YMCA co-worker helps Glen Ellyn woman conquer the 5K
When Mandi Leicht, a mother of three, thinks about Carl Lane, it gives her hope for the future.
“He’s not your normal 20-year-old,” Leicht said. “He is kind, compassionate, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink — he’s just a good boy. I love him to pieces.”
About a year ago, Leicht, who works in the Wellness Center and membership at the B.R. Ryall YMCA in Glen Ellyn, decided she wanted to run her first 5K at the Y’s Race to Ryall 5K Run. She had joined the Y’s healthy living program, similar to the “The Biggest Loser,” and a goal at the end was to run a 5K.
Lane, a co-worker at the YMCA and student at College of DuPage, works with Leicht in the Wellness Center.
He is not a professional trainer, but he was that and more to Leicht.
The first time running they went about two miles. Leicht tried to stop with about a quarter-mile to go, but Lane encouraged her, saying, “No, you got this, you can do it.”
They continued on and eventually added more distance until they worked their way up to a 5K.
Every Saturday, like clockwork, they met to run. Lane preached to Leicht to focus on her breathing. When Leicht felt like she hit a plateau, Lane set her up with a program on the elliptical machine.
Not only did Leicht work her way up to the 5K, she dropped 40 pounds in the process.
“He was just so positive about it,” she said.
When it came time to take on the 5K in May, Lane ran the entire race with Leicht.
The two held hands as they crossed the finish line.
“All I cared about is that I finished,” Leicht said. “I honestly feel like I couldn’t have done it without him next to me. He stuck by my side.”
“She just needed that extra push,” Lane said. “She has kids and a family of her own, and she was doing it for them as well. I wanted to see her finish that race, to see how happy she would make her family and other people by seeing her finish that race.”
Lane, who played football and basketball at Glenbard South, is not certified to train but works with people often and answers their fitness questions. Majoring in music at COD, he’s in the jazz band at school and has played the bass for 11 years.
He said his mother, Shirlene, stresses to him and his four brothers and sister the importance of staying humble.
“Since I can remember,” he said, “she always told me, ‘Just stay humble and thank God for what you have. You don’t have to have these talents. They can be gone.’ She always told me to never be boastful.”
When Leicht signed up to run her second race, Naperville’s Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, it didn’t take long for her to ask Lane, “Are you ready?”
She knows Lane is a friend she’ll always have by her side.
“He’s made me believe. Without him, I’d probably end up in the hospital,” Leicht said. “I’ve only known him a year, but with some people you just have special bonds. He helped me run the race, but I also made a friend who I will remain in touch with forever.”