Sonia Soprenuk
Sonia Soprenuk
I’m Sonia Soprenuk, and I am a triathlete. I train all year around and participate in all kind of races that involve any or all of the three disciplines: swim, bike and run. My hubby Ted and I moved to Robson Ranch about two years ago. I had been riding my bike for the last five years around the country roads of the Dallas Metroplex and was always curious about the RR community every time I rode by. I found the place very peaceful, beautiful and surrounded by country roads bringing plenty of training opportunities. After three years I finally convinced Teddy to come and visit, and the same day he asked me if I wanted to move in! We made the decision to build our home in Robson Ranch then, and here we are!
I had the opportunity to participate in the Boston marathon this year again, and I can tell without a doubt it has been the most amazing and emotional race of my life. What made this experience so special was the fact that I participated last year when the unfortunate tragedy happened as the marathon was still in progress. I was one of the lucky runners who skipped the explosions. I was back in the hotel in Cambridge trying to recover when the bombs went off, and I saw it in the news. The sadness, anger and darkness took over the city of Boston and our hearts. Things got hectic from there. We had big celebration plans; we were full of excitement about our accomplishments. I had finished the marathon in a decent time, actually one minute faster than 2004 when I ran Boston the first time. My finish time was 3:37 hours, and for a 50-year old woman I was very pleased with it. Well, all of this became really irrelevant and meaningless. Our hotel was immediately surrounded by guards of all official forces, and the party was over. From there the rest of the day was about pain, anger and sadness as we learned more and more about the victims of the explosions. Tears come to my eyes when writing this.
Well, the next day I came back home and made a resolution to go back to the next Boston Marathon (2014) and bring a message from the bottom of my heart: support, love and optimism. I had left my heart in Boston, and I felt like I had unfinished business there. All during my training that was the only motivation and I found myself so many times crying out loud during my lonely long runs around our town. So it was a gift from God to me to allow me run Boston this year again. The support of the town, the volunteers, the military and police forces, the runners from all over the world-we were all unified for the same emotions and objectives, and we all could sense it and enjoy it and get overwhelmed by it. I was in tears at the start thinking how grateful I was to be a survivor, how grateful I was to have both of my legs and be just able to be there to give my all. As I approached the finish line the crowds were amazing, and their yelling and energy cheering me on took over my soul. I thank them, I yielded them back; this is for you Boston—this is what I do best—running, and that’s what I’m bringing to all of you. I hugged some of them, and they hugged me back—200 yards more I crossed the finish line thanking God for such an amazing experience and for bringing peace to my soul.
My next big events are the Buffalo Springs half ironman in Lubbock late June and the New York marathon in November.
Thanks to all my neighbors in Robson Ranch who keep me motivated and cheer me on! Did I say Teddy and I enjoyed so much living here? Well we do!