Kim Alexis

“I know that I have raised my sons to be big, strong, independent men who love God, themselves and care for others. I have to learn to let them have space and learn without me.”

“I would rather exercise than read a newspaper.”

“When I was 20, my husband at the time looked at me said, 'You're fat; go run.' There weren't a lot of tools at the end of the '70s to lose weight. It took me a while to realize what kind of exercise would make me happy and I would look forward to doing. And running became it.”

“I look at being older and gaining wisdom. I've learned to stay fit and healthy. I accept my body, my life, and my circumstances.”

“I was muscular - I was never overweight. But tell a girl that she has to lose 15 pounds when she's not fat, and that has destroyed a lot of who I am over the years, even still. In my mind I'm thinking, 'I'm always too heavy. I should be a skinny thing.'”

“I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus until I met my nanny, who helped me through a failing marriage and raising my two boys in a New York City apartment. She showed me by example what it was like to be able to talk to Jesus and bring all my cares and worries to Him. That was in 1990.”

“I ran my first marathon in Florida in 1985. I had never run more than nine miles.”

“I'm happy going home early and working out and just being a mother and being a wife.”

“I had to learn what made Kim happy. I learned you have to take care of the spark in your eyes.”

“I have learned to be molded by God into the person He wants. I want to help and encourage others to be the best they can be.”

“I gave birth to my first son in April 1986. I thought it would be a good goal to get back in shape after having a baby if I ran the New York City Marathon. I ran in it November 1986. I had just shot the 'Sports Illustrated' swimsuit issue, so I was in great shape.”