Fit: Not Born to Run But They Try

WHAT DO A WOMAN who's 70 pounds overweight, a heart attack survivor, a guy with HIV and a former professional football player have in common? Not much, other than that they probably never thought they'd train for a marathon.

But the PBS program "NOVA" threw them on to a team of 13 unlikely racers to see how much it really takes to get ordinary Americans to realize an extraordinary dream — running the Boston Marathon. Their nine grueling months of preparation are chronicled in "Marathon Challenge" (which airs Oct. 30 at 8 p.m.), and viewers may be surprised by how quickly the ragtag group shaped up.

During their initial meeting at the Tufts University track in July of 2006, says coach Don Megerle, most of them couldn't even manage a mile jog without some walking. But with years of experience sending novices to the starting line (and usually across the finish line, too), he was optimistic. The gang also had help from Uta Pippig, a three-time Boston marathon champ who constantly chirped in her German-accented English, "You can do it!"

Dr. Miriam Nelson, an exercise and nutrition specialist also responsible for directing Team NOVA, would have preferred a full year, but knew the time frame was doable as long as they were aggressive. "It's about being as consistent as possible and not progressing too fast," she says.

So, they met each Sunday for ever-so-slightly longer runs while they jogged shorter distances on their own during the week. By December, they were able to knock off 10 miles and were already reaping the benefits of inhabiting healthier bodies, including reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. And by April, they were capable of more than they ever expected. (No spoilers here. Watch to see what happened on that rainy, cold race day.)

The group spirit kept them motivated, and the camera crews kept them honest, but Team NOVA wasn't getting secret information to help them overcome their challenges. Obsessing over the details doesn't jibe with Megerle's style; he tells his charges to forget about technique. "Run how you want to run. Too much thinking gets in the way," he says. "We're not going to win the race. We're going to complete the race."

Even Pippig stuck mainly to emotional matters, emphasizing the importance of finding inner tranquility. "I told them that you have to keep your shoulders down and take slow, deep breaths," she explains. "When we get fearful, our breath shortens. If you take the relaxation out of it, it gets harder." Pippig also wouldn't let the runners forget that this wasn't just about the improved stamina and endurance needed to get them over Heartbreak Hill: "It's a lifelong experience that will make you a stronger person."
Where the physical aspects became more critical was in terms of injury prevention and recuperation. "When you're hurt, you have to rest or it doesn't get better. You can't 'run through it,'" Megerle says. Virtually every member of Team NOVA needed a physical therapist's assistance at some point during the training, and he insisted they take time off when necessary. After watching them put in all of those hours over so many months, he wasn't going to let them muck it up by not listening to their bodies. "The only thing that's going to hold you back is injury," he says. "They feel so committed that they're determined to do it unless they pass out unconscious."

As improbable marathoners as the team members were a year ago, it seems they've caught the bug. At least half are planning on pulling a repeat in 2008. But Nelson reminds viewers that marathons aren't for everybody — non-runners are sometimes happier staying that way and instead can focus on other physical activities they enjoy.

Training also isn't a replacement for Weight Watchers. "The pounds just won't melt away," explains Nelson. "Your appetite will go up." Most of the health benefits came after the crew had been at it for about three months, long before they were ready for the big day. "But some people need big goals," she says. And not much looms as large as running a marathon.

Photo by Joel Laino/wgbh/NOVA