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4/22/2015
Over the past three years, my identical twin, Leah, and I have shared our experiences on our blog, "Twins Run in Our Family". Much to our surprise, we've gained quite a following of runners, twins and/or parents of twins. We're often recognized at races when we wear our shirt that has our logo on the front and our tagline on the back: "If you're passing me, I'm Malinda. If I'm passing you, I'm Leah."
I started running in 1993 for fun, while Leah started running in 2007 to lose weight. Since then, I have completed a total of 17 marathons and a few dozen races, including three Broad Street Runs. Leah, on the other hand, has become a self-professed race addict, finishing more than 100 races, including 25 marathons. She races nearly every weekend and often wins her age group in local races in Charlottesville, Virginia. She finished the Boston Marathon in 2013 and 2014 and returned for her third race this year.
When I run, I am determined to make my miles matter.
In 2010, I was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition that causes severe stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. There is no cure for gastroparesis and only a few treatments available with varying success rates. A year later, I had a gastric neurostimulator (stomach pacemaker) implanted, which has provided some relief. My symptoms can be debilitating at times, but I continue to run whenever possible.
