Husband and wife team up to stay in shape

By JIM CUNNINGHAM/Staff

While Mike Jonas has turned in faster times in 5K races than his wife, he’s not about to do too much bragging. Lisa Jonas has run in a marathon and has plans to run another one.
Mike said he has no desire to run in a marathon.
But the couple, who live just outside the town limits of Wytheville, frequently compete together in various 5K and 10K races. Both also competed last winter in the inaugural Sand Mountain half-marathon held last January in Wytheville. And they’re planning to run in that one again this winter.
Lisa ran her marathon last year in the Virginia Creeper Trail held in Abingdon. A friend of hers, Jen O’Neill of Abingdon, asked her to run with her in that one and she agreed.
Lisa was born in Cincinnati and grew up in nearby Kentucky. She ran track and cross country in high school.
Mike also ran track while in high school at George Wythe and also competed in football and basketball.
While he has kept up with his running since his high school days, he and Lisa have really stepped up their level of activity in the past two or three years. Both competed in a half marathon (13.1 miles) held in June at Burke’s Garden. Prior to that (in April), Lisa competed in the Flying Pig Half Marathon held in Cincinnati. Her friend, Jen, ran the complete marathon there.
The couple is planning to compete in a 10K (6.2 miles) in Charleston, S.C., next April. And they’re planning to run in the Bourbon Chase held in Kentucky, which is a 200-mile relay race. It consists of 12 members on a team and each person runs a designated portion.
Mike said a half-marathon is the longest he’s ever run. He also competed in a triathlon in June in Richmond. It involved swimming about 500 meters (in the James River), biking 22 miles and running a 5K. “That was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said.
He noted that the most difficult part was swimming in the James River which had some tricky currents. The swim was made more demanding due to the crowded conditions. One swimmer actually swam over Mike.
The couple trains by running from their house to Wytheville. During the extreme heat (and cold), they also train at the Wytheville Community Center. In addition to running, Mike also lifts weights and uses other equipment there.
The couple also goes on bicycle rides together. They recently rode their bikes to Claytor Lake.
The pair has been competing in the Chautauqua 5K for several years. He’s run in at least 10 of them while Lisa said she’s run in at least five.
Mike’s best time was in 1989 when he ran a 20:19. This past June, he finished the 3.1-mile course in 26:07, which was good enough to tie for fourth place (with David Martin) in the male age 40-44 division.
Lisa completed the 5K with just a slightly slower time of 27:20, which earned her second place in the female age 40-44 division.
The pair usually train at least five days a week. Mike tries to get in at least 20 miles per week, while Lisa goes for 30 miles and more when there is a big race coming up. She is planning on competing in another marathon but has not yet chosen one
Why do they do it? “Mental health,” responded Mike. Lisa agreed that running is “good stress relief, and I like to be active.”
And there are other advantages as well. “I like to eat,” she said, “that’s why I like to exercise.”