McDonough to think about her life and what it means to be grateful.

“That started me on this journey,” she said. “We have opportunities in front of us to be better people every day.”

Getting up and moving is one way that she recognizes her life’s blessings. She started running toward the middle of last year, and she just keeps going, tackling longer and longer race distances as the months pass.

“Gratitude is an action word, and this for me is gratitude in action,” she said of her running. “I am healthy today. I was able to get up and get out of bed, walk my dog. I help my kids get ready for school and show up for work.”

Running a marathon, ultra-marathons and now the Gobi race gives her the chance to test her limits, she said.

“This was one of those bucket list things for me,” she said. “It gives me an opportunity to teach my daughters about taking risks, not just to fail or succeed, but to try. It’s the importance of making a commitment and having the commitment to show up for life fully.”

Training

Over the span of the year, McDonough has gained confidence as she has built up her miles, running with the Pagoda Pacers group and entering local races in distances from 10K to 50 miles.

She said she doesn’t run fast, but she focuses on moving forward. Some races may take her the better part of a day, but she just keeps going.

Thus far, as she’s built up her training, she’s avoided the lingering pains that can come with adding mileage too fast.

“I cannot believe I’ve been relatively injury free,” she said “I’ve demanded a lot of this old weary body.”

The race in the desert will be a family affair. Her husband, Richie, and their kids, Emi 14, and Lulu 12, will be making the trip to watch her reach the end of the race.

Richie said he remains in awe of his wife as she continues to run farther and farther. He said he’s been overwhelmed by the support from the local running community, as well.

He said his wife is setting an incredible example for their family, he said.

“It’s been a journey for the whole family,” he said. “We’ve already become better people for it. For me to even think of going to China, it’s amazing for my kids to have this experience.”

In preparation for the race, McDonough has been carrying around a 22-pound backpack. She’ll need it to carry her meals, supplies, blister kit, sleeping bag and other accessories during the race.

“A friend of mine told me, fear and excitement start from the same place,” she said. “You might as well just go with feeling excited.”

Tips for new runners

For people looking to get started running, it’s all about just taking those first steps, McDonough said.

“Don’t set expectations of what you’ll think will happen,” she said. “Just take the risk. Take the first steps and the rest will come easier.”

Sometimes a change in perspective can mean everything.

“I’ve had mornings where I think I have to run today,” she said. “It’s more like, you know what, I get to run today. Life is good. Even on a bad day, life is good. You can’t take that for granted.”

She said it’s not about running a mile or 150 miles. You’ve just got to keep going.

“One foot in front of the other and you’ll be OK,” she said.

Contact Matthew Nojiri: 610-371-5062 or mnojiri@readingeagle.com.