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> Printer-friendly page Saturday morning Warren Springston will be one of hundreds of runners participating in the Dalton Heart Run

Saturday morning Warren Springston will be one of hundreds of runners participating in the Dalton Heart Run.

September 12, 2002

By: Andrew Skwara, The Daily Citizen

Two months ago, Springston (Bibb #48) would never have entertained the thought of competing in a 5K. But, about that time he began to take his health seriously.
Springston's weight had climbed to 230 pounds. His heart rate was in the upper 70s, and at 38 years of age, he was inching closer to the prime age for a potential heart attack.
A visit from Springston's sister, Joy, and his brother-in-law, Larry Cann, on July 4 helped to make him more health conscience.
Joy had recently turned to running to combat a number of serious health problems. Seeing his sister alive and well motivated Warren to do the same.
"My sister had asthma real bad, in fact she was on a machine," Springston said. "She started running and now she is off the machine. It's incredible, she runs in marathons now."
Naturally, his sister's transformation convinced Springston to lace up his jogging shoes and hit the pavement.
But, for someone who had never run before, the exercise proved to be a major challenge.
"The first time I got half way through a mile and had to start walking," Springston said. "I was breathing real hard."
Springston, who lives with his wife Debbie and three children in the Beaverdale community, was struggling with an exercise routine, and that's when Cann came up with a solution.
Cann knew that if Warren could get with a group of experienced runners it would help, so he did a little internet surfing and found the website for the Carpet Capital Running Club. He sent Warren the information and convinced him to join the popular club.
"I was getting to the point where I was getting pretty discouraged," Springston said. "But running with the guys from the club has really helped."
Debbie, who ran track in high school, has also been a big help. The two often run together.
Soon, Springston was consistently running every day. He started shaving time off of his timed runs, going from a 10-minute mile to around 8 1/2 minutes.
The real difference came in other areas, though.
"My stress level has dropped and my whole disposition has changed," he said. "I'm starting to watch what I eat more because I need a certain amount of energy to run and I find myself wanting to eat the proper food. I have to watch my portions, because if I eat too much then that extra weight slows me down."
Although he never experienced heart problems, in many ways Springston already feels like a survivor.
If he had continued with his old lifestyle he surely was headed for trouble.
With a dedication to run every day and the help of friends and family, Springston has turned his life around.
Now, he wants to give back by participating in Saturday's Heart Run, which will begin and end at the First Baptist Church on Thornton Ave. The run starts at 9 a.m.
"I want to help the Heart Association raise money for all it stands for," Springston said. "The awareness they bring to the public about heart disease is important and hopefully it will show a lot of people that they need to get into shape."