The abbreviated version of the Lynn and Jamie story: We met at a party on May 18, 1985 and have been together ever since. We were engaged two months after we met. The wedding was set for October of 1987 but sometimes things happen. In this case, Lynn was severely injured in a car accident and nearly died. She spent 17 days in a coma (or was it Tacoma). But seriously folks, She remained in a vegetative state (not Missouri). Sorry, I just can't help myself. She started talking 7 months later and hasn't stopped since. I think you can tell who's writing this part. She spent many months in and out of hospitals and rehab facilities and, as a result, has progressed greatly in her recovery. She works very hard at home every day. Her workouts average around 3-4 hours a day.

Lynn wanted to wait to get married until she could walk down the aisle and after 7 years of intense work she and her WONDERFUL husband, Jamie were married May 14, 1994. They live in Tinley Park, Illinois and had a beautiful daughter, Annalyn, on 8/23/99.She was born Lynn McGovern in St. Louis and luckily moved with her family to the Chicago area before it was too late. She still says "warsh" instead of "wash" but I guess I can live with that. She graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 1980 and attended the University of Illinois for 16 years. Or something like that. Maybe it just seemed that long. In her spare time (which she doesn't have much of), she enjoys playing with her daughter more than anything.  

Jamie, on the other hand......why do people say "on the other hand?" What's wrong with the first hand?.........Sorry, I temporarily left the planet. OK, Jamie is the WORLD'S BEST HUSBAND according to Lynn. OK, she lost a bet and I got to put that in here because of it. He was the firstborn child, and the best, of Marilyn and Charlie Parks. He graduated in 1979 from Carl Sandburg High School. He also went to college and got STRAIGHT A'S in ALL of his classes. So he only took two courses in night school but he did get straight A's. In his leisure time (yeah, right), he enjoys playing with his daughter, watching "The Amazing Race," running and listening to Jimmy  Buffett tunes. He is a letter carrier (only mildly disgruntled) at the Lansing, IL Post Office.

The 3 of us race together! Jamie started running in 1982 and has done numerous races in the Chicago area. Have you ever heard of "obsessive-compulsive disorder?" Jamie has run (as of 10/31/08) 6121 consecutive days (over 16 1/2 years). Lynn joined with him beginning in 1991 at the Heart and Sole 10K in Olympia Fields, IL. They have completed 182 races and run (as of 10/31/08) 13949.1 miles together. Their 24th and 36th races were the 1996 and 1997 Chicago Marathon. Their 169th race was the 2007 Toronto Waterfront Marathon where they ran it in 3:15:24 and qualified for the Boston Marathon. Race #171 was the 2008 Boston Marathon. They finished that in 3:24:46. Their best marathon time was in '96 when they finished in 2:57:07, good enough to finish in the TOP 3% OF ALL FINISHERS. '97's race was almost as remarkable in that they didn't train for it and still were able to finish in the top 1/4 of all finishers. They started running and racing with their daughter, Annalyn, when she was just a few weeks old (she was strapped in on her Momma's lap). Unfortunately, she has grown to the point where she's too big to race with. We did run 53 races and a total of 4051.1 miles with her. Now she's old enough to do races herself and she's done six 5K races so far with a best time of 30:55. She's won two 1st and a 3rd place award in her age group in the 6 races.

Because of their "love" story and unusual racing style, they have been featured on television  (Olympic Torch Relay coverage-live on NBC 5, taped interviews on Fox-32 and CLTV cable, and an article in the 3/31/02 Hammond Times,  Miracle Babies on PAX-TV 5/00, Oprah- 10/97, Ordinary/Extraordinary on CBS-8/97, FOX-TV's Chicago Marathon coverage-10/96, and news stories on NBC Chicago-10/96 and ABC Chicago-5/94). WBBM Radio in Chicago did an interview in 10/97 and they have been featured in the National Enquirer-4/97, Runner's World magazine-1/97, 3/97, 7/06 and as "Heroes of the Year" in the 12/07 issue (also a picture and short blurb about the Heroes Banquet in the February 2008 issue). They've also had  numerous mentions in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Southtown, Daily Herald, Star Newspapers, Hammond Times, as well as the Runner's World website coverage of the '96 Chicago Marathon and the August 2004 Frankfort Park District Newsletter. A new (and very well written) article appeared in the 9/28/07 edition of the Globe and Mail (Canada's national newspaper). A documentary titled "Marathon Love" will be shown on 12/14 on the Discovery Health Channel. It's all about the three of us.

They give ALL of the credit for their individual and collective achievements to God. Matthew 19:26 says, "With God, ALL things are possible." Phillippians 4:13 says, "I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me." They are members of Eagle Rock Community Church in Orland Park, IL. They enjoy singing with the Worship Team and choir and occasionally doing special music during the service.

A good friend of theirs is Pastor Ken Dignan, who preaches every Sunday, sings, plays the drums, and has his own TV show.

Lynn and Jamie just love to hear from their adoring public. You can e-mail them by clicking here on lynjame@aol.com.