Meet another member of the American Heart Association’s Minnesota Run with Heart team: Timmy Marrinan!
Age
26
Hometown/Current City
Edina, MN / Tempe, AZ
Number of Marathons
Zero! This will be my first full.
Favorite Race Completed
Rock n Roll: Las Vegas 2011 – It was my first half-marathon and as a big Vegas guy, running under the lights along a crowded Las Vegas Boulevard was an awesome experience!
Favorite Location To Train
Tempe Town Lake (when in AZ) & Lake Calhoun (when in MN)
Favorite Running Pump-Up Song
At every starting line I listen to a little mashup I put together with a collection of inspirational quotes/scenes from various movies I found on YouTube and ‘Greyhound’ by Swedish House Mafia (Check it out here.)
My Running Secret
I’ve learned to listen to my body during races over the past couple months and to not be disappointed or discouraged if I miss a goal time. Not every race is going to be a PR and some races you’ll have to work through stomach aches, humidity, and other unfavorable conditions, but you just got to stick it out, keep your eye on the finish line and realize there will be other races.
Biggest Motivation for Long Runs
Just knowing that with every mile I am bettering myself as a runner and that there is going to be food and/or drinks after the finish line.
How has heart disease touched you?
Heart disease runs in my family. Both of my grandfathers died from heart disease, one before I was even born. I’ve always hated heart disease for taking them from me.
Then on October 8, 2012, I received word that my father had suffered a heart attack. Then on January 18, 2013, my family gathered, anxiously waiting, in a Mayo Clinic waiting room as my father was in open heart surgery. I couldn’t believe it. Even though heart disease runs in my family, it hadn’t ever hit this close to home ever before.
My inspiration behind training and running for the Twin Cities Marathon is my father, Tim Marrinan Sr. My father–his dedication, his values and his kind nature–has inspired me through many challenges throughout my entire life, but the inspiration he has given me to run this race is something special. My father has inspired me to train and run in this race because it is a race in which I am running for him and those impacted by heart disease.
Why is running important to you?
Running has been so important to me in the past couple years. It give me an activity to dedicate myself to year-round. It allows me to constantly be setting myself goals and work towards improvement. I have met many amazing people who have become wonderful friends through running. It gives me a chance at alone time. It brings peace and purpose to my life. It has allowed me to visit places I hadn’t been before to race. It has done wonders at alleviating stress. It give me an excuse to eat bacon. Running gives me something to be passionate about. Running is something that defines me.
Running has had so many positive influences on my life. The ways in which running has improved my life are endless.
Motivated? Inspired? Please support Timmy’s goal with a donation to the AHA!
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