For Pam Palmer, running marathons means more than simply having the stamina to cover long distances.
Palmer, a physical therapist by trade, spends her spare time putting one foot in front of the other because she hopes each step will empower the women around her.
Training for success
As a Team In Training coach for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Palmer volunteers year-round to help women complete marathons and half-marathons.
“We go ‘from the couch to 26.2 miles’ in three months. A lot of the women I work with have not been active, and it’s amazing what they can do with the right encouragement and guidance,” said Palmer, who in 2005 ran her first marathon with Team In Training. To date, she has completed seven marathons, all of which raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Co-worker Polly Holcomb, prompted by the transformation she saw in Palmer, was intrigued. “At first, I thought she was crazy for running 26 miles, but then I stood on the sidelines of a marathon. It was impressive. It wasn’t only for elite athletes like I’d thought. There were runners who were overweight, who had disabilities, who were pushing strollers. It was a great equalizer,” said Holcomb.
Recently Holcomb, Palmer and a score of other Wichita women ran the Nike women’s marathon in San Francisco, which raised about $14 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to fund blood cancer research and patient services.
“When I realized I was going to cross that finish line, I was amazed that I’d done what I never thought I could do,” said Holcomb.
Which is exactly why it’s so rewarding to be a marathon coach, said Palmer. “As women get physically stronger, their confidence and self-esteem grow. They blossom,” said Palmer. “The commitment alone is a transformation. Many women have a family or full-time job, and to be able to set aside time to run is an achievement.”
Finding the answers
Palmer, a Wichita State University graduate who began her career treating patients in their homes, witnessed first-hand an industry in need of change. Going into the homes of women, she knew they struggled with physical issues that could be — but often weren’t — cured.
“Women are an underserved population as far as medicine is concerned. Society tells women, ‘You’re 50 or 60 years old, you’ve had two or three children, you’re just going to leak urine.’ There’s so much more we can do for women’s issues,” said Palmer.
In 2003 she founded Palmer Physical Therapy for Women. This female-only environment includes gender-specific details designed to make women feel safe and comfortable. The sometimes-intimidating look of a big, open gym is gone, replaced by comfortably appointed private treatment rooms.
“It’s an entirely different approach,” said Palmer. In the course of a day, Palmer and five additional physical therapists treat women for everything from chronic neck and back pain to abdominal discomfort. There’s even a specially designed program to help women recovering from breast surgery, added Palmer, whose company sponsors the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. In addition, Palmer serves on the Komen board of directors and is involved with the University of Kansas Wichita Center for Breast Cancer Survivorship, which opens this month.
“Too often, if medicine doesn’t know what to do with someone, it dismisses them, especially women. If the problem can’t be seen on a test, women are made to feel like it must be in their heads. That is so not true,” said Palmer. “There are things that can be done and we’re doing them. We get results.”
Educating for life
Just as important as relieving current physical ailments, said Palmer, is educating women to manage their conditions.
For April Wiggins, education meant hope. Wiggins finished a half-marathon with her best time yet, then played a friendly game of softball and realized something was wrong with her knee. “I was crushed that I couldn’t run anymore. I’d finally found something I loved and now I couldn’t do it anymore,” she said.
Told she’d eventually require knee surgery, Wiggins turned first to physical therapy. Meeting Palmer changed everything.
“Pam knew almost immediately it wasn’t really a knee problem. It was a spine issue. I went from hearing the worst news to knowing there was hope, and learning how to manage the healing process. I feel so indebted to her,” said Wiggins.
Women need the knowledge to manage their own lives. It’s a philosophy Palmer takes seriously. “As women, we need to be self-sufficient and confident in our lives,” said Palmer. “It’s like working toward a marathon; it’s easier when there’s encouragement and hope.”
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