By Cynthia De Castro
APRIL 4, 2008
Asianjournal.com
From an Obese Nurse to an LA Marathon Top Runner
LOS ANGELES – Of the 20,230 finishers because I’ve always loved vegetables.
in the 2007 LA Marathon, close to 8,000 I love pinakbet, diningding, all of that, ”
were women. Holding the record of being stated Rosemarie.
the fastest female runner in the 5K events Walking and running was simply an
run in her age group, the fourth-fastest everyday part of her life that Rosemarie
10K time, fifth fastest for half marathon didn’t think they would become her
and seventh fastest in the full marathon is passion.
Rosemarie Hernandez Jeanpierre. “That was the turning point in my life,
Five years ago, walking just a short when it became a passion for my staying
distance was an extremely difficult task fit. In 2005, my nephew suggested I join
for Rosemarie. Badly obese through the LA marathon. And I realized that I
her life, Rosemarie at 5’2” weighed 220 was really ready for a marathon. For that
pounds. Now literally half the woman she year, I was able to participate in three
used to be, Rosemarie has shed half of full marathons and did well. I did not
this and now weighs 110 pounds. She has stop there. I started running several half
competed in many races, has won a lot of physical exam and tests showed that marathons as well. And before I knew it,
medals and has come to be a part of the I have borderline Diabetes Mellitus, I was being recognized as one of the top
Los Angeles elite runners’ class. hypertension and out-of-range cholesterol three runners in my age division in LA.”
Recently, Rosemarie has been featured levels and at high risk for a heart attack. It “I never dreamed in my entire life that
in The Los Angeles Times, Shape was also the first year anniversary of my I would be known as an athlete or a
magazine, More Magazine and the LA father’s death who died of a heart attack runner, but there I was getting medals
Sports and Fitness magazine. She will as a complication of his diabetes. It was a and trophies for something I absolutely
also be appearing in an infomercial with wake-up call for me. I decided I had to do love doing. I did not run to compete, but
Billy Blanks TAEBO T3 this March and in something about my health,” she said. just for the sake of the joy running brings
the Competitor magazine soon. Changes within me,” she added.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think “I knew I had to do major changes in Now working at the Pacific Alliance
I would be able to become an athlete and my lifestyle. But, knowing in my heart that Medical Center, Rosemarie happily states
accomplish anything like this, “ admitted with God, all things are possible, I was that she’s enjoying good health and the
Rosemarie to Asian Journal. “As a child able to overcome my health concerns. I migraines are gone. “I am so thankful to
growing up in San Fernando, La Union, started to do a lot of researching on how God for His blessings that He’s given me
I was always the heaviest student in the to manage a healthy lifestyle. I started — doing such a complete transformation
class.” educating myself by going to the library in my life. With these accomplishments,
Around the mid-80’s, a friend introduced and getting all the information I could find I believe God has a purpose in my life,
Rosemarie to an American, Kenneth that had something to do with fitness and and this is to share my story, to motivate
Jeanpierre, who works for the IRS and health. And I do believe in the saying, the and to inspire others to set positive goals
became her pen pal for three years. In more you know, the better you do,” she and to set good examples in fulfilling
1988, Kenneth went to the Philippines said. and achieving healthy lifestyle. I want
and married Rosemarie. “It was really very difficult at first, but to encourage others to step out from
“Before I got married, I shed about with strong faith in Him, I was able to their comfort zones, to do something
50 pounds but it was in the wrong way. be guided in abundance. With lots of worthwhile in their lives to release their
I starved myself so all the weight crept hard work, will power, determination, full potentials,” Rosemarie said.
back after I got married,” said Rosemarie. consistency, persistence, and self- Today, one of Rosemarie’s dreams is
She weighed 130 pounds on her wedding discipline, support from family and friends, to have a running event especially for
day. I was able to accomplish my goal. I started Filipinos.
Three years after she moved to the US, to eat healthy — like high in protein, low in “At all of my running events, I don’t
she was pushing 200. She took up LVN carbs and fat. I watched my calorie intake. see nearly enough Filipinos. I wish more
in California and upon passing the State I exercised, I started walking at first, for at Filipinos would participate in events like
Board Exam, worked as a nurse in the least an hour a day and weight training as these [such as the LA marathon]. I hope
Western Convalescent Hospital for 12 well,” she added. we can have our own running event, you
years. Letting go of rice know, with sponsors and everything so we
Rosemarie tells her incredible weight “It wasn’t easy specially since I had to can raise funds for the less fortunate in
loss story in a voice that reveals her own cut back on my rice intake. But I don’t the Philippines.”
amazement . deprive myself of Filipino food. I grew up With her faith in God, Rosemarie truly
“In 2003, I have been having severe with Filipino food so I love the taste. But believes this will happen soon. “All things
migraine attacks and was constantly now I just load up on the healthier dishes, are possible with God,” she stresses.
not feeling well. I decided to have a the ones with a lot of gulay. I’m blessed (AJ)
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