Your Stories: Cathie Caimano
'I joke about it, but it's true: every starting line feels like the Olympics for me.'
Morning, friends! ☀️ Before we get into today’s amazingly inspirational interview with longtime THM member , I wanted to remind you that we’re running a race together in person this fall, here where I live at the Atlanta PNC 10-Miler on Sunday, October 19.
👉 Get all the details here and sign up for the race here.
Now, without further ado… today we hear from my friend Cathie Caimano, who started running in a consistent way during college yet never considered herself a “real” runner. Not until she met her now-husband Jeff, that is, when she was in her mid-forties.
Fast forward to today and she has accomplished things she never thought possible before then — including running the New York City Marathon, a 100-kilometer ultramarathon, and a 400-day-long running streak — all by simply sticking with it.
I know you’ll enjoy her story as much as I did — and, if you feel inspired to share yours, please know I’d love to hear it. Reply back by email or in the comments below, and we’ll go from there! — Terrell
So, let’s hear a little bit about you! Who are you, your age (if you’d like to share), where you’re from, what you do, etc.
I'm Cathie Caimano — also known as “Fr. Cathie.” I'm an Episcopal priest, and I live near Charlotte, N.C. (on the shores of beautiful Lake Norman). I'm 58 years old, married to Jeff, an accomplished triathlete and coach — though he has a day job! He also coaches me.
We have three grown kids, two daughters-in-law, and we're soon-to-be first time grandparents. We also have an adorable and thoroughly spoiled Great Dane.
What does your running routine look like? How many times a week, and how far do you run?
Right now I run four days a week, about 25 to 30 miles. I run 45 minutes on weekdays, 60+ minutes on Saturdays. I'm currently training for a half marathon, so I'll work my way up to two-plus hours of running on Saturdays.
Were you an athletic kid growing up? What are your early memories of what fitness and health were about?
I was an athletic kid. I grew up in the days of kids running around and playing outside, so we were constantly playing pick-up games of soccer, basketball, tag, etc., in the neighborhood where I lived. I played basketball in high school, and generally loved gym class.
How did you first get into running? Was there something that inspired you — like a performance at the Olympics, for example, or a runner you discovered by watching them on social media or TV? Or was there someone in your own life who inspired you to think, ‘maybe I can do this?’
I always loved running, and knew I was a runner. Somehow, though, when I was young — all the way through high school — I just thought I wasn't a “good enough” runner, so I never did it with any seriousness. I was never on the track or cross country team — I was too insecure to try.
But when I went to college, I started running every day! I was in Washington, D.C., so I would head out and run along the tow path on the Potomac, down to the museums (I would duck in and look at an exhibit, all sweaty, then run back). I loved to run through the zoo. It was my time to just be with myself and explore.
How has your interest in running evolved since then? Do you run farther, or faster now?
Since college, I just kind of ran on weekends, and occasionally did races, but I never thought about being a “good” runner. I went to seminary in New York City and again, I used running to relax and sight-see. I did start watching the NYC Marathon in person — and I vowed someday I would run it!
When I met my husband, though, things changed. I was 46 then — I'm a late bloomer in love and in running. Jeff is a serious athlete, and he encouraged and challenged me to take my running seriously. And I did! And a whole new part of my life opened up.
I started running farther and faster. I did run the NYC marathon — in 2014, just weeks before Jeff and I married. I started placing in my age group — and winning! I ran a sub-two-hour half marathon when I was 53 (1:59:53!) — the fastest I've ever run.
A few years later, I ran an ultramarathon — 100k. I did a 400-plus day running streak. I started thinking of myself as an athlete — and loving it!
Also, I joined a running group in 2014 — it evolved as part of a run training group. We're an informal group — the Cornelius Crawlers! — but we've been together for over a decade, running almost every Saturday together.
We attend each others' life events: weddings — and even funerals. We run races together — and endlessly dissect our ups and downs as athletes. We've become like family, and this has been such an amazing gift to my running and my life.
We now have our own race — the Crawlers Marathon (and half!), the last Saturday of the year. We run and crew each other. We even have prizes! Then a party after.
What do you balance your running with? Do you have a family to take care of? Kids, parents or other relatives or loved ones? If so, how do you balance all of it and still make time to run/care for yourself?
I mostly work from home — I have my own online ministry:
, as well as serving a small congregation. So that makes it easier to run during the week — though I do work almost all weekends and holidays! So this makes scheduling races somewhat of a challenge.I serve my church only two Sundays a month — partially because they're a small community, and partially because it makes it easier to race. Also, my husband has big races, too! So we look at our calendars every year and plan our “A” events, then “B” events around those. We probably do about six to eight athletic events total a year. We're both accomplished crew members, as well as athletes 😊
Our kids are grown — though we're expecting our first grandchild in the fall! So now we're planning our races around being near our grandbaby 😊
Running is so crucial to my physical, mental, and spiritual health that it is right at the center of my life. It helps that the other centers of my life, prayer and time with my husband, are also intertwined with my running!
Is there anything you’re especially proud of that you can point to your running and say, ‘this helped me achieve ______’?
SO much! But I will say that finishing the NYC marathon was absolutely, without question, the moment I was proudest of myself. I did not know if I could do that — and I did. It hurt, it was hard, it was freezing cold that day, and it proved to me that I really am stronger than I think I am.
There's a photo of me when I finished (I'm attaching it below) where I am just sobbing for joy. It's my favorite photo of me, ever.
What have you learned about yourself from your running journey? Is there anything that’s changed about you since you started?
Running has taught me about my limits, and about overcoming them. It's brought me closer to God, and to myself, my husband, my friends. What's changed? Now I know I'm good enough. I take myself seriously as an athlete.
Where would you like to go with your running? Is there anything special you’d like to achieve — like, say, running all six World Marathon Majors, or running an ultra?
Right now I have one goal: be a fast old lady!
I'm so inspired by older athletes, especially women, who are really blazing trails and breaking records. Right now my fastest times and longest distances are in my fifties. As I look towards 60 (I'll be 59 in a few weeks), I want my personal bests to be in that decade. I want to keep pushing my limits.
What keeps you going? Especially if you’ve been running for a while — do you ever get bored with it? How do you find new things to motivate you, to keep you going?
I rarely get bored running, but I do have to set challenges before me. I have embraced my competitive nature, and now I want that age group podium every time I race (or top 10% if it is a big race). I joke about it, but it's true: every starting line feels like the Olympics for me. I love it!
Look back at yourself when you were a kid, maybe say 10 years old. Remember how you felt, what you thought, especially what you thought you were capable of back then. If you could talk to that kid now, what would you say?
You are a real runner.
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I have to let you know, Cathie, that the picture of you after you finished the New York Marathon brought me to tears!!! That photo speaks volumes and "shows" why we run... Wonderful share! You are going to be one young and healthy grandma:)